Solomon, Michael – Pub landlord opposed to drinking

Michael Solomon (1663-1700)

A publican, who once owned the Angel Hotel, left a trust fund which paid the rector of St Wulfram’s Church, £2 a year to preach on the evils of drink every Michaelmas Sunday.

Michael Solomon was born in 1663 in Pickworth to Joannis and Annae.

He had a younger sister, Anna, and two younger brothers Joannis and Eduardus.

Michael Solomon was a man of some property having the White Lion and the Angel inns in Grantham, with other properties in Pickworth and Grantham.

He married Katherine Leeming, who was baptised at Grantham on 9th February 1664, daughter of Richard and Alice Leeming.

They owned a house with barn and garden in Grantham apparently owned by Michael and, owned jointly with his wife, three houses, a cottage, garden, orchard, 10 acres of land, 30 acres of meadow, 30 acres of pasture, and part of a house, barn, 2 gardens and an orchard, in Grantham and Pickworth

In his will dated 1701, he left the bulk of his estate to his wife Katherine and his brother, Edward, suggesting that they had no children.

He wished to be buried in the church yard of Pickworth on the south side of the quire near to the wall and a plain stone monument set over his grave, with forty shillings to be paid annually to its upkeep taken from rents of his Pickworth properties.

There is a plaque on the outside of the south choir wall, and an old grave nearby which is thought to be his.

He also left money for the poor of Pickworth and of Grantham.

In addition he gave “to the Alderman (Mayor) of Grantham and his successors for ever a rent charge of forty shillings per annum to be paid out of ye Angell Inne in Grantham .. every Michaelmas Day .. that  …. some able Divine preach a Sermon in the afternoon the next Sunday after every Aldermans Choice forever wherein the subject shall be chiefly against Drunkenness.”

In the ringing chamber of St. Wulfram’s Church is a record of his bequest, dated 1706.

Information gained from Parish Registers and Archives at Derbyshire and Lincolnshire Records Offices.