Page:A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.djvu/207

188 Conyngsby, Sergeant at Law, and others, instituted a suit on behalf of William Stavely, and others, by which he recovered to them, among other properties, "the advowson of Nether Taunton, and the rent of 4½ quarters of salt, in Nether Taunton, Over Taunton, and other parishes."

We now find another ancient name connected with this parish. The Newcomens (originally Le Newcomen, or the newcomer) of Saltfleetby, were one of our oldest Lincolnshire families. They are named in Yorke's "Union of Honour," and their pedigrees given in four Lincolnshire Visitations. The number of branches into which the race spread is remarkable. Andrew Newcomen lived in the time of Richard I., resident at Saltfleetby, where the headquarters of the family continued for many generations. Robert Newcomen (1304) married Alice, daughter of Sir William Somercotes, Knight. His son, also Robert, married Margaret, daughter of Sir William Hardingshall, Knight. Another Robert (1452) married Joane, daughter of Robert Craycroft, of Craycroft Hall. A daughter Katharine, of Brian Newcomen, married (1559) George Bolle, of Haugh, a family already mentioned as, a few years later, connected with Low Toynton. In 1540 we find Richard Newcomen residing at Nether Toynton. By his will, dated 3rd Sept., 1540, he requests that he may be buried in the church of St. Peter, Nether Toynton. He appoints the right worshipful Edward Dymoke, supervisor. His grandson, Samuel Newcomen, of Nether Toynton, married Frances, daughter of Thomas Massingberd, of Braytoft Hall, M.P. for Calais (1552). This branch of the family seems to have died out in the person of Thomas Newcomen (1592); but other branches spread over the neighbourhood, and were established at Bag Enderby, East Kirkby, Withern, and other places, and flourished throughout the 17th century. Another Newcomen early in the 18th century married a daughter of Sir Robert Barkham, Bart.

A renewal of connection with Low Toynton was made when the widow of Nicholas-Newcomen married, circa 1700, the Honble. Charles Bertie, son of Robert, 4th Earl of Lindsey, patron of the benefice of Nether Toynton. Arthur Bocher, Esq., of Low Toynton, was in the Lincolnshire Rebellion of 1536, being brother-in-law of Thomas Moygne, one of the leaders in the movement.

Thus the parish of Low Toynton has had residents, proprietors, and rectors, to whom its present inhabitants may look back with some degree of pride and pleasure, although "their place now knoweth them no more."

This village stands on the west bank of the river Bain, about 4 miles to the south of Horncastle. It is bounded on the north by Thornton and Martin, on the east by Haltham and Dalderby, on the south by Kirkby-on-Bain, and on the west by Kirkstead, Kirkby, and Woodhall. The area is 1020 acres, rateable value £945, population 137, entirely agricultural. The soil is loam, on kimeridge clay, with "Bain terrace" gravel deposits.

The nearest railway stations are at Horncastle and Woodhall Spa, each about four miles distant. There is an award and map of Haltham and Roughton in the parish, and a copy at the County Council office, Lincoln. Three