272 The Descent of the Manor of Stockton. 
death. [Chancery I.P.M., 38 Eliz: prima pars 132 Wilts.] 
Alexander Toppe married into a Shropshire family, of which 
county Lingen Toppe, his son, was sheriff. The will of Lingen 
Topp is registered C.P.C. “ Exton,” fo. 127 (1688). 
John Toppe (III.) was seated at Stockton. He was sheriff of 
Wilts, &c. He married Mary, daughter of Edward Hooper, of 
Boveridge, Co. Dorset. The connection between the two families 
was of old standing. Thomas Toppe, his grandfather, appointed as 
overseer of his will her grandfather, “my lovinge frende mastar 
John Hooper of Sarum.” The will of “ Edward Hooper, of 
Boveridge in the parish of Cramborne Co. Dorset gent: ,” was 
proved May 7th, 1619 (C.P.C. “ Parker,” fo. 42). One of the 
overseers named in it is “my son-in-law John Toppe.” His own 
will, as “of Stockton the elder Co. Wilts Esq.,” is dated July 20th, 
with codicil August 11th, 1632, and was proved January 18th, 
1682-3 (C.P.C. “ Russell,” fo. 2). Besides three sons he left issue 
several daughters, of whom Anne, the eldest, married John Mervyn, 
of Pertwood, eventually heir male of the Pertwood branch of that 
ancient family. Mary Mervyn, their daughter, and granddaughter 
of John Toppe, the sheriff, became the wife of Dr. William Creed, 
who was thus closely connected with Stockton (see vol. xii.). He 
was elected scholar from Reading School to St. John’s College, 
Oxford, June 7th, 1631 (MSS. Corporation of Reading, Hist. MSS. 
Com., xi., 7, 184). His subsequent career is conveniently summed 
up in a grant of arms made to him June 4th, 1663, shortly before 
his death, as “ y® Reverend W™ Creed, doct. in di. sci., his Ma’ties 
professor in divinity in y® famous University in Oxford, Chanon of 
Christ Church, Archdeacon of Wilts, and Channon resident of 
y° Cathedrall Church of Sarum.” The grant follows, ‘‘ viz‘ Ermin 
upon a chevron Ingrayld sable three Leopardes heads on. Crest, A 
demi serpent the Tayle wound a bout y° neck on” (Harley M.S. 1172, 
fo.65). He died at Oxford, July 19th, and was buried in the south- 
east angle of the north transept of the Cathedral, July 27th, 1663 
(Burials at Christ Church, in Misc. Gen. & Herald., N.S., and plan 
of Cathedral by A. Wood, 1671, in vol. 17 Oxfd. Hist. Soc.). His 
will, dated June 80th, 1663, was proved February 11th, 1663-4, by 
R: 
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