Everywhere a Whiffin...

Wherever you go in Linton, a Whiffin (or Whiffen) is sure to have gone before, and some have left their mark. I'm gathering a nice collection:



On St. Mary's church, carved into a window surround near the south porch: 

I [for J] E WHIFFIN

JEn 27 [for JAN or JUN? - seems like Whiffins played fast and loose with the vowels]

1813

I've started looking but have not yet traced this particular Whiffin.

Written in lead pencil on a door frame, north side of the church:

E D Whiffen
If [for Is] a A Fool

S[???]ed _____

E [followed by D? K? or R?] WHIFFEN

[???] 1816 [or 1916? or 1956?]

There have been numerous Edward, Edmund and Edwin Whiffins and Whiffens in Linton down the years and I've no idea which one was considered a fool. I'd need to convince myself of the date before launching into a search. Also the handwriting styles are quite different - the first looks much more old-fashioned - so they may date from different times altogether.


My most recent find, tucked behind some Virginia creeper on Market Lane:

M. WHIFFIN 1951

It looks like it could be 1851 but I suspect it must be a century later because it's close by another 1951 - plus a plaque elsewhere marks the wall as having been built in 1912. Does anyone know of any older M.Whiffins in the village? No, I don't plan to name-and-shame, but it'd fun to know if he (probably he) is still around.