The parish registers at Coston previous to 1813, consist of forty five leaves of parchment, measuring 16 by 6 3/8 inches, stitched, with two more blank leaves, into a limp parchment cover. This volume contains entries of Baptisms and of Burials from 1561 to 1812, and of Marriages from 1561 to 1747.
Vol. II. consists of a folio paper book bound in rough calf, and contains Marriages only from 1754 to 1812.
The longevity of the Rectors of this parish is somewhat remarkable. Gilbert Wetherall was instituted on Oct. 1, 1560, and died here on Mar. 22, 1620. William Hervey, whose name never once appears on the registers, and who probably held other appointments in plurality, was instituted in April 1778, and continued the nominal head of the parish to Sep. 1822; the name of Charles Kipling who held the living for the next nineteen years, probably under similar conditions, only appears twice in the registers, and these entries are within one month of each other. During the tenure of Edward Heron, who was Rector from 1621 to 1649, the registers are written fequently, indeed for the first four years entirely, in Latin. One is inclined to think that is due not to his own scholarship, but that of a learned wife acting as his secretary, since his burial, which could not have been recorded by himself, is thus written of:-
"Edv`us Heron Sanctae Theologiae professor Rector de Coston sepultus est apud Knipton in Com. Leicester duodecimo die Martii Anno Dmi millemo septentessimo quadragesimo nono."
It is to be noted that Coston is spelt here as to-day; yet, in the Liber Regis (Jas. I.) the name of the parish is Colston, (cf. Colverston now Colston in Norfolk) and the form in which it appears as a surname in the neighbourhood is Coulston. This addition of the u is commonly found in the latter part of the seventeenth century ; thus at Methwold (Methelwold - Mittelwald) in Norfolk, the name, both as cut on an almsbox of that period and as embossed on a rough glass bottle buried with some horse doctor who was proud of his drench, appears as Methwould.
We are indebted for the transcription of these Marriages and for the accompanying note to the Rev. J. Denny Gedge, the present Rector, under whose supervision they are now printed.
Thanks are also due to Canon Rendell, of Leicester, formerly Rector of Coston, who some years ago made a copy of the register previous to the year 1750, and who very kindly placed his MS. at Mr. Gedge's service.
Volume I.
Jhon Symsonn & Jone Charytie 10 Nov. 1561
Thomas Healle [Healey] & Dorothy Glen 3 June 1566
Willym Becrofte & Ellin Pepper 2 Feb. 1567
Thomas Love & Margaret Robynson 8 Feb. 1567
Thomas Killyngly & Margaret Sharpe 29 June 1567
Jhon Smyth & Margaret Gybson 28 July 1567
Richard Wryght & Ellen Spreckly 21 Oct. 1569
Thomas Roberds & Elizabeth Day 24 June 1571
Thomas Moure & Elizabeth Roberdes 10 Oct. 1571
Thomas Claxton & Ann Killyngley 22 Oct. 1575
William Spycke & Jone Roberdes 12 May 1576
William Wryghte & Allis Glover 13 Dec. 1578
Roberte Beale & Katherine Toler 18 Jan. 1579
Thomas Claye & Martha Killyngley 17 Aug. 1579
Jhon Stallocke & Jone Wortone 21 Nov. 1579
Jhon Robardes & Elizabeth Glover 31 Jan. 1580
Richard Wroe & Katherine Balle 23 Nov. 1581
Jhon Day & Dorothy Bealle 13 May 1582
Roger Kett & Elizabeth Borowe 6 Nov. 1583
Robart Bekroft & Barbara Paynter 29 Jan. 1585
Ottewell Boden & Margaret Wetherall 23 Oct. 1586
William Benbrouke & Margaret Wetherall 19 Sep. 1587
Nycholas Bosham & Margaret Smyth 6 Oct. 1589
Robert Bryan & Katherine Geesinge 25 Nov. 1589
William Cooke & Elizabeth Rowse 18 Feb. 1590
Henry Thorpe & Allis Howyt 13 Nov. 1590
Jhon Watchehorne & Jone Geesinge 29 June 1590 [?]
Robert Grene & Mary Boden 23 Jan. 1592
Nicholas Robinson & Jone Borowe 26 May 1592
Robert Wand & Bridget Hodgsonne 13 Dec. 1592
William Lyngham & Mary Molton 26 Oct. 1595
Willyam Pullen & Ann Hearn 27 Oct. 1598
Thomas Steele & Agnes Smyth 12 May 1599
Wyllym Belton & Judithe Wetherall 12 Nov. 1599
Gregorye Hynton & Dorothe Balle 3 Feb. 1601
Thomas Brown & Dorothe Harbe 27 Sep. 1601
William Jackson & Anna Bordeman, daughter
of John Mytchell, of Coston 20 May 1602
John Howet & Elizabeth Tayler 26 June 1602
Robert Brigges & Elizabeth Wand 25 Jan. 1603
John Spreckley & Ellen Littel 20 Feb. 1604
Ralfe Johnson & Jane Byard 7 May 1604
Richard Halliocke [Holyoak] & Susanna Balle 4 June 1604
John Borowe & Allis Gesynge 5 July 1606
Rychard Gutteridge & Sara Balle 12 Feb. 1608
Antonye Halliocke & Margaret Shawwell 23 May 1609
Ralfe Ball & Mawdlyn Scott 1 Apr. 1612
Vallentine Dixson & Elizabeth Love 5 Oct. 1617
John Witeworthe & Elizabeth Bryghtmore 30 Nov. 1617
Frauncis Green & Elizabeth Cable, both of
Wymondham, p. Thorpe 3 May 1618
Edward Nethercotes & Joaney Waieth, both
of Wymondham 15 Nov. 1621
John Cox [de Saxby], & Christiana Rowse 11 July 1622
Thomas Blankly, de Harbey, & Jane Marlowe 7 Oct. 1622
Robert Love & Hellen Rowse 21 Nov. 1622
Willia. Allen & Ellen Inglet 1 May 1623
John Bakman & Elizabeth Parker 2 Aug. 1624
Willia. Measurer & Marie Locket 29 Sep. 1627
John Elam & Marie Roberdes 20 Apr. 1631
John Coop & Ellenor Forman, w. 5 June 1635
William Finne [or Firm, see Apr. 25, 1646] &
Christina Johnson 12 Nov. 1635
William Jesson & Jone Roberts 22 May 1636
Thomas Johnson & Elizab. Emenson 18 June 1636
Anthony Cowper & Esther Love, at Stamford 26 Mar. 1638
John Rubbins & Dorothy Browne 11 June 1639
Thomas Ferm & Silena Winge 25 Apr. 1646
Anthony Wigley & Alice Richardson 7 June 1655
Symon Scenescall & Anne Wand 3 May 1655
Thomas Collington & Anne Crosse 5 July 1655
Thomas Clemmens & Mary Thornton 3 Nov. 1657
Thomas Jesson & Elenor Gaynsford 26 Aug. 1658
Edward Jesson & Sarah Squire 2 May 1659
Richard Jenkinson & Mary Robts 2 May 1659
John Belton & Elizabeth Crosse 5 July 1659
Edward Wright & Rachell Beaner 7 July 1659
John Beaner & Jane Guy [?Grey] 7 May 1660
Tho. Moore & Anne Watchhorne 18 Nov. 1661
William Leland & Elizabeth Wand 9 Nov. 1662
Edward Jesson & Elizabeth Hart 21 Apr. 1663
William Porter & Alice Jesson 27 Feb. 1665
John Wright & Susanna Parnham 21 June 1666
Leonard Bury, of Susterne [Sewstern] , & Ruth
Dixon, of Buckminster 19 Feb. 1666
Joseph Smeeton & Mary Riley 29 June 1667
Thomas Hallock [Halliocke, i.e. Holyoake,
1609] & Sarah Gaynsford 30 Jan. 1667
Andrew Tebbs & Margarett Smyth 30 Nov. 1671
Robt. Ryley & Sarah Carrington 5 Apr. 1673
Gabriell Caunt & Mary Eaton 3 Nov. 1675
Richard Lee & Elizabeth Browne 26 Apr. 1680
John Cam & Elizabeth Lee 9 June 1681
Robert Wetherell & Elizabeth Boyfield 12 Aug. 1684
William Judde & Anne Eaton 13 Nov. 1684
John Clark, of Easton, p. Stoake, co. Lincolne,
& Margaret Palm 26 Apr. 1685
Richard Mason, of Skillington, & Mary
Palmer 30 Apr. 1687
William Curtis, of Hucknal, co. Nottingham,
& Catherine Bullivant 12 Jan. 1687
Benjamin Pendock, of Holbitch [Holbeachj ,co.
Lincoln, & Frances Clemens 28 May 1689
William Berry, of Edmundthorp, & Sarah
Rubbins [of Coston] 5 Apr. 1692
William Green, of Redmile, & Eleanor Healy 26 Feb. 1692
John Charn & Katherine Gilston, of Whitsun-
dine 6 Feb. 1697
Henry Hubbard, of Skillington, & Ann Palmer 14 July 1698
William Dunstall, p. St George's, in Stamford,
& Elizabeth Holmes [of Coston] 29 Jan. 1698
Tho. Burton, of Buckminster, & Eliza. Wright,
of Freby 20 Apr. 1699
Thomas Rubbins & Judeth Botton 9 Sep. 1699
Edward Freeston, of Quorniborow [Queni..
borow], & Ann Lord 27 Jan. 1699
Thomas Tuckler, of Horbling, & Jane Cham 26 Apr. 1700
Robert Henson, of Great Daulby, & Mary
Edenborow [Edinburgh] 17 July 1704
Rich. Burbidge, of Loddington, & Sarah
Whittaker 20 Nov. 1705
Nathaniel Scholy, of Bicker, & Grace Lord 6 Dec. 1705
John Coy, of Dembleby, co. Lincolnshire, &
Jane Palin 18 Apr. 1706
John Parker & Judeth Rubbins 28 July 1706
George Kitchin, of Hale, in Lincolnsh., &
Katherine Paget 15 May 1707
Edward Bree, of Weymondham [sic.] &
Elizabeth Belton 11 July 1709
William Wand, sen., & Ann Reddish 21 Nov. 1709
Thomas Healy & Elizabeth Cham 4 Nov. 1709
John Parker, of Stoak [sic.] in Lincolnsh., &
Mary Riely [Riley] 2 Dec. 1710
James Miller, of Fleet, co. Lincoln., & Eliza
Palin 26 Apr. 1711
John Boyer, of Twiford, & Elizabeth Leeson 16 Nov. 1713
Robert Coy & Mary Coates 17 Nov. 1713
John Baker, of Neather Broughton, Leicester
shire, & Ann Jud 15 June 1714
Richard Howet & Ann Palin 17 June 1717
Robert Brooxby & Frances Parker 5 May 1718
Zachariah Brewster, of Melton, & Frances
Jud 18 June 1719
Tho. Brooxby & Ann Tope 26 Apr. 1720
William Hampson & Sarah Belton 23 Apr. 1721
Robert Geesing & Mary Portwood 20 Nov. 1721
Jonathan Newcome, p. St. John, in Stamford,
& Alice Jesson 7 May 1723
Mr. Thomas Whitworth & Mrs. Sarah Linng,
both of Burton Lazarus [now Lazars] 28 Dec. 1724
William Dobney & Anne Brooxby, w. 19 June 1726
Francis King, of Streatton [sic.] in Rutland,
& Mary Spick 20 Nov. 1727
Thomas Boyfield & Frances Jesson 11 June 1728
William Wright & Mary Judd 29 Mar. 1730
John Hewardine, of Goadby, & Sarah
Hopkins 20 Apr. 1731
Thomas Wand & Elizabeth Jesson 7 Apr. 1735
John Cawthorn & Ann Wand 28 Oct. 1739
John Jesson & Catherine Rose 12 Nov. 1739
Thos. Healey & Mary Pheasand 28 Oct. 1747
William Parker & Mary Hippesley 2 Jan. 1747
Mr. John Ponton, of Ponton, & Mrs. Mary Frisby, w. 4 Nov. 1749
Volume II.
Thomas Boyfield & Ann Gough 24 Nov. 1754
Joseph Tinley, of North Stoke, Lincolnsh., &
Jane Hopper 8 June 1755
James Cole & Mary Turner 30 Nov. 1755
William Dobney & Ann Pheasant 31 May 1757
William Geesing & Mary Wright, of Melton 4 Jan. 1758
George Roberts & Mary Hewardine, w. 6 Dec. 1758
William Jesson & Jane Ward 10 June 1759
William Doubleday, of Garthorpe, & Elizabeth
Healey, lic. 2 Apr. 1761
John Marriott, of MelLon, & Frances Healey 26 June 1762
Richard Ward & Elizabeth Dawson, of Clawson 16 Feb. 1764
John Cawthorn & Ann Wright, of Edmondthorpe 26 May 1765
John Grey & Mary Cole, w. 19 Nov. 1765
William Musson, of Corby, in Lincolnsh., &
Ann Harris 4 Feb. 1767
William Burgoine & Sarah Chester 26 Feb. 1770
Thomas Wales & Mary Belton 24 May 1770
John Watchorn & Isabel Bailey 26 Dec. 1770
Geo. Glover, of Dalby on the Wolds, & Elizabeth
Harris 4 July 1771
John Wand & Ann Fairwether 15 Aug. 1771
Richard Howett & Eleanor Pick 2 Dec. 1771
William Harrison, p. St. John's, in Stamford,
Lincolnshire, & Alice Wright 16 Nov. 1772
John Lenton, of Burton Coggles, & Mary
Bates, lic. 24 Nov. 1772
Peter Healey, of Hambledon, Rutland, &
Mary Healey, lic. 17 Nov. 1775
John Dewshop, of Howell, in Lincoln, & Jane
Healey 10 Aug. 1776
Thomas Jesson & Ann Powcock 6 Feb 1777
Thomas Wand & Sarah Roberts 22 Nov. 1778
James Boyfield & Mary Killingly 8 Dec. 1779
Thomas Topley & Elizabeth Bell 30 Nov. 1780
Samuel Jesson & Eleanor Geesing 6 Jan. 1782
Edward George & Mary Cole 25 Nov. 1782
Wm. Beecroft & Ann Cole 9 Dec. 1782
George Bellamy & Mary Colley 5 Sep. 1783
Samuel Ross, of Great Wigston, Leicester
shire, & Elizabeth Parker, lic. 27 Dec. 1783
Peter Wand & Mary Snowdun 18 July 1784
Christopher Compton, of Garthorpe, & Amy
Healey, lic. 23 Sep. 1784
Richard Howett & Hannah Bissett 3 Feb. 1785
George Martin, of Harlaxton, Lincolnsh., &
Mary Sharp 19 Jan. 1786
William Dobney & Ann Kitchen 13 Mar. 1786
Thomas Burgin & Ann Wood 18 June 1789
John Mann, w., of Syston, in Lincoln,
& Elizabeth Geeson 21 June 1789
James Rippin, of Woolsthorpe, Lincolnsh., &
Alice Parker 17 May 1790
Robert Metcalf, p. St. Nicholas, co. Nottm., &
Elizabeth Harris, lic. 17 Dec. 1791
William Beecroft & Christian Vine 24 Dec. 1792
William Roberts, of Freeby, & Ann Jesson, lic. 27 Jan. 1796
John Cawthorne & Catherine Hodgshin 19 Jan. 1797
William Healey & Elizabeth Parker 1 May 1797
William Kettle & Eleanor Watchorn 20 Aug. 1797
John Hewson, of Garthorpe, & Mary Parker 29 Nov. 1798
John Parker & Elizabeth Boyfield 4 Dec. 1799
Thomas Crofts & Catherine Yalding, lic. 8 Apr. 1781
Joseph Forman, of Rodeby, Leic., & Mary
Wooloton 31 Oct. 1782
Joseph Burbage, of Sproxton, & Elizabeth
Morrison 28 Nov. 1783
James George & Martha Marshall 1 Apr. 1785
William Pepper & Ann King 24 Feb. 1786
Thomas Padmore & Sarah Bingham 5 May 1786
Joseph Parker & Jane Lamb 26 May 1786
John Goodson & Mary Watchorne 20 Dec. 1789
Thomas Dobney & Jane Boyfield 25 July 1810
