The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

436 THOMAS GRANTHAM.
Henry his son, elevated (as above stated) to the rank of an English peer, was
highly esteemed by his respective sovereigns. He was Lord Chamberlain of the
household to her Majesty Queen Caroline, when Princess of Wales, in which
office he continued till her decease.
He married Lady Henrietta Butler, sister to James Duke of Ormond, by
whom he had two sons,-Henry, who died at Orleans in 1718; and Thomas,
who died at Dijon in Burgundy in I730, both unmarried. He had also four
daughters,-Frances, married in 1737 to Captain Elliot; Emilia Maria and
Henrietta, who both died young; and another Henrietta, married in 1732 to
William Earl Cowper.
His Lordship died in 1754, and leaving no male issue, his family honours
terminated with him.
THOMAS GRANTHAM
was born at Halton, near Spilsby, in 1634, a descendant from the ancient family
of that name in this county. He, in very early life, acknowledged the importance of religion; and in 1653 made a public confession of his faith, and was
baptised, and became a member of the General Baptist Church in Boston. He
still remained at Halton, and in 16566 he was, ordained minister of the Baptist
Church in that village. He and his flock endured a great deal of persecution
and violence during the Protectorate because they would not worship God after
the will of the Protector. At the restoration of Charles II., the persecution
against Dissenters was again manifested, and the Baptists resolved to lay their
grievances at the foot of the throne. A narrative of their sufferings was accordingly drawn up, and presented to his Majesty on the 26th of July, 1660, by
Mr. Grantham and Mr. Joseph Wright. The King received the address
courteously, and promised them relief. If this promise was kept, it was not of
long avail; for a proclamation was issued, January 10th, 1661, forbidding all
"' Anabaptists, Quakers, or other sectaries, to assemble for the worship of God,
except in a parochial church or chapel." The General Baptists of Lincolnshire
united with their brethren in other parts of the kingdom, in publishing a spirited
defence of themselves, and also made a separate application to the throne, and
presented a second petition to the King. Failing in obtaining their object, they
presented a third address in February 1661, subscribed by Thomas Grantham
and seven other persons. Promises were again made by the King and the
Lord Chancellor, which proved to be illusory, for persecution still continued.
In 1662, a party of soldiers entered the Baptist Meeting-house'at Boston, during
public worship, and seized several of the congregation. Mr. Grantham and
two others were conveyed to the common gaol at Lincoln.. Here Mr. Grantham
was accused of being a Jesuit in disguise; to refute which he published a tract,
entitled "The Baptist against the Papist;" and alsoi a book called " The
Prisoner against the Prelate; or, a Dialogue between the Common Gaol of
Lincoln and the Cathedral." After fifteen months' imprisonment, Mr. Grantham
was set at liberty, no crime being alleged against him. He was not, however,
permitted to continue long in the enjoyment of his liberty. In 1664, when the
Conventicle Act took place, Mr. Grantham was again under persecution; for
being examined by the magistrates, and refusing to conform to the Established
Church, he was thrown into Louth gaol, where he was imprisoned for six
months, until the assizes; when, no one appearing against him, he was set at
liberty. Upon the King's indulgence to Dissenters, as set forth by his declaration in March 1671, granting them liberty to meet and worship God according