By will, dated 22 Dec. 1615, Robert Hustwait, of Great Grimsby, makes his brother, Edward Hustwait, of Miningsbye, and his cousin, Tristram Smith, of Awdbee Grange, supervisors, and gives them twenty shillings each. The Husthwaites were above the yeoman class, but not important enough to appear in the Visitations of the Heralds; they intermarried with the Wrights of Grimsby and Smyths of Audby, and lived at Little Coates and Bradley.
By a Chancery Inquisition post mortem, 23 Henry VII., No. 78 (A.D. 1507–8), taken at Horncastle, Jan. 14th, John Parke of Mynyngesby, John Skayman, of Mynyngesby, being among the jurors, it was shewn that Thomas, the Abbott of Revesby, was entitled to hold from the King, among other lands, 10 acres of arable land and 4 acres of meadow, called “Symondes lands” in Mynyngesby (“Architect. S. Journal,” 1895, p. 59), notwithstanding the Statute of Mortmain.
By a Feet of Fines, Lincoln, file 68 (32), 30 Edw. I., Robert de Wylgheby (Willoughby) granted to John Beek (Bec) certain lands in Hareby, Kyrkeby, Bolyngbrok, Mythyggesby, &c., and “the advowsons of the churches of Spillesby, Kyrkeby next Bolingbroke, and the Church of Toynton.” (“Architect. S. Journal,” 1897, p. 56.)
Among the deeds connected with property in East Kirkby, now in the possession of Porter Wilson, Esq., of Louth, is one, by which Beatrix, wife of William Wriht of Mythingesby, quitclaims to Robert de Silkeston, and Robert, son of Isabella Skells (Scales), all her right in the lands and tenements in Mythingesby, which they held of the gift of the said William her late husband. Given at Kyrkeby juxta Bolingbrok, on Thursday next before the feast of St. Michael, 1 Edw. III. (A.D. 1327.)
By another Deed, “Robert de Menynggesby, chaplain,” with “Thomas de Marketon, Rector of Harreby,” and another, “give to Robert de Silkeston of Kyrkeby,” certain lands “in Menyngesby, Kirkby, Bolynbrok, &c.” Given at Kirkeby, 26 Dec., 29 Edw. III. (A.D. 1355.)
Among charters of the Ipré family, it is shewn that Sir John de Ipré acquired “lands in Est Kerkeby, Mithyngesby, &c., of Sir John de Nevill, knight, Lord of Raby; which property descended to his son Thomas Ipré, who granted the said lands for the use of Robert Grynne, and Richard Grynne his son.” Date, 31 December, 1392.
N.B.—Sir Robert Sylkeston, knyght, of Est Kyrkeby, had issue “Alicia maryed unto Robert Grynne”; whose great great granddaughter “Audrya maryed unto Ric. Skepper,” a member of the family already mentioned. (“Linc. N.& Q,” v., pp. 73–4.)
By a Deed, dated 19 May, 24 Henry VI. (1446), Henry the King orders that certain rents for lands in Est Kirkby, Menyngesby, &c., which had been unlawfully withheld by Alice Browne, shall be duly paid to John Grynne, and Richard, his son, “they being at the time of acquisition, men (i.e. bond-tenants) of our manor.” “Given under our seal of our Duchy of Lancaster at our palace of Westminster.” (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. v. p. 89.)
According to Liber Regis, there was formerly a charge of 1s. 6d. annually on certain lands in Miningsby, towards the repairs of the church windows.
The Church, dedicated to St. Andrew, consists of nave, chancel and a double bell-gable at the west end. It was restored at the expense of J. Banks Stanhope, Esq., in 1878, when nearly the whole fabric was taken down by the architect, the late Mr. James Fowler, of Louth, and carefully reconstructed so as to preserve its most interesting features. The stone then employed is already (1901) showing signs of decay. The south wall of the nave retains portions of an earlier Norman building, viz., one Norman window and a semi-circular headed doorway, set flush with the wall, enclosing a later pointed arch, also set flush. [142a] The chancel is early English, with lancet windows, in the east end and side walls; there is also a lancet window in the north wall of the nave. There was formerly a chantry in the north side of the church, the arch of which is now blocked. In the west wall are two tall trefoil windows. The font is perpendicular, with octagonal embattled bowl, supported by four columns with square flowers in the capitals. The chancel is separated from the nave by a good open rood screen, containing portions of the original. The whole interior presents a well-ordered church appearance. [142b] The object, however, of special interest here, is a so-called “Runic” stone, covered with the involuted “knot,” or “figure of eight” pattern. Not many years ago it formed the threshold of a door, but was rescued by the Rev. G. Maughan, rector of East Kirkby, when he had charge of this parish, who had it placed against the north wall of the chancel. It is fortunately still in a very fair condition, with the exception of a portion gone from one end, and a crack towards the other end. There are, or were recently, two other specimens in the neighbourhood, one, a fragment at Lusby, and the other at Mavis Enderby. The Lusby fragment is said to have been Norman. (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. iv. p. 225). That at Mavis Enderby, now used as a church door step, and the pattern, consequently much defaced, is, like this at Miningsby, said to be of pre-Norman style, though not necessarily pre-Norman date. The former, however, is coped, while the latter is flat. The Rev. G. Maughan believed that there was another similar stone within the same chancel wall, but, as that part of the fabric was not taken down by the architect, it was not exposed to view. (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. iii. p. 157.) The frill border of the Miningsby stone is decidedly Saxon in character. It is 44 inches long, by 19½ wide, and 6in. thick. These stones are specially interesting and far from common. Interlaced work was an ancient Hittite ornament, as shewn in a seal, engraved in the “Archæological Journal,” vol. xliv. p. 348. Specimens are found, however, in Italy, Greece, France, as well as similar patterns in Saxon, Lombardic, and Spanish MSS. The stones are more common in Ireland than in England. Several are found like the Iona cross in Scotland, probably imported from Ireland, by the missionaries of St. Columba. There is an excellent sketch of the Miningsby stone, by the Rev. J. A. Penny, vicar of Wispington, in “Lincolnshire Notes and Queries,” vol. iv., p. 225.