held
certain property here.

The Dymokes were patrons of the benefice; Sir Charles Dymoke presenting
in 1682, after which the patronage passed to the Heathcote family (Liber
Regis and Ecton's Thesaurus). But an earlier connection with the Dymokes
is shewn by a tombstone commemorative of "Anna, daughter of Thomas
Dymoke, and his wife Margaret, que obijt . . . Ao Dni 1462."

In connection with the Humphrey Coningsby, named above, we have already
mentioned that a castellated residence in this parish belonged to a
family of that name. This Humphrey was Judge of the King's Bench, and
bought Hampton Court, co. Hereford, of Sir Thomas Cornwall, about 1510;
where was preserved a painting of the old mansion at Coningsby. {206b}
Thomas Coningsby was knighted by Elizabeth in 1591. Sir Fitz-William
Coningsby was Sheriff of the county, 1627; and for his loyalty to Charles
I. his estates were confiscated by the Puritans. His son was rewarded
with a peerage by Charles II.; and saved the life of King William at the
battle of the Boyne; but his two sons dying early, and he having no
further issue, the title became extinct.

In the List of Gentry of Lincolnshire, made at the Herald's Visitation in
1634, we find the name of Clinton Whichcote, of Coningsby, a member of an
old county family, still occupying a good position. {207a}

WILKSBY.

Wilksby lies about halfway between the parishes of Wood Enderby and
Moorby, at a distance of about five miles from Horncastle, in a
south-easterly direction. Letters from Boston _via_ Revesby, arrive
about 10.30 a.m.

The ancient history of this parish is much the same as that of the
adjoining parish of Moorby on the east, and Wood Enderby on the west. It
is called in _Domesday Book_ Wilchesbi, and Wilgesbi. At the date of
that survey (1086) there were four soc-men and five bordars, who had one
carucate (or 120 acres) of land, and 20 acres of woodland; while the lord
of the manor had one carucate in demesne, and five villeins, with two
oxen in another carucate; with 20 acres of meadow and 40 acres of
underwood; so that, like the neighbouring Moor-by and Wood Ender-by, this
parish also was largely of a forest character.

In this parish there was also "a Berewick of 1.5 carucates" (or 180
acres); a Berewick meaning an outlying farm (from "bere" barley, and
"wick" a village) belonging to another manor.

The parish was one of the estates taken by the Conqueror for himself,
probably