Vincent Wing Explained

Vincent Wing (1619–1668) was an English astrologer and astronomer, professionally a land surveyor.

Life and publications

Vincent Wing was born at North Luffenham, Rutland on 9 April 1619.^[1] The eldest of four sons of Vincent Wing (1587–1660) (who was taking astronomical observations during the 1620s^[2]), his family had been established in the village since at least his grandfather's time, but is thought to have had Welsh antecedents. Wing did not receive a university education, but by assiduous study acquired his working knowledge of Latin, Greek, and Mathematics. With these skills he followed his calling as a surveyor, and invented or developed the use of the forty-link two-pole chain for measuring tracts of land in rods or poles, a method which he explained and advocated in his published works. While so engaged, two of his younger brothers, Solomon (1621) and Samuel (1626), married during the earlier 1640s and began their families, but the first of Vincent's children by his wife Alice to be christened at North Luffenham was Elizabeth, in November 1652.^[3]

Urania Practica: with Leybourn

During this time Wing collaborated with William Leybourn (1626–1716), and dated the preface to their jointly authored work Urania Practica, (published in 1649) from North Luffenham in 1648.^[4] Containing over 300 pages, this was the first substantial compendium of astronomy written in the English language.^[5] It was the commencement of important authorial careers in surveying and astronomy for both men, and they defended themselves against their critic Jeremy Shakerley^[6] soon afterwards.^[7]

Harmonicon Cœleste

In the following year Wing published independently A Dreadful Prognostication, containing astrological predictions.^[8] However several of Wing's later publications were made through the press of Robert Leybourn, who went into partnership with William Leybourn in 1651. The first of these, Wing's Harmonicon Cœleste, appeared in 1651^[9] at a time when Wing was in correspondence with William Lilly:^[10] a surviving copy of the book from the library of Sir Isaac Newton was carefully annotated by its owner.^[11] In this work Wing had made a transition towards more modern astronomical conceptions.^[12] At the Leybourn press William Leybourn produced his own first enduring and substantial work, The Compleat Surveyor, in 1653:^[13] the association with Wing persisted until Wing's death.

Astronomia Instaurata: controversy with Street

Wing's next major work, his Astronomia Instaurata, appeared in 1656.^[14] This led to a controversy with Thomas Streete, who published his Astronomia Carolina in 1661,^[15] and followed it with An Appendix to Astronomia Carolina in 1664^[16] in which he criticised Wing for his mistakes. In 1665 Wing responded in his Examen Astronomiae Carolina,^[17] exposing the alleged errors of Thomas Street, who retaliated with Examen examinatum of 1667,^[18] 'a castigation of the envy and ignorance of Vincent Wing.'

Ephemerides: Wing and Flamsteed

Wing issued ephemerides for twenty years (1652–1671), which John Flamsteed considered to be the most accurate of their time. As a very young man Flamsteed maintained a correspondence with Wing (who died in 1668).^[19] Flamsteed, who interested himself in the opinions of both Wing and Streete, wrote: "with [Mr. Wing] I had a faire Correspondence, and though we differed de parallaxi et Æquationibus systematis Solaris and severall other things, yet our dissent made us not the lesse freinds;" adding, that though he [i.e. Flamsteed] differed with Mr. Streete in his opinions de Fixatione Apheliorum et Nodorum, et de Æquationibus Lunae oscillatorijs, yet he hoped that Streete should prove to be a friendly correspondent also.^[20]

Astrology: Wing and Atwell

A convinced astrologer, Wing edited in 1660 the Defence of the Divine Art of Natural Astrologie which had been sent to him by his late friend George Atwell (c.1576–1658), Surveyor, and 'Professor of the Mathematicks' at the University of Cambridge,^[21] to which he wrote an informative preface.^[22] Wing remarks, "The stars incline the will (saith Scotus) yet in no wise necessitate it, notwithstanding it often hapneth that Astrologers fore-tel truths concerning the manners of men, by reason of their proneness to follow their sensitive appetite." Atwell was the author of a work on Surveying explaining the accurate use of the measuring chain, which by 1665 had run into a third, enlarged (London) edition.^[23]

Geodætes Practicus

In 1664 Wing produced his own treatise on practical land surveying, his Geodætes Practicus : or, The Art of Surveying.^[24] A second edition, containing also a reprint of the Examen Astronomiae Carolinae, was produced in 1666, almost the entire run of which was destroyed in the Great Fire of London.^[25] The Third Edition was the much enlarged version issued as Geodætes Practicus Redivivus by his nephew John Wing in 1699–1700.

Astronomia Britannica

The culmination of Wing's labours took shape in his Astronomia Britannica,^[26] published posthumously in 1669.^[27] Written entirely in Latin, well-illustrated with diagrams and enriched throughout by classical literary allusions, this was a complete system of astronomy on Copernican principles. It followed Seth Ward in formulating Kepler's second law.^[28] It was prefaced by a line-engraved portrait of the author seated at a table with globe and instruments, and a view of a village (possibly meant for North Luffenham) beyond.^[29] The work opened with a letter of dedication to Sir Robert Markham (1644–1690), M.P. for Grantham, who wrote a two-page postscript de Refractione to the text. The seven-page preface, Praefatium ad Candidum Lectorem, which opens with a flourish invoking the authority of Hermes Trismegistus, is dated from North Luffenham early in 1665. The five 'books' of the main text (pp. 1–246) each have their own title-pages, the first three dated 1668 and the last two 1669. The latter half of the work (pp. 1–366) is occupied by the Tables with a further dated title-page of 1668 for the Synopsis Compendiaria of Astronomic Observations (part 2 p. 265).

Olympia Domata

Wing also wrote for the Stationers' Company an almanac styled Olympia Domata, the annual sale of which averaged 50,000 copies. The Olympia Domata for 1670 was edited by his elder son, Vincent Wing, and the numbers for 1704 to 1727 by his nephew, John Wing of Pickworth, Rutland (see below). The publication was continued by his descendants at irregular intervals until 1805.

Personalia

Vincent Wing resided with his wife Alice at North Luffenham, where daughters Mary (1654), Alice (1658), Elizabeth (1664) and Catherine (1666) and sons Vincent (1656) and James (1661), were christened.^[30] He occasionally went to London for learned company. His friend and biographer John Gadbury commended his wit.^[31] He drew the scheme of his own nativity published in Gadbury's Brief Relation, and is said to have made a correct forecast of his death. He contracted consumption, of which he died on 20 September 1668, aged 49, having made his will only a fortnight previously. Gadbury observed that dedication to work had exhausted him, and rebutted any suggestion that Wing might have taken his own life.^[32] He was buried at North Luffenham. The Latin verses accompanying his portrait in the Astronomia Britannica form an epigram which may be translated:

"To regard his likeness, Art shows his form and face,
But the spirit's dower Art will no-wise declare.
For He was such whose study laid open Olympus,
And traced new circuits through the sphere of the world.
See, the artist has drawn the vital bodily shade:
Search in his book for the lineaments of his mind."

The Wing family

After Vincent Wing's death, and during the 18th century, the vicinity of North Luffenham maintained distinction by its association with the Barker family of Lyndon Hall and South Luffenham in Rutland. Vincent Wing the elder (father of the astronomer) had, before 1635, been a tenant of lands in North Luffenham which had formerly belonged to Fineshade Priory, Northamptonshire, and had become property of the rector of North Luffenham, Robert Johnson (1540–1625).^[33] In 1630 Johnson's grandson Isaac, principal shareholder in the Massachusetts Bay Company, sailed with John Winthrop in the founding voyage to Massachusetts. In that company was also one John Wing and his wife Deborah Batchelder, from whom an American family of Wing hopes to trace its descent: the possible association of that John with Vincent Wing's family is mooted in a published genealogy.^[34]

In 1635 Johnson's lands were sold to Samuel Barker of South Luffenham, who died in 1658, but the continuing relations with the Wing family are shown by deeds of recovery relating to some 180 acres at North Luffenham and Ketton, between Vincent Winge junior, gent. (presumably the astronomer himself), and Jonathan and John Barker, gents. (two of the sons and heirs of Samuel Barker, upon whom the former Johnson lands had devolved), in 1660.^[35] These heirs of Samuel Barker's lived at North Luffenham Manor House (built 1640). The Wings therefore had dealings with the Barker family more than with Noel or Digby, the other two principal manorial families of North Luffenham. Lyndon Hall became the home of Samuel Barker (1686–1759) and his wife Sarah, daughter of Sir Isaac Newton's pupil and successor as Lucasian Professor, William Whiston (1667–1752),^[36] who latterly resided with them,^[37] and of Samuel's son Thomas Barker (1722–1809), called 'The Father of Meteorology', who married the sister of Gilbert White of Selborne.^[38]

The example and brilliance of Vincent Wing found its reflex in descendants of William and Elizabeth Wing, and of Vincent's youngest brother Moses Wing (baptised 4.x.1629, buried 5.xii.1697) and his wife Priscilla,^[39] at least eleven of whose children were baptised at North Luffenham between 1655 and 1675.^[40] There were two family successions whose works in Surveying, Fenland Engineering, Mathematics, Instrument-Making, Architecture and Astronomy continued through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as is expressed below.

Line of John Wing of Pickworth (1662)

• John Wing of Pickworth (1662^[41] -1726), and wife Sarah Hyfield,^[42] was the father of Tycho Wing I (1696–1750), philosopher and astronomer, and their various namesake descendants.^[43] John Wing of Pickworth was a County coroner, surveyor and almanackist^[44] who published in 1693 the Heptarchia Mathematica,^[45] a text-book for masons, carpenters and glaziers: in 1699 he published an enlarged version of his uncle's Art of Surveying, the Geodætes Practicus Redivivus supplemented by Scientia Stellarum, Calculation of the Planets' Places, etc.^{[46] [47]} John was survived by five children,
  • John Wing (died 1741), Citizen and Haberdasher of London
  • daughters Sarah (Baily), Priscilla (Sisson) and Elizabeth (Clerk),^[48] and
  • Tycho Wing I (1696–1750), Philosopher and astronomer, teacher of Mathematics to boarding pupils at Pickworth, and Coroner for Rutland 1727–42, to whom his father bequeathed all his Mathematical books and instruments. He was the subject of an oil portrait (showing him with an astrological globe) by John Vanderbank for Stationers' Hall, London, rendered as a mezzotint by George White (1684–1732).^[49] He married Eleanor Peach of Stoke Dry, Rutland,^[50] and had at least four children, including
    • Tycho Wing II (1726–1774), instrument maker of Montpelier Row, Twickenham. He was apprenticed to the London instrument-maker Thomas Heath in 1741 and was in partnership with him from 1751 to 1773.^[51] He married Heath's daughter Hypatia.^[52] Published^[53] and sold all manner of materials for surveyors.^[54]
    • Vincent Wing (1727–1776), surveyor, who married Mary and was father of
      • Tycho Wing III, baptised at Great Casterton in 1769.
    • John Wing (1723–1780). Became Steward to the 4th Duke and 5th Duke of Bedford at Thorney, Cambridgeshire.^[55] He published maps of the Bedford Level and Lincolnshire Fens and was involved in drainage works on the North Levels during the 1760s. Married Ann Sisson^[56] and was father of
      • John Wing junr (1752–1812), who succeeded his father as Steward to the Duke of Bedford at Thorney. He debated and advocated the raising of temporary taxes for the repair and improvement of Fen drainage^[57] and maintained the Thorney estate in an exemplary fashion. He married twice, first to Katherine Elger,^[58] and second to Jane Ansell,^[59] his six children by whom included
        • John Wing, the Revd., of Thornhaugh (1786–1858), who succeeded his father as Steward to the Duke of Bedford at Thorney between 1812 and 1817, and
        • Tycho Wing IV (1794–1851), who, succeeding in 1817, won himself high praise both as manager of the tenantry and for his work in drainage and management of the Fens. Between 1827 and 1834 he undertook a project to improve the outfall of the River Nene, the lower section of which is named 'Tycho Wing's Channel'. He became known as 'King of the Fens'; he married Adelaide Basevi,^[60] sister of the architect George Basevi, and had eight children.^[61]

Line of Aaron Wing of North Luffenham (1666)

• Aaron Wing of North Luffenham (baptised 30.ix.1666, the son of Moses and Priscilla Wing^[62]), (brother of John Wing of Pickworth), by wife Elizabeth, was the father of six children^[63] including
  • John Wing the elder (1697/98-1753), mason, and architect of the tower of St Peter's church at Gaulby, Leicestershire,^[64] who by his first wife Elizabeth Townsend^[65] was father of
    • John Wing the younger (1728–1794), mason, and architect of the neo-Gothic church of St John the Baptist,^[66] c.1761, at King's Norton, Leicestershire;^{[67] [68]} and he, by his wife Elizabeth Gibbins^[69] of Hallaton, Leicestershire (where Wing became resident), was father of six children including
      • John Wing (1756–1826), mason and architect: who, being set up in business at Woburn by his father following their 1780–82 collaboration on the Girtford bridge at Sandy, Bedfordshire,^[70] became architect of the famous Town Bridge at Bedford (also of the Town Gaol, the House of Industry and the Bedford Infirmary) and thrice Mayor of that County Town.^[71] Among his ten children by wife Elizabeth Tacy^[72] were
        • James Tacy Wing (1805–1880), church architect of Bedford.^[73]
        • John Wing of Bedford (1802–1861), architect of Biggleswade Town Hall (1844).^[74]

Notes and References

1. See B.S. Capp, 'Wing, Vincent (1619–1668)' in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography: replacing and correcting Agnes Mary Clerke, 'Wing, Vincent', in Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), Vol. 62, pp. 179–80.
2. V. Wing, Astronomia Britannica (1669), p. 288, refers to an observation of Jupiter on 25 April 1627.
3. Philip Gretton Dennis, Ed., The Registers of North Luffenham, in the County of Rutland, 1572–1812 Parish Register Society (IV) (London 1896), sub anno.
4. Vincent Wing and Will. Leybourn, Urania Practica, or, Practical Astronomy : in VI parts, Containing, I. An explanation of the vulgar notes used every year, with the order how to finde them for ever, in the Julian and Gregorian accompts, both arithmatically, and by new invented tables, II. An ephemeris for 19 years, beginning anno 1648, and ending anno 1667, with astronomical rules and tables ..., III. An astrologicall treatise ..., IV. The doctrine of the sphear or globe, V. An abbreviate of geographie, representing the surface of the world and the provinces thereof ..., VI. Diverse astronomicall tables of the altitude, azimuth, amplitude, rising, culminating, setting, declination, of the sun and fixed stars ..., Unto which is added (for the benefit of sea-men) diverse rules and tables of extraordinary use in navigation (Printed by R. Leybourn, London 1649). (in English)
5. Sarah Bendall, "Leybourn, William", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
6. J. Shakerley, The Anatomy of Urania Practica (T. Brudenell, London 1649).
7. Ens fictum Shakerlæi : or the annihilation of Mr. Jeremie Shakerley, his in-artificiall anatomy of Urania Practica. Wherein his falacies or ignorance, are demonstratively detected, his malice in its groundlesse colours display'd, and the authors of the said Urania Practica justly vindicated from his unjust aspersions. By Vin. Wing, and Will. Leybourn, philomathematicis (R. Leybourn, London 1649).
8. Vincent Wing, A Dreadfull Prognostication, : or an astrologicall prediction of severall contingencies incident to all Europe, drawn from the effects of severall celestiall configurations: but chiefly from the eclipse of the Moon November 20. 1648. the solar eclipse and the two great lunar eclipses 1649. All which are exactly described, and astrologically handled. (Printed by T.D., in the yeare 1649)
9. Vincent Wing, Harmonicon Cœleste: Or, The Cœlestiall Harmony of the Visible World: conteining an absolute and entire piece of astronomie: wherein is succinctly handled the trigonometricall part, generally propounded, and particularly applyed in all questions tending to the diurnall motion: especially respecting, and truly subservient to the main doctrine of the second motions of the luminaries and the other planets : together with their affections as eclipses, &c. Grounded upon the most rationall hypothesis yet constituted, and compared with the best observations that are extant: especially those of Tycho Brahe... : fitted to the meridian of ... London, and principally intended for our English nation. By Vincent Wing, philomathemat. (London : Printed by Robert Leybourn for the Company of Stationers, 1651).
10. See a letter from North Luffenham referring to the publication here
11. Columbia University Collections, Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
12. See, e.g., Robert S. Westman, The Copernican Question: Prognostication, Skepticism, and Celestial Order (University of California Press, 2011), pp. 503–04.
13. The Compleat Surveyor: Containing The whole Art of Surveying of Land, By The Plain Table, Theodolyte, Circumferentor and Peractor:... (etc) (Printed by R. & W. Leybourn, for E. Brewster and G. Sawbridge, and are to be sold at the signe of the Bible upon Ludgate hill, neer Fleet-Bridge. 1653). Full text at Umich/eebo.
14. Vincent Wing, Astronomia Instaurata: or, A new compendious Restauration of Astronomie. In four parts. Wherein is contained, 1. Logistica astronomica: . 2. Doctrina sphaerica: . 3. Doctrina theorica: . 4. Tabulae astronomicae: Whereunto is added, a short catalogue of all the most accurate and remarkable coelestiall observations, that have been made by Tycho, Longomontanus, Gassendus, the landgrave of Hassia (etc) (Company of Stationers, Printed by R. and W. Leybourn London 1656). (in English).
15. T. Streete, Astronomia Carolina. A New of the Coelestial Motions. Composed According to the Best Observations and Most Rational Grounds of Art. Yet Farre More Easie, Expedite and Perspicuous Then Any Before Extant. With Exact and Most Easie Tables Thereunto, and Precepts for the Calculation of Eclipses &c. (London, 1661).
16. (London, Printed for Francis Cossinet 1664)
17. Vincent Wing, Examen astronomiæ Carolinæ: T.S., or, a short mathematicall discourse containing, some animadversions upon Mr. Thomas Streetes astronomicall tables of the cœlestial motions wherein his errours and mistakes are clearly detected, and the author hereof justly vindicated from his unjust aspersions. (In an appendix to the said astronomical treatise.) By Vincent Wing, mathemat. (London: printed by W. Leybourn, for G. Sawbridge, at the Bible upon Ludgate Hill, 1665).
18. Examen examinatum: or, Wing's examination of Astronomia Carolina examined : Containing an explication of some of the fundamental-grounds of the said Astronomie. With a castigation of the envy and ignorance of Vincent Wing. By Thomas Streete student in astronomy and mathematicks. Imprimatur. ex ædibus Lamb. 16 July 1666. Tho. Cooke, reverendissimo in Christo Patri & Dno. D. Gilberto Archiepisc. Cant. Sacellanus Domesticus. (London : printed by John Darby, and are to be sold by John Sellers compass-maker, at the signe of the Mariners-Compass and Sphere, at the Hermitage staires in Wapping, 1667).
19. E.G. Forbes, L. Murdin and F. Wilmoth, The Correspondence of John Flamsteed, The First Astronomer Royal (Institute of Physics/CRC Press, London 1995) Vol. 1, passim. Read here
20. Flamsteed's Correspondence, Vol. 1, p. 32.
21. 'Professor' perhaps meaning only, Teacher. Atwell is called Cantab. de studio et practici mathematicis non-ignobilis, his life-dates known from his gravestone at North Runcton, Norfolk: see Venn, Alumni Cantabrigienses Part I, From the Earliest Times to 1751, Vol. 1 (Cambridge, University Press 1922), p. 55, citing John le Neve, Monumenta Anglicana (1717), Vol. V, p. 48.
22. George Atwel, AN APOLOGY, Or, Defence of the Divine Art of Natural Astrologie. Being an answer to a Sermon preached in Cambridge, July 25, 1652, Wherein all the Chief Objections against Astrology are fully Answered (etc); Written by the Learned and Ingenious Mathematician, Mr. GEORGE ATWEL, late Professor of the Mathematicks in the University of Cambridg; and now published by a Friend, for the publike benefit of his native Countrymen of England. VVhose Preface is hereunto annexed. (London, Printed for Samuel Speed, at the sign of the Printing-press in Paul's Churchyard. Anno 1660.) Read here.
23. The Faithfull Surveyour (Cambridge, 1658); The faithful surveyor : teaching how to measure all manner of ground exactly, by the chain onely: also, thereby to take distances of a mile space, and the situation of any building. Shewing likewise the making and use of a new instrument, called a pandoron; which supplies the use of the plain-table, theodelite, quadrant, quadrat, circumferentor, and any other observing instrument. As also divers secrets for conveying and clensing of water, flowing and draining of grounds, quenching houses on fire, &c. With an appendix unfolding errours in board and timber-measure: with directions for making a carpenters rule. By George Atwell late teacher of the mathematicks in Cambridge. (London, sold by Ralph Needham at the Bell in Little Britain 1665).
24. Geodætes Practicus: or, The Art of Surveying : Surveyed and laid out in a more Accurate, Plain and Expeditious Plat, then hath hitherto been Performed : Being a WORKE very usefull for Surveyors, Architects, Engineers, Masons, Carpenters, Joyners, Brick-layers, Glasiers, Painters, &c. and generally for all them that are Ingeniously affected with such kinde of Learning. By Vincent Wing (London. Printed by Wil. Leybourn, for George Sawbridge, at the Signe of the Bible upon Ludgate-hill, 1664).
25. This fact is apparently referred to in the second edition of William Leybourn's The Compleat Surveyor (London: E. Flesher for George Sawbridge, 1674). See images of title pages at "The Compleat Surveyor" website of the Francois D. "Bud" Uzes Memorial Scholarship Fund.
26. Vincent Wing, Astronomia Britannica, In Qua Per Novam Concinnioremque Methodum, Hi Quinque Tractatus Traduntur: 1. Logistica Astronomica..., 2. Trigonometria..., 3. Doctrina Sphaerica..., 4. Theoria Planetarum..., 5. Tabulae Novae Astronomicae... congruentes cum observationibus accuratissimus nobilis Tychonis Brahei. Cui accessit observationum astronomicarum Synopsis compendiaria (Typis Johannis Macock, Impensis Georgii Sawbridge prostantque venales apud locum vulgo Clerkenwel-Green dictum (London), 1669). Read here.
27. See B.S. Capp, 'Wing, Vincent (1619–1668)', O.D.N.B.
28. Derek Gjertsen, The Newton Handbook (1986), p. 613.
29. See National Portrait Gallery NPG D30331.
30. P.G. Dennis, The Registers of North Luffenham (1896), sub anno.
31. John Gadbury, A Brief Relation of the Life and Death of the late Famous Mathematician and Astrologer, Mr. Vincent Wing (London, Printed by T. Milbourn, 1669). Read here
32. Gadbury, A Brief Relation p. 34.
33. The National Archives, Discovery Catalogue entry DG 11/599 (Conant MSS). See also 'Parishes: North Luffenham', in (Victoria County History), A History of the County of Rutland: Volume 2, ed. William Page (London, 1935), pp. 195–203 [accessed 25 February 2015].
34. Revd. Conway P. Wing, A Historical and Genealogical Register of John Wing, of Sandwich, Mass., and his Descendants. 1662–1881. (Private, Carlisle, Pa. 1881), pp. 6–29 (esp. at p. 13) Read here.
35. The National Archives, see Discovery Catalogue entries DG 11/723 and DG 11/724, also DG 11/716 and DG 11/717, 12 Charles II. (Conant MSS, held at Leicestershire Record Office).
36. W. Whiston, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Mr William Whiston (Author, London 1749), p. 271 (Google).
37. John Cornforth, 'Lyndon Hall, Rutland. The home of Lady Conant', Country Life 10 Nov. 1966.
38. H.A. Evans, Highways and Byways in Northampton and Rutland, Pocket edition (Macmillan & Co., London 1924), 161–62.
39. See baptism of Moses son of Moses and Priscilla his wife, 14.iii.1662/3, P.G. Dennis, The Registers of North Luffenham (1896), sub anno.
40. P.G. Dennis, The Registers of North Luffenham (1896), pp. 22–27.
41. John's reputed affiliation to Moses is stated by B.S. Capp, 'Wing, Vincent (1619–1668)' in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography citing the baptismal date 5.iv.1662. This baptism is not shown in the North Luffenham Register transcripts, but at Pickworth, dated 5 April 1662, for 'John the sonne of William Wing and of Elizabeth his wife'.
42. The P.C.C. will of John Wing of Pickworth refers to 'my beloved wife Sarah Wing' as Executrix, to whom Probate was granted in 1726; his son John Wing of London, Citizen and Haberdasher, in his P.C.C. will of 1741 makes a bequest to his mother who was still living. The marriage is recorded at Great Casterton, Rutland on 1.ix.1687.
43. A.S. Bendall, 'Wing family (1745–1852)' in A.W. Skempton (Ed.), A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and Ireland, 1550–1830 (Thomas Telford, 2002), pp. 789–791.
44. See B.S. Capp, Astrology and the popular press: English almanacs, 1500–1800 (Cornell University Press 1979).
45. John Wing, Heptarchia Mathematica, or, The seven branches of art here following, epitomized, viz. arithmatick, geometry, flat measure, square measure, [double brace] gauging, mensuration by tables, dialling, &c. (Matthew Street, London 1693).
46. Published in 1699 as A Compleat Body of Surveying Formerly Publish'd by Vincent Wing, Math. Now Much Augmented and Improv'd; with an Appendix thereunto subjoin'd, shewing the whole art of surveying by a new instrument, called the emperial table; performing exactly in all respects, and in all cases that can possibly happen in the practical part of surveying, the work of the theodolite, circumferentor, semi-circle, chard and needle. With the description and use of a new quadrant. To which is added by way of supplement, Scientia stellarum: containing new and accurate tables of the planetary motions, whereby the planets places both in longitude and latitude, the places of the fix'd stars, with the eclipses of the luminaries, are more easily attain'd, than by any yet extant. (London, Printed for A C. and sold by W. Taylor at the Ship in Pater-Noster-Row), 1699. Then issued in 1700 under the name of John Wing as Geodætes Practicus Redivivus, The Art of Surveying : formerly publish'd by Vincent Wing, math., now much augmented and improv'd, (etc.) (London, Printed by J. Matthews, for Awnsham and John Churchill), 1700.
47. See B.S. Capp, 'The Wing dynasty', in 'Wing, Vincent (1619–1668)', O.D.N.B.
48. See Wills of John Wing 1726 and John Wing 1741 already cited. The name Priscilla descends from the wife of Moses Wing, who also had a daughter Priscilla (baptism 28.iii.1669).
49. See National Portrait Gallery NPG D4856
50. Marriage 18.iv.1722 according to Agnes Mary Clerke, 'Wing, Vincent', in Dictionary of National Biography (1885–1900), Vol. 62, pp. 179–80.
51. See an article on Tycho Wing II at site of The Twickenham Museum.
52. Marriage 29.vii.1749. His will is P.C.C. Tycho Wing of Enfield, 1774; hers P.C.C. 1794 at Abbeville.
53. As publisher, see J. Hammond and S. Warner, The Practical Surveyor 4th Edition, (Heath and Wing, London 1765) read here.
54. See Mathematical, Philosophical and Optical Instruments Made and Sold by Heath and Wing (London 1765 Catalogue) Read here
55. A.S. Bendall, 'Wing family (1745–1852)'. He has a will P.C.C. John Wing of Glinton, Northants 1780. See also A.S. Bendall, Maps, Land and Society: a History, with a Carto-bibliography of Cambridgeshire Estate Maps, c.1600–1836 (Cambridge University Press 2002).
56. Married 3.vi.1751 at Cottesmore, Rutland, cf. S. Bendall 2002, p. 790.
57. See J. Wing, An Inquiry into the State of the Revenues of the North Level (Peterborough 1788) read here
58. Married 30.viii.1779 at Ingoldsby, Lincolnshire, cf. S. Bendall 2002, p. 790.
59. Married 19.viii.1784 at Ingoldsby, cf. S. Bendall 2002, p. 790.
60. Married 28.iii.1828 at St James's Church, Westminster, cf. S. Bendall 2002, p. 790.
61. He has a (very prolix) P.C.C. will of 1852 as Tycho Wing of Thorney Abbey.
62. Parish register of North Luffenham
63. Aaron and Elizabeth also a had a daughter Priscilla (baptized 25.iii.1695), taking the name of Aaron's mother.
64. N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Leicestershire and Rutland (Harmondsworth 1960), pp. 36, 105–06.
65. Married North Luffenham 21.v.1727.(Register Transcript, p. 55.) There were three children, and four by the second wife Dorothy.
66. 'Of the churches of the early Gothic revival this is one of the most remarkable in England', Pevsner, Leicestershire and Rutland (1960), p. 36, 129.
67. James and Hazel Winny,'Designs of an elusive father and son: The Wings of North Luffenham', Country Life Vol. 143 (1968), 6 June, p. 1535-36.
68. John Brushe, 'Girtford Bridge and John Wing 2', Bedfordshire Magazine Vol. 15 (1975), p. 59 ff. See Bedfordshire County Council, Girtford Bridge .
69. Married Hallaton 2.vii.1755. (Hallaton Register)
70. J. and H. Winny, 'Designs of an elusive father', p. 1536.
71. P.C.C. Will of John Wing of Bedford, 1826–27.
72. Marriage on 13.x.1799 at Bedford St Mary.
73. See Obituary in Bedfordshire Mercury 20 November 1880.
74. See Feature on Biggleswade Town Hall by Ken Page, Biggleswade History Society website.