Fonds BL/CS - Bradfer-Lawrence Collection: Philip Case Papers

Born in King's Lynn in 1887. He became a land agent and worked in Norfolk until 1935 when he was appointed managing director of Hammond's brewery in Yorkshire. He was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1924 and published a number of works connected with the history and archaeology of Norfolk. From his youth, he was an avid collector of books and manuscripts. His successful career as a businessman enabled him to make substantial purchases from the leading London dealers, and to build up a massive and important collection by the time of his death in 1965. According to his wishes, his executors deposited those manuscripts relating to Norfolk in the Norfolk Record Office in 1967, a similar gift of his Yorkshire manuscripts being made to the Yorkshire Archaeological Society at the same time. Died 1965.

Born c 1712 in Great Fransham, and died on 11 April 1792 in King's Lynn. He was the son of Thomas Case and Hester Freeman.
The most successful attorney in King's Lynn in the eighteenth century. The son of a farmer at Fransham, he set up his practice on completion of his articles in 1733, became a freeman of King's Lynn by the end of the year, was elevated to the council on the same day, and married into a local gentry family in the following year. His outstanding abilities soon brought him a large clientele. While still in his twenties he was acting for the second viscount Townshend and Sir John Turner of Warham, and was deputy clerk of the peace. By mid-career he was acting as 'man of business' to many of the landed families of north-west Norfolk, not only as an attorney but often as land agent and steward of their manors - being described as 'the greatest and cleverest court keeper in England' in 1768. He became comptroller of customs at King's Lynn in 1754, and clerk of the peace in 1760.
Throughout his life he purchased property, eventually accumulating estates at Stradsett, Crimplesham and Fincham, Gayton Thorpe and East Walton, Grimston, and Gaywood, Mintlyn and Bawsey. Although he had manor houses at Stradsett and Gaywood, he continued to live at King's Lynn, where he was mayor in 1745, 1764, 1777, and 1786. He had three daughters - Pleasance and Hester who married Thomas Bagge and Samuel Browne, both prominent Lynn merchants, and Sarah, the only one to survive him, who married Anthony Hamond of Westacre. He died worth approximately £100,000 in land and investments.

Son of Charles Laval Molineux of St Kitts by Margaret, daughter of Colonel Joseph Crisp of St Kitts. Baptized 7 September 1730. Settled in England, 1754, and purchased Garboldisham estate soon after that. He contested a King's Lynn Parliamentary election in 1768, in opposition to Sir John Turner, but was defeated. However, he served as MP for Castle Rising, 1771-4 and King's Lynn, 1774-90. Opposed the abolition of the slave trade. Died St Kitts, 4 December 1792.