The history and antiquities of Boston, and the villages of Skirbeck, Fishtoft, Freiston, Butterwick, Benington, Leverton, Leake, and Wrangle; comprising the hundred of Skirbeck, in the county of Lincoln. Including also a history of the East, West, and Wildmore fens, and copious notices of the Holland or Haut-Huntre fen ... sketches of the geology, natural history, botany, and agriculture of the district; a very extensive collection of archaisms and provincial words, local dialect, phrases, proverbs, omens, superstitions, etc. By Pishey Thompson. Illustrated with one hundred engravings.

542 BENINGTON CHANTRY.
So many of the rectors of this parish have been non-resident, that the Parish
Registers afford very little information respecting them. The registers are also
very imperfect. They commence in 1538, and are perfect to 1668; from this
latter date no entry is found until 1697; from that year until 1738, the registers
are in very good preservation. From 1738 to 1753, they appear to have been
kept upon separate slips of paper, the greater part of which is lost; from 1753
to the present time, they are in due order.
The earliest mention we have of the advowson of this church is in 1425,
when William Darby of Benington granted it, with the manor and the chantry
dedicated to the Virgin Mary, to John Kygheley and Robert Ros, knights,
and others.' The rectory is valued in the King's books at 331. 3s. 11d. It
formerly belonged to Sir Williamn Ellis, M.P. for Boston; at his death it came
to the Hobart family. The Earl of Ripon is the present patron of the living,
in right of his wife, who is the daughter of the late Earl of Buckinghamshire,
the head of the Hobart family.
CHIANTRY OF THE BLESSED MARY.
The chantry was founded by the ancestors of Thomas Darby, gentlemanl,'
but the exact period of its establishment is not stated; it was, however, before
the year 1306, since ill that year we find it stated that Robert --- was then
chaplain of this institution. This chantry (in the words of the founder) —
W' Was established with the intention that one chaplain should celebrate for ever divine
service in the chantry in the parish church of Benington, for the souls of the founders and
others."
The incumbent at the date of tile MS. (most probably 1547), was"Thomas —, of the age of 30 years, and who is pronounced by no means fit to serve
the cure."
It further states," He has and receives the proceeds and profits of the lands and possessions 3. for his
salary, having no other promotion......"
About thirty-seven acres and three roods of land are enumerated as belonging
to this chantry, which rented for 41. 5s. annually, out of which the incumbent
received a pension of 31. 12s. 10d. A memorandum is attached to this MS.
which states, that the chief house (caritalis donu.s) or mansion of the said
chantry, and four acres of pasture belonging to the same, with five acres and
a half of land in the occupation of Thomas Abraham, " were taken and recovered
by law from the hand and possession of the said chantry priest by one Henry
Forman, who was curate in the 34th year of Henry VIIIo, of the annual value
of thirty-six shillings."
The following names of chaplains of this chantry have been recorded:1306. Robert
1377. William —.4
1452. Williamon Cokeler,.
14395. William de Greethainm.6
1535. Thomas Hagan received annually 61. 3s. 8d.7
1 Close Roll, 3 Henry VI. 1425. 4 Subsidy Rolls. 5 Ibid.
2 Cotton MSS., Tiberiuts, E. iii. folio 1086. 6 Leverton Records.
a The margin of this MS. is almost entirely 7 Valor Ecclesiasticus, p. 95.
hbrnt;, and other parts have suffered from damp.