We have mentioned this manor as formerly being the property of the Plantagenets. Of this there exists a curious piece of evidence. One Alan de Cuppledyke, {90c} was appointed by Edward II. governor of Bolingbroke castle, and his steward’s accounts still exist. In one passage he says that “the open woods of Hundleby, Kirkby and Hareby Thorns cannot be agisted (modern Linc. ‘gisted,’ _i.e._, let to be stocked with cattle), on account of the _new coppice_, planted by the late Earl,” _i.e._, Thomas Plantagenet, the recent owner, the King’s cousin, but who had forfeited his property, by stirring up a rebellion. This probably may be said to be the only wood in England which can be proved to have been planted by a Plantagenet (“Arch. S. Journ.” 1865, p. 43). The Littleburies, whose chief residence in this neighbourhood was Stainsby House, in the parish of Ashby Puerorum, formerly owned land in Hareby. Humphrey Littlebury, of East Kirkby, in his will, dated 1 Sep., 1568, among other property mentions land in Hareby. {91} Another old family connected with Hareby was that of the Skynners. Henry Skynner of Bolingbroke, by his will of date 29 May, 1612, leaves to his daughter Judith, all his copyholds in Harebie, and £100 when she is married, or 21 years of age; to his brother, Sir Vincent Skynner, knight, and his heirs, he bequeaths certain lands in Harebie, and other places, with the advowson of the parsonage of Harebie, “all of which I lately purchased of him, on condition that he pay to my executor the sum of £60, within six months of my decease, which sum I have already paid for my said brother, unto Margery Neale of Horncastle, deceased, or else this gift is utterly void, and I give it to my daughters . . . I have made surrender of all my customary messuages, lands, &c., in Bullenbroke and Harebie, into his Majestie’s hands by Vincent, in the name of one Grave, in the presence of Richard Smyth, gent., and others.” This testator was the son of John Skynner, and brother of Sir Vincent Skinner, of Thornton Curtis. Mention has been made of Robert Bryan as owning land in Hareby, in 1635. Members of the same family would seem to have had property there nearly a century later, as John Bryan was patron of the benefice in 1754, and united it to that of Bolingbroke. In 1555 King Philip and Queen Mary presented Gilbert Skroweston to Hareby; but in 1779 the patronage of the united benefice had passed to Matthew Wildbore, Esq. In 1834 the patron was Earl Brownlow; in 1836, C. Bosanquet, Esq.; and in 1863, Sir John W. Smith, Bart.; after him the trustees of the late G. Bainbridge, Esq., held the patronage, which now has passed to C. S. Dickinson, Esq. The owners of the estate are now Messrs. Ramden and Taylor, and it is managed for them by their relative, G. Mariner, Esq.