Never heard of it Canada. According to Google Ngram Viewer, use of the phrase peaked in 1883 and reached a modern low in the 1980s and 90s. The generation most likely to visit this site is the least likely to have heard of this phrase.
Now I'm trying to work out if the timber/lumber distinction is a North American thing. I was under the impression they were synonyms. Am I just wrong, or is it a regional variation in terminology?
I could be mistaken, however I believe that timber is unprocessed such as felled trees etc. Lumber is after the timber as been processed and can be used in construction.
"To execute someone via mob justice" I had Stone. It's a very common last name and it fits the definition. It might be a prescribed punishment in some parts of the world but mobs have also been known to use it. I suppose it's not ranked 259th, but there's no reasonable way to precisely intuit that.
Though spelled differently there's a comedian in the US Jim Breuer who made a career off the fact that he always looks like he's stoned. Turns out he really is as dumb as he looks.
To be completely pedantic, a brewer is a MAN who makes beer. A brewster is a WOMAN who makes beer. The suffix "ster" denotes a female in the profession. A webster is a female weaver and, although the spelling is slightly different, a baxter is a female baker.
Can you allow a few more spellings for the fourth one, please?
I’ve always spelt it, and seen it spelt with a Y. I don’t want to list the whole spelling for fear of giving away an answer, but hopefully you know the spelling I mean. I appreciate the surname is almost always spelt as in the answer but the clue implies the spelling I suggested should be a type in.
Ferb FLETCHER?
I also thought lynch was specifically hanging, but it looks like this isn't always the case - learning a lot!
Numerous others
I’ve always spelt it, and seen it spelt with a Y. I don’t want to list the whole spelling for fear of giving away an answer, but hopefully you know the spelling I mean. I appreciate the surname is almost always spelt as in the answer but the clue implies the spelling I suggested should be a type in.