‘ 
136 The Society’s MSS.—Chisledon and Draycot. 
Inglesham, are held of the king, by service of half a knight’s fee, and 33s. 3d. 
rent at Michaelmas “ zomine decime.’ The said manor of Inglesham, co. Berks, 
and the rectory, are worth 10/7. 13s. 3d. The manor of Inglesham, co. Wilts, is 
worth 44. 
The capital messuage called Burdrop is held of the king in chief, and is 
worth 162. . 
The pasture, called “ farmer's alias Lyddington Downe,” is worth 10/7. 12s. 6d. 
and is held of the King in chief. 
The four messuagés in Swindon are worth 28s. 8d. ; the tithes (porcto 
decimarum), in Escott, are worth 20s.; the three messuages in Chiseldon are 
worth 58s., the tenure in every case unknown. 
The Rectory of Swindon is held of the king in chief, by service of one 
twentieth of a knight's fee, and is worth 3s. 4d. 
The manor and rectory of Chiseldon are worth, the rectory 16/., and the 
manors of Chiseldon and Hodson 10/. 8s., and are held of the king by knight’s 
service. 
The said Thomas died at Burdrop 13 Jan. [last before the] date of the 
Inquisition (1595-6). Nicholas Stephens is his son and heir, and was aged at 
the death of his father-forty years. 
His will, preserved—as are those of his father and grandfather— 
im the registers of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, gives - 
some further information about him :— 
May 24. 1595. Thomas Stephens of Burythropp, alias Burthroppe, co. 
Wilts, Esq'®. Youngest son Jobn. To be buried in Parish church of Chiseldon. 
Poor of Inglesham. Dorothy my wife. Manor & Parsonage of Chiseldon to 
wife for life. Children of said wife. Parsonage to remain to second son, 
Thomas, & his heirs. John Stephens, gent., my third son, interest in manor of 
Brome in Swyndon, to have & hold during natural life of Nicholas Stephens, 
gent., my brother. Son Thomas, interest in Inglesham—‘ Whereas by Indenture 
last day of ffebruary, 16th Elizabeth, between me, Thomas Stephens, and Dame 
Jane Bridges, widow of Sir Richard Bridges, Knt . . . that lands in 
Chiseldon Swindon, Liddington, Hodson (except farm of Burdrop), and after 
decease of Elizabeth then my wife (now deceased) the farm of Burdrop also 
power over estate by will for six years for advancement of children was 
reserved . . . ,’ he now appoints said premises to remain to son John for six 
years; said son John sole executor. Overseers, well beloved cousin Edward 
Waldron of Alborne, co. Wilts, Esq'., loving sons-in-law, Edward Reede of 
Chesburie, co. Wilts, Esq'., Richard Younge of Ogbourne gent, Nicholas Vyolett 
of Overtowne, gent. Witnesses, Henry Martyn, Edward Waldron, Richard 
Younge, Edward Rede, Thomas Maylen, Notary Publick. 
Proved by son John July 2, 1596, registered C. P. C. “ Drake,” fo. 53, 
The Stephens family had now reached the highest point of their 
prosperity in Chiseldon, but before entering on the melancholy 
history of the loss of a position so industriously attained, it may — 
