The Descent of the Manor of Stockton. 277 
Co. Wilts, yeoman.” The will of his widow, “ Joane Top of Bar- 
wick Saint Johns co. Wilteshyre,” is dated October 4th, 1601. 
Robert, their son, improved his estate by marriage with Alice, 
daughter and co-heiress of “ William Kirleye of Combe Bissett, co. 
Wilts, yeoman,” whose will bears date July 18th, 1583: he gives 
to “Alice my daughter now wife to Robert Toppe,” all his lands 
and tenements in Combe Bissett: Margaret Kirleye, his second 
daughter, married Edmund Bower, of Donhead. Francis, eldest 
son of Robert and Alice Toppe, signed the Visitation Pedigree: he 
was then “ of Combe Bissett.”? He married at Sturminster Marshall, 
Co. Dorset, May 15th, 1606, Margery, daughter of John Bower, of 
Great Wishford, of which marriage Francis, the second son, was 
aged two years in 1623. This Francis Toppe, the younger, appears 
to be identical with Francis Toppe, of Tormerton, Co. Gloucester, 
who was created a baronet July 25th, 1668. Margaret, Duchess of 
Neweastle, in her famous “ Life” of William (Cavendish), her 
husband, mentions one Mr. Top as lending money to the Duke, 
without assurance, to enable his lordship to pay off his more pressing 
scores: she also quotes a survey of her lord’s estate made in 1641, 
in which occur the manors of Tormerton with Litleton, and Acton 
Turville, Co. Gloucester, the rental amounting to £1581 19s. 2d. 
The two notices taken together may explain how this property 
passed to the Toppe Family. The will of Sir Francis Toppe, dated 
November 5th, 1668, was proved by Dame Elizabeth, his relict, 
August 7th, 1676. He mentions his manor of Tormerton, and 
lands at Acton Turville, Co. Gloucester, purchased of Thomas 
» Tyther and others; his manor of Broxtow, Co. Notts, purchased of 
the Marquess of Dorset and others; and his lands in Combe and 
Wishford Magna, Co. Wilts. Sir John Toppe, son and heir of Sir 
Francis, married by license dated March 29th, 1684, Barbara St. 
John, sister to the first Viscount Bolingbroke, she aged 17, he 21 
with him the title expired. 
A. S. M. 
