by, in
the 14th century conveyed lands in Thimbleby to the Abbot of Kirkstead.
This would seem to imply a previous connection of this parish with that
monastery, to attract the Thimbleby proprietor to it. Accordingly we
find that, among the various properties of the Abbey, granted by Hugh
Brito, its founder (A.D. 1139), and other benefactors, were 90 acres of
land in Thimbleby, with the advowson of the Benefice. In those days
there was only a very limited number of resident clergy in the country
parishes, {170a} the churches being served largely by the monks of the
monasteries. In some cases these were "itinerant clerks," in other cases
there was a "grange," or dependency, of the monastery in the parish,
having a "cell," or "hermitage," for a priest.

Thimbleby was not among the number of parishes which had a church before
the conquest, as Edlington and several other neighbouring parishes had;
but there is no doubt that a church was erected here soon after that
period, which, like the neighbouring Woodhall, was connected with
Kirkstead, and here, as at Woodhall, there are traces of a moated
enclosure eastward of the church, which doubtless was the site of the
grange.

The Abbot of Kirkstead exercised the powers of a superior lord here in a
somewhat arbitrary fashion; it being complained against him before Royal
Commissioners as early as the reign of Edward I., that he had erected
here "furcoe," or a gallows, on which various criminals had been
executed; and that he had appropriated to himself the assize of bread and
beer here, and at Horncastle. {170b} But "blessed are the peacemakers,"
and the abbots, with wholesome influence, were able, when occasion
served, to produce harmony out of discordant elements; as the following
records show (quoted from Final Concords): "In three weeks from the day
of the Nativity of the Blessed Mary, 10 Henry III. (28th Sept., A.D.
1226)," a dispute arising between Reginald, Rector of Thymelby, and
Peter, son of John, tenant of a certain messuage and toft in Thymelby.
Peter was induced to give up his claim, in favour of Reginald and his
successors; and for this the said Reginald gave him one mark, in
recognition of the concession. Which agreement was made in the presence
of Henry, Abbot of Kirkstead, who himself gave to the church of Thymelby
all right which he had in rent, which he was wont to receive; not however
without an equivalent, which--being wise in his generation--he was
ca