The Thimbleby’s Gift

In England the period between 1660 and 1670 was, to say the least, interesting. It saw the Restoration of the Monarchy with the enthronement of Charles II. Later it would see the Plague engulf London and the rest of the country. Only to be followed by the Great Fire of London.

Up in Lincolnshire the fall of an apple in his orchard in Woolsthorpe Manor, would eventually lead Isaac Newton to develop his universal law of gravity. While in the Fens, Vermuyden and the adventurers would carry on with their efforts to drain drowned fields. And, in 1662 in another part of Lincolnshire, Thomas Thimbleby was born. Seven years later Mary, the wife of Richard West, gave birth to Jane, Thomas Thimbleby’s future wife. Jane was christened on November 21, 1669 at Haltham upon Bain.

Time passed and however they met, Thomas and Jane were married, perhaps on Jane’s 23rd birthday, November 13, 1692. They were married in Folkingham Church.

A year later they had their first child, Mary, followed by Thomas in 1696 and John in 1697. The family then moved the short distance to Horbling, were they were joined by Susannah in 1699, Sarah in 1701, Jane in 1702, Rebeckah in 1704, Joseph in 1706, Westrichard in 1709 and Frances in 1712.
Thomas, Jane and the family must enjoyed life in Horbling, setting down their roots and seemingly taking an active part in local affairs, for when Thomas made his Will on February 9, 1725, he included the following:

“ Item, I give Six Shillings to the Poore of Horbling yearly for ever on good fryday to be paid out of that house of mine now in the tennor of Nick Eason ...”

Thomas died on May 23, 1727, aged 65 and was buried on May 31. Either generally failing health, or the loss of Thomas made Jane make her Will on October 31, 1727 in which she included the following:

“ ... Of Six Shillings a year for ever on good fryday for ye poor of Horbling for ever I add four shillings a year more to be paid in like manner for ever. ...”

Jane died on November 2, 1727, aged 57 and was buried in Horbling Church on November 4.
Whether it was the children of Thomas and Jane, or other well-wishers, but whoever it was, a Monumental Inscription was raised in the Chancel of Horbling Church. The inscription reads as follows:

Near this Place lyes
the Body’s of
Thomas Thimbleby
and Jane his Wife
he departed this Life
May the 23rd 1727 . Aged 65
years . She departed Nov
the 2nd 1727. Aged 57 years

Thomas gave to the poor of
Horbling 6s per Ann and
Jane gave 4s per Ann to be
Disposed of Yearly on
Goodfryday for ever.

Time passed slowly, as did the face of the land. Kings and Queens came, reigned and passed on, until 1834/36 an Act of Parliament, made and passed in “The 5th and 6th Years of King William the 4th, c.71, intituled

“AN ACT for appointing Commissioners to continue
The Inquiries concerning Charities in England and
Wales , until the first day of March one thousand
Eight hundred and thirty-seven.”

In 1839, Part IV of the Report of the Commissioners Appointed in pursuance of the Act was published. The following is an extract from Pages 203 and 204 of that Report and covers Horbling:

”THIMBLEBY’S GIFTS

A tablet in the chancel states that “Thomas Thimbleby, who died 23rd May 1727, gave 6s per annum, and Jane his wife, who died 2d November 1727, gave 4s per annum, to be disposed of yearly on Good Friday for ever”
These sums are paid out of land formerly belonging to the Thimblebys, since to Daniel Douglas, esq., and now to Edward Brown, esq., of Stamford, and in the occupation of William Tyrell, who pays the charge to the parish officers.
It has been distributed by them in small sums among the widows of the parish.”

When I researched this in 2003/ 04 the Thimbleby’s Gift was still being paid, although lumped together with similar bequests.

And long may it continue!