136 The Society' * MSS.— Chiskdon and Draycot. 



Inglesham, are held of the king, by service of half a knight's fee, and 33s. Jd. 

 reut at Michaelmas "nomine decime." The said manor of Inglesham, co. Berks, 

 and the rectory, are worth 101. 13s. 3c?. The manor of Inglesham, co. Wilts, is 

 worth U. 



The capital messuage called Burdrop is held of the king in chief, and is 

 worth 1QI. 



The pasture, called " farmer's alias Lyddington Downe," is worth 107. 12*. 6c?. 

 and is held of the King in chief. 



The four messuages in Swindon are worth 28*. 8c?. ; the tithes fporcio 

 decimarum) , in Escott, are worth 20*. ; the three messuages in Chiseldon are 

 worth 58*., 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 3*. 4c?. 



The manor and rectory of Chiseldon are worth, the rectory 16Z., and the 

 manors of Chiseldon and Hodson 107. 8*., 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 ie . Youngest son John. To be buried in Parish church of Chiseldon. 

 Poor of Inglesham. Dorothy my wife. Mauor & 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 ifebruary, 16th Elizabeth, between me, Thomas Stephens, and Dame 

 Jane Bridges, widow of Sir Richard Bridges, Knt . . . that lauds in 

 Chiseldon Swindon, Liddingtou, 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 r ., loving sons-in-law, Edward Reede of 

 Chesburie, co. Wilts, Esq 1 ., Richard Younge of Ogbourne gent, Nicholas Vyolett 

 of Overtowne, gent. Witnesses, Henry Marty n, 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 



