By a third charter, dated at Edlington, the day of Mercury (Wednesday) next after the feast of St. Michael, A.D. 1285, William, son of William of Wispington, gives, grants, and confirms, to the same William Hardigray, now of Edlington, clerk, a toft with the tenements thereon, situated in Edlington, for which he is to pay annually the rent of one farthing, at the feast of Easter. [235]
Among Gibbons’ “Early Lincolnshire Wills” (pp. 35, 36.) we find, that Henry de Brauncewell, Canon of Lincoln, by will in 1395, leaves money to his poor parishioners, at Wispington, Leasingham, St. Peter’s at Arches, and elsewhere.
We now get another name, which was one of weight in this parish and elsewhere for many years. Among the list of noblemen and gentry, who subscribed for the defence of the country, when the Spanish Armada was expected, in 1589, we find the name of “Roberte Phillippes, of Wispington,” who, like his neighbour Vincent Welby, of Halstead Hall, contributed £25, which was a large sum in those days. (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. ii., p. 133). In the next century, among the list of gentry of Lincolnshire, made on the Herald’s Visitation, in 1634, along with the well-known names of Heneage, Pelham, Massingberd, Monson, &c., we also find Robert Phillips, of Wispington. (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. ii., p. 73).
This family, which afterwards by marriage acquired the name of Glover, [236] possessed property outside of Wispington, for we find from a bond dated October 25, 1735, that disputes having arisen as to the boundary of the estate of Phillips Glover, at Walmsgate, and that of the estate of Matthew Lister, of Burwell Park, adjoining it, the two proprietors agreed to place 12 stones, in the presence of witnesses, to fix for the future the line of separation between the properties. (Notes on the Manor of Burwell, by R. W. Goulding; “Architect. S. Journal,” xxiv., pt. i., p. 91.) Other records in connection with this family, are as follows:—
(1.) Walter Harpham, by his will dated 10 Feb. 1607–8, leaves the reversion of £100 to Alice Phillips, his daughter, and £300 to his granddaughter, Elizabeth Phillips, and to his grandson, Willoughby Phillips, £100, and makes his son-in-law, Thomas Phillips, executor. (Maddison’s “Wills of Lincolnshire,” 1600–1617, p. 180).
(2.) John Holland, of Hemingby, by will, of date 15 Sep., 1608, leaves 20s. to Mr. Stephen Phillips, of Wispington, for supervising his will. (Maddison’s “Wills of Lincolnshire,” 1600–1617, p. 27.)
(3.) Margery Neale, of Horncastle, by her will, dated July 10, 1611, leaves to Jane Phillips, wife of Vincent Smithe, £6 in money, herself to keep £3 of it, and to give £3 to her daughter Elizabeth, “my Goddaughter.” (Ibidem, p. 51.)
In the Register of Admissions to Gray’s Inn, London (edited by J. Foster, 1889), “Robert Phillips, of Wispington, Co., Lincoln,” is named as a student “admitted Feb. 7, 1653–4.”
Phillips Glover, Esq., of Wispington, or Colonel Glover, married, circa. 1790, being then resident at Stainfield, Rebecca, eldest daughter of Mr. William Jepson Proctor, Chapter Clerk, &c., of the Bail, Lincoln, and sister to the Rev. George Jepson, M.A., Prebendary of Lincoln, 1781–1787. (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. ii., p. 150).
Colonel Glover had a daughter, who married Robert Vyner, Esq., of Eathorpe, Co. Warwick, and had a numerous family. He, or more probably his father, was Sheriff of the county of Lincoln, in the year 1727. Early in the 19th century was issued a large mezzotint portrait of Phillips Glover, Esq., of Wispington, described “as a steady disinterested friend, who never courted popularity, but was ever deserving of it.” (“Linc. N. & Q.” vol. ii., p. 87). The Glovers, or Phillipses, were patrons of the Benefice; John Phillips, according to “Liber Regis,” presenting in 1707, and Mrs. Glover in 1755. In 1769, “pro hac vice,” Henry Martinson, Gent., presented, having doubtless bought the next presentation, since we find his relative John Martinson, instituted to the vicarage at that date. On his death a Glover presented for the last time, the entire property being subsequently sold to Mr. Turnor, of Stoke Rockford, Panton, &c.