138 



The Society's MSS. — Chisledon mvd Drayeot. 



Stewyns the son of William Stewyns vj s viij d , Also I bequethe to Anthony 

 Stevyns iij s iiij d , Also I bequethe to William Stewyns the sonne of William 

 Stewyns on' ewe and to Jone Stevyns the dowght r of Willm Stewyns on' ewe 

 Also I bequethe to Jane Mills the dowght r of Thomas Milles a heyfar* 

 Also I bequethe to Jone Maskelyn an' ewe and to Thomas Maskelyn' the sonne 

 of William Maskelyn' an' ewe Also I bequeth to Margery Beyll my dought 1 a 

 cowe and a heyfor, Also I bequeth to Richard Webbe xxx u shepe, also I bequethe 

 to every childe of Jamys hewys a shepe, also I bequeth to Alys hewis a heyfor, 

 Also I will that Margaret Stewyns my wif and Thomas Stevyns the yonger my 

 sonne be myn' executors and that they fulfill my last will and pay my detts, and 

 that done I will the Residew of my goodys be departed betwixt Margaret 

 Stewyns my wif and Thomas Stewyns my son the yonger whiche byn' myn 

 exeeuto r by the good provision of Thomas Buses whiche I make myn ouerseer 

 that my will be fulfilled And I will that he have for his labour xl s Theis 

 personnes folowing bering witnes, Sir Nicholas Bixton, Wattar Bachar, William 

 Maskelyn William Beyll w 4 many other moo the day and the date above 

 rehersed." [Proved 19th March, 1519-20, by Thomas and Margaret, in the person 

 of William Beale, "literati," their procurator; registered " Ayloffe," fo. 27.] 



Thomas Stephens, the testator's eldest son of that name, doubtless 

 succeeded him at Burderop. In 1537, as we know by the schedule, 

 he obtained a further lease of the farm there from the Abbot of 

 Hyde. He would gladly, we may suppose, have purchased the 

 fee of the Crown, but was forestalled, as we have seen, by Sir 

 John Brydges, in 1540. A freeholder, however, he became, and 

 secured a haven for his race, against the lease at Burderop ran out, 

 by the purchase, 10th May, 1549, of the manors of Inglesham, 

 cos. Wilts and Berks, together with certain lands at Clotely, in the 

 parish of Hankerton and in Sevenhampton, all of which had 

 belonged to the Abbey of " New Work," Leicester, and for which 

 he now paid the sum of 210/. 9s. Sd. His choice of Inglesham for 

 his investment was perhaps decided by his wife's connexions, she 

 being the daughter of John Prater, of that place. Like his father 

 before him he died possessed of a very considerable estate, as appears 

 by his will, proved in the Prerogative Court, and registered " Tash," 

 fo. 9 :— 



In the name of god amen the thirde daie of September the yere of o r Lorde 

 God a Thousande fyve Hundreth fiftie and one I Thomas Stephyns sicke in 

 bodie but of good Remembrance do ordeyne and make this my last will and 

 testament, ffirst I give my soule unto Almightie god my maker and Redenier 

 And my bodye to be buried in the church e of Cheselden. Item I give unto the 

 poore mens box of Chesulden Swyndon and Inglesham to be equally devided vj u 



