Memorials of four old families

8
CHRISTOPHER'S first wife died in giving birth to a daughter, who
afterwards married her cousin on the father's side, Richard Conye of
Bourne, Co. Lincoln, a merchant of the Staple ; for his will, proved 3rd
March, 1573, alludes to his "father, Christopher YVimberley," and "his
mother, YVimberley,'' and mentions that " his father Christopher YVimberley"
had made him overseer of his will.
The Conyes came into England with Queen Isabella, wife of Edward
II., from Bayonnc in Erance, and settled first in Cheshire, and afterwards
migrated into Lincolnshire and Rutlandshire.
Their arms were — Sa. on a fesse cotised or between three conies ar.
as many escallops of the field. Crest, a demi coney sable, holding a pansy
flower purple, stalked and leaved vert.
CHRISTOPHER died 20th December, 1570, and his will was proved 12th
Eebruary, 1571, at London. His widow died 12 years later, and her will
was also proved at London on 28th June, 1582.
The supervisors of Christopher's will were Thomas and Richard Coney
of Basingthorp, his nephews. It contains various bequests to the Church,
for bridge-mending, mending of the ways, the poor men's box of Bitchfield,
and the poor of the parishes of Basingthorp, YVestby, and South Witham ;
to Richard, son of John Newton, his predecessor [i.e., previously deceased] ;
to the children of William Berry, his predecessor ; and to the children of
his brother, Thomas YVimberley ; also forty shillings in old gold to Mr
Thomas Conye ; he makes provision for his son, Thomas Wimberley, then
under 14 years of age, if taken in ward or otherwise ; and then follows this
clause: — "And if it please God to call the said Thomas YVymberlie, my
son, to his mercy before he come at lawful age, then I will, that the said
lands, leases and goods, be sold to the uttermost value by my trusty friends,
with the advice of my overseers, and I will that twenty pounds be distri-
buted among the poor, that is to say, among the poor folks of Beechefield,
vj li. xiij s. iiij d ; among the poor folks of Basingthorpe and YVestby,
vj li. xiij s. iiij d ; and among the poor folks of South Witham, vj li. xiij s. iiijd;
and the rest to be divided amongst John Newton's children, my predecessor,
and William Berye's children, my predecessor, and my brother Wymberlie's
children by even portions."
His son lived to inherit his estate, and to be the progenitor of many
descendants.
The following document, taken from Harl. MS. 4135, shows Chris-
topher Wimberley's property in the Holland division of Lincolnshire. It is
called Records of Lincoln County, folio 170.
" Xoferus Wemberesley ob. 20 Dec,
"Thomas Wemberesley fil. A°- 12 Eliz,