In Domesday Rocstune, and in old writings Ructon, is about four miles
from Horncastle. The manorial estates belong to Sir Joseph Banks. The
church, which is a small building, consisting of a tower nave and
chancel, contains a marble tablet on which is the following inscription:
“Here lies the Body of NORREYS FYNES, Esq. Grandson to Sir Henry
Clinton, commonly called Fynes, eldest Son of Henry Earl of Lincoln,
by his Second Wife, Daughter of Sir Richard Morrison, and Mother of
Francis Lord Norreys, afterwards Earl of Berkshire. He had by his
much beloved and only Wife Elizabeth, who lies by him, Twelve
Children, of which Four Sons and Two Daughters were living at his
decease, which happened on the 10th of January 1735–6 in the 75th
year of his age. From the Revolution he always liv’d a Nonjuror,
which rendered him incapable of any other Publick Employment (tho’ by
his Great Abilitys and Known Courage equal to the most Difficult and
Dangerous) than that of being Steward to two great Familys, wherein
he distinguish’d himself during his Service of 40 years a most
Faithful and Prudent Manager, of a most Virtuous and Religious Life.
His paternal Estate he left without any addition to his Son KENDAL
his next heir. His eldest Son CHARLES was buried here the 26th of
August 1722, aged 36 years, whose Pleasant Disposition adorn’d by
many virtues which he acquir’d by his Studys in Oxford made his death
much lamented by all his Acquaintance.”
There also occur two other tablets; one to the memory of the Rev. Arthur
Rockcliffe, who died in 1798, aged 71; the other to the memory of Charles
Pilkington, Esq. who died in 1798, aged 75, and of Abigail his wife, who
died in 1817, aged 80. {46} The rectory, united to that of Haltham in
1741, is in the presentation of the Honorable Champion Dymoke.