In connection with this we may mention that the late Sir Henry James Hawley married, as his first wife, Elizabeth Askew, a descendant of the same family. The Ayscoughs (or Askews) were a distinguished Lincolnshire and Yorkshire family, and have still numerous representatives.[1]
Here is another record of the same family. By will, dated 15th April, 1612, Walter Ayscoughe, of Mareham-le-Fen, left to his wife Bridget £20 annuity, and other property, for her life; then to his sons Henry and Walter, and two daughters Margaret and Elizabeth; also 12d. to the same; and 5s. to Nicholas Cressey, gent, supervisor, witness Clynton Ayscoughe; proved at Horncastle, 2nd May, 1613. To this family belonged Anne Askew the martyr, who was the younger daughter of Sir William Ayscough, Bart, of Stallingborough. Their property eventually came to the late Ascoghe Boucherett, of South Willingham.
Next we find one of the old family of Newcomen, already referred to, "Edward Newcomen of Mareham-le-Fenne, by will, proved at Horncastle, 1st July, 1614," leaving to his daughters, Elizabeth and Mary, £10 each, the same to his son Robert, and the residue to his wife; the personality being £120 3s. 8d., a vastly larger sum in those days than now.
Another will is that of Annie Elie, widow, of Mareham-le-Fen, dated 13th July, 1616, in which she desires "to be buried in the church," so that she was probably some one of importance. She leaves everything to her son-in-law John Wymberley, and her daughter Susan Wymberley.[2]
Among the deeds and charters of Revesby Abbey, privately printed by the Right Hon. E. Stanhope a few years ago, No. 24 gives, among the witnesses to a deed of gift, the name of Eda, wife of Richard, Priest of Mareham (temp. Henry II., or Richard I) Hence it is evident that celibacy was not strictly enforced on the clergy at that period.[3] Among the witnesses to other deeds are Robert, Priest of Marum, and Richard, Priest of Marum, A.D. 1172. The deed of gift of certain lands to Revesby Abbey (No. 29), by a certain John, is stamped with a round seal, having an equestrian figure, and the legend Sigillum Johannis de Maringe. By another deed William, son of John of Maring, gives certain lands; the seal bearing a lion and dog, or fox "contourné regardant,"[4] the legend of this is Sigill. Will. de Marige.
With these records and associations with the past, the parish of Mareham may surely be said to have a history on which its people may well look back with interest and satisfaction.
MOORBY.
Moorby lies about 4½ miles from Horncastle, and about 1½ miles beyond Scrivelsby, in a south-easterly direction. Letters via Boston arrive at 9.30.
- ↑ A pamphlet on The Ayscough family and their connections, by J. Conway Walter, 1896.
- ↑ Lincolnshire Wills, by Canon Maddison.
- ↑ At this early period, partly perhaps owing to laxity of morals, but partly because the papal supremacy was not fully recognised, celibacy of the clergy was not strictly enforced. On the accession of Queen Mary great numbers of them were found to be married She issued "Injunctions" to the bishops in 1553-4, ordering them to deprive all such of their benefices; although some of them, on doing public penance, were restored to their position. In the Lincoln Lists of Institutions to Benefices, at that period, many of the vacancies are stated to have occurred, owing to the deprivation of the previous incumbent; and in some cases, as at Knebworth, Herts., and at Haversham, Bucks. (both then in the Lincoln diocese), it is specified that the incumbent so deprived was married (sacerdos conjugatus). Lincs, Notes & Queries, vol. v, p. 174.
- ↑ One derivation of the name Revesby is from "reeve," a fox, or rover, and we still call the fox the little red rover."
