Name Origin: Old Scandinavian sandtoftesandy homestead.
The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales, ed J.H.F.Brabner, 1895:
Sandtoft, a hamlet in Belton parish, Lincolnshire, 1 mile N of Epworth and 3 miles
NW of Belton.
Notes
Sandtoft lies in Hatfield Chase on the Isle of Axholme, once an area of fenland. Roger de Mowbray, an antient lord
of Axholme, established a cell there under the abbey of St Mary of York, for whose defence a mastiff was to be
perpetually maintained.
The drainage of Hatfield Chase was commenced in 1626. Two years later 80 Huguenot families from Walloon Flanders,
fleeing persecution, settled in the area. In 1635 there was another large influx of Huguenots, mostly artisans
and farmers from Normandy and the Walloon country. A chapel was erected at Sandtoft for their use, and here
the public service was read alternately in Dutch and French.
The fenland natives were hostile to the drainage of the Level, believing that the participants (as the partners
in the drainage undertaking were here known) were robbing them of their rights of common established by
John de Mowbray in the reign of Edward III. In the years 1628 to
1631 there were fourteen outbursts of violence. This was followed by some years of comparative peace, but
the beginning of the Civil War in 1642 saw the start of a period of greater lawlessness (see this entry from the
Calendar of State Papers Domestic for 1643). In December 1645 the sheriff
of Lincolnshire was instructed to suppress the riots, making use of train-bands of the county, and any
parliamentary forces which might be there, to protect the participants and repair the damaged drainage. The
fenmen took their case to law, but when the Court of Excequer ruled against them in 1650, a great riot
broke out: the Chapel at Sandtoft was defaced, the village which had grown up round it demolished, the
floodgates opened, and the River Trent allowed to overflow the Level once more.
The mistreatment of the Huguenots by the fenman had always encouraged a small number to leave for more
friendly surroundings: the riots of 1650 turned a trickle to a flood. Many found their way to the Huguenot
settlement at Whittlesey, and thence to Thorney, where the French Church assembled
in 1652. In 1656, a group of Sandtoft Huguenots petitioned Oliver Cromwell
for relief from their persecution: judgement was given in their favour, but little practical effect was felt.
Litigation, and frequent riots, continued until 1719, when the fenmen's case was dismissed in the
Court of Chancery.
The Register of Sandtoft Chapel is now lost, having once been in the possession of the antiquary George
Stovin, but not found amongst his papers after his death. Stovin did, however, extract some entries from the
register, as follows:-
Marriages
1643
April 3
Mart Dubliq and Eliz. Teurqoin
June 11
Anthoine Blancart and Marie Bondvel
October 22
Anthoine Scanfair and Jenne Longuespee
November 5
Pier Delahaye and Jenne Henegrave
January 28
Noe Ager and Jeann Caidoy
1644
May 19
Jesay Beamarm and Susann Lehouq
July 14
Jaques Pinssoy and Susann Leespier
June 10
Jehan Leleu and Judith Lenoy
July 21
Jaques Leroy and Maria Pinsfoy
1645
July 15
Simon Acfair (probably a misreading of Le Hair - see
baptisms, 1656) and Maria LeRoy
August 3
Francois Derick and Cath. Delespiser
August 10
Anthoine Leflour and Maria Renault
1646
March 30
Pier Amory and Maria Watson
August 2
Jacob Renard and Maria Frank
1647 - 1648
October 29
Christian Smaque and MagDelein Descamps
January 14
Michell Lebrand and Ester Pensoy
January
Piere Descamps and Ester Cony
1649
July 1
Isaac Delanoy and Marie Du Battelet
July 15
Jaques Harnew and Jenne Le Roy
1650
June 3
Oser Legrand and Jenne Hancar
January 1
Jaq. Dumoulin and Cath. Legrain
1651
April 23
Anthoine Blancar and Marie Lespiere
1652
November 9
Jaques Coquelar and Ester Morilion
1665
February 15
Abram Egard and Jeanne Delanoy
July 25
David Morrillion and Catherin Banruedt
October 30
Piere Lelieu and Ester Lenoir
November 1
Isaac de bacy and Eliz. Amory
January 18
Isenbar Chavatte and Ann Morrillion
Mare de coup and Marie Morrillion
February 8
Isaac Vanplue and Jeann duvertier
March 14
Jacob Tissen and Marie Baurudet
1666
November 28
Isaac Beharelle and Jean Discamps
January 23
Jacob Tyssen and Sara de Raedt
David Letalle and Maria Amory
February 13
Piere Tyssen and Eliz. Leenards
1667
February 24
Abram Beharelle and Elizabeth Letalle
February 26
Piere Leleu and Maria duvertier
March 4
Isenbar Chavatte and Marie Smaque
1670
April 4
Abram Bareel and Francoise Sterpin
Matthias Priem and Sarah Smaque
1671
January 25
Isaac Desbiens and Joanna Waterloo
Baptisms
1642
May 19
Eliz. daughter of Noe Matts and Marguerit Guiselin
February 22
Isaac son of Jean Beharrelle and Jane Jordain
February 26
Jacob son of Mattw Porree and Maria Jaquemine
Susann daughter of Osee Tafin and Sara de Zonmber
March 26
Michael son of Custaw Legrand and Magelen Chavatte
1643
April 3
Pierre son of David Morrillion and Anne Letalle
July 23
Jaques son of Jehan Le Talle and Judith Descamps
Jean son of Jaques Hernu and Jenne Lombard
September 24
Matthew son of Crullin Priem and Sara Bresmr
October 25
Margt daughter of Matthew Brungue and Marguerit Bale
November 26
Jaques son of Jehan Letalle and Jaquenime Tissen
December 3
Isaac son of Jaques Flahau and Jeanne Chatelet. Temoins: Isaac Amory and Judith Leflour
March 14
Marie daughter of Isaac Amory and Maria Morillion
January 22
Pier son of Monsr Berchett, minister
undated
Susan daughter of Anthonine Dubois and Susanna Morillin
1644
undated
Issenbar son of Isenbar Chavatte
September 1
Susan daughter of Roland Dubois and Magdalen Cardue
Matthias son of Charles Prime and Pree Messman
undated
Piere son of Jean and Jennine Morillion
Ann daughter of David Morrillion and Ann Letalle
Jacob son of Isaac Vennin and Cath. Smaque
Jacob son of Isaac Amory and Maria (presumably Morillion, cf 14 March 1643)
February 6
Eliz, daughter of Adrian Vanhouge and Eliz. Derrick
Andu Clebaux son of ... Lenoy
John son of Antoin Le Roux and Maria Duffosse
October 26
Maur daughter of Nicholas Tyssen and Sara Jacob
undated
Abraham son of Anthoine Dubois and Susann Morrillion
Johan son of Jaques Flahau and Jeanne Castlet
1646
undated
Marie daughter of Pier Delagaye and Susanne
Dina daughter of Charles Raney and Sara Elbiet
Ann daughter of David Le Conte and Sara Werquin
Isaac son of Anthoin Massengarbe and Dnia Mitchell
Marie daughter of Marc Dubliq and Eliz. Turquine
July 21
Ester daughter of Robt Flahau and Maria Scanflair
undated
Eliz. daughter of Custar Legrand and Magdelen Asolom
September 20
Cath. daughter of Isenbar Scavat and Maria Descamps
undated
Marie daughter of Isaac Roublay and Sarah Scanflair
Charles son of Charles Grebault and Eliz. Ferre
Abram son of Anthoine Merquehier and
Sarah daughter of Adrian Vanhouq and Eliz. Derrick
1647
undated
Piere son of Isaac Venin and Cath. Smaque
Anne daughter of Cxtian Fontain and Francoise Beaussart
Jacob son of Rolland Dubois and Magdellan Cardoy
Margeret daughter of Mathin Brugne and Margueret
Isaac son of Josias Harlay and Maria Legrand
Jacob son of Isaac Clais and Maria Deltur
