Person:John Kitching (1)

John Kitching's origins have yet to be established. If the age given when he died is correct, then he was born around 1739. John's first confirmed sighting is on 7th February 1763, when he married Sarah Preston at Kirkby la Thorpe in Lincolnshire. He was living in the nearby town of Sleaford at the time, and he and Sarah settled there after their marriage. They went on to have nine children baptised at Sleaford between 1763 and 1773, although at least six of their children died young. Some of the children's baptisms describe John as being a cordwainer.

Sarah died in 1775, aged 38.

Eighteen months later, John married again. His second wife was Mary Medcalf, and they married on 1st May 1777 at Sleaford. They went on to have a daughter in 1778 and a son in 1781. Mary then died in 1782.

On 30th November 1784, John married for a third time. His third wife was Ann Procter, and they married at Ruskington, about four miles north of Sleaford. They do not appear to have had any further children.

John died in 1822. Immediately before his death he was described as living at Anwick, a village just east of Ruskington. He was buried back at Sleaford on 23rd February 1822. He was said to be 78 years old. Ann survived him by thirteen years.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Burials register, in Church of England. Parish Church of Sleaford (Lincoln). Parish registers, 1653-1964. (Lincoln: Lincolnshire Record Office).

   BURIALS in the Parish of New Sleaford in the County of Lincoln in the Year 1822
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   370	John Kitchen	Anwick	February 23	82 [1739/40]	J. Dodsworth, Curate