The Society's MSS—Chiskdon and Draycot. 



135 



Hodson, and Chiseldon, and of a pasture called " the farmer's Downe or 

 Lyddington Downe," the rectory of Swindon, the glebe lands thereto belonging 

 and of all tithes, &c, belonging to the said rectory, and of all other his lands, 

 within the realm (except the said several manors of Inglesham), should thence- 

 forth stand and be seised of thereof, to the use of him the said Thomas for the 

 term of his life, with remainder, as to the said farm of Burdrop, to Elizabeth, 

 then his wife, for her life, for her jointure, and with remainder as to all the 

 premises in Chiseldon, Swyndou, Ludington, alias Lyddyngton, and Hodson, 

 after his death, and as to the farm of Burdrop also, after the death of the said 

 Elizabeth, to such uses for the term of six years, or less, as by his last will he 

 should direct, and after that term to the use of the said Nicholas Stephens in 

 tail male, with remainder in default to the use of the heirs male of the body of 

 the said Thomas, with remainder in default to the use of the heirs male of the 

 body of Thomas, his father, with remainder to the use of his own right heirs. 



Afterwards, in the Octave of St. Hillary, 17 Eliz. (1574-5), the said Thomas 

 levied a flue of the said manors of Inglisham (the rectory and advowson of the 

 church there excepted) to the said William Bruncker and William Marty n, and 

 to one Michael Erneley, esq., and the heirs of Bruncker, to the uses mentioned 

 in the said indenture, &c. 



Further, the said Elizabeth, wife of the said Thomas Stephens, died at 

 Burdrop, 19 Eliz. (1577), and subsequently the said Thomas in 20 Eliz. (1578), 

 married Dorothy Violett (" duxit in uxorem Dorotheam Violett' ') , and after 

 that marriage, Edmund Bridges, knt., Lord Chandos, being seised in fee of the 

 rectory of the parish church of Chiseldeu, demised the same to the said 

 Thomas for life, with remainder to Thomas his son for life, with remainder to 

 the said Nicholas for life : and subsequently, being seised of such an estate 

 therein, he bought, 6 Feb. 21 Eliz. (1578-9), of Giles, Lord Chandos, son and 

 heir of the said Edmund, Lord Chandos, the said rectory, as also the manor of 

 Chiselden and Hodson, with their members and appurtenances in co. Wilts- 

 and subsequently, by indenture dated 15th Sept., 21 Eliz., the said Thomas, the 

 son, and Nicholas, released all their right in the said rectory 1 to the said Thomas 

 their father. 



And the said Thomas bein,g accordingly seised in fee of the manor of 

 Chiseldon, by indenture dated 30 Oct., 21 Eliz., he enfeoffed, in consideration 

 of the said marriage and his affection to the said Dorothy, George Stoddard, 

 citizen and grocer of London, William Box of Macham, co Berks, esq., Nicholas 

 Rutland of Mycham, co. Surrey, gent, and John Holly well of Chilton, co. Berks, 

 gent, of the said rectory of Chiseldon, and manor of Chiseldon and Hodson (the 

 advowson and patronage of the church of Chiseldon excepted), to his own use for 

 life, with remainder to the use of Dorothy his wife for life, with remainder to 

 the use of his heirs and assigns. 



The said Thomas made his last will and testament 24 May, 37 Eli/. (1595), 

 whereby, for the advancement of John Stephens his son, and his other children, 

 he exercised his power under the above recited indenture, and gave the said farm 

 of Burdrop, &c, to the «aid John for the full term of six years, and appointed 

 the said John his executor. 



The said Dorothy survived him, and is now living at Marlborough. 



The said manors of Inglesham, co. Berks, and Wilts, and the reotory of 



