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History of the Parish of Stockton, Wilts. 



Dorset, Esq. ; Edward TTooper of TTurne Court, Hants, Esq. ; I 

 James Harris of Sarum, Gent.; and John Murvine of Pitwood, I 

 Gent., Governors of the hospital or almshouse of Stoekton. The I 

 last of these artieles speaks of the original governors having ap- 

 pointed a warden to receive the rents and pay the poor ; and it j 

 orders that office to be discontinued, and its duties to be executed 

 by the steward, for whom a provision of £4 a year had been made 

 by John Topp, Esq., late deceased brother of the founder. Martin 

 Tanner was the first steward of the almshouse. It is stated in an 

 old paper at Stockton house, that in 1711 " the accounts of Martin 

 Tanner, first steward of the almshouse, were finally settled after 

 his death, and after holding that office fifty-three years." The 

 succession of legal trustees having been lost, Harry Biggs, Esq., 

 as lord of the manor, acted in the capacity of trustee for several 

 years before the visitation of the Charity Commissioners in the 

 year 1833, when a new trust was appointed, and the original 

 articles for the regulation of the almshouse, with a few alterations, 

 were re-established by the trustees. The new trustees were, Harry 

 Biggs, Esq., lord of the manor; Henry Godolphin Biggs, Esq. ; 

 Lord Heytesbury ; Aylmer Bourke Lambert, Esq., of Boyton 

 House; William Temple, Esq., of Bishopstrow ; and the Rector 

 of Stockton and Codford St. Mary, for the time being. The in- 

 strument of foundation orders that eight poor persons, either men 

 or women, of the parishes of Stockton and Codford St. Mary ; 

 single and above the age of 60 years, should be received into the 

 house, and be allowed two shillings a week, and a blue gown or 

 cloak once a year. Kinsmen, or descendants of the founder, were 

 by his will to have the first claim. It appears from an old paper 

 at Stockton house, that in 1685, Luke Allen of Hindon was received 

 into the almshouse for the default of a kinsman or any one in 

 Stockton or Codford St, Mary better qualified. In 1700, William 

 Yates of Chilmark was admitted for want, &c. In 1704, William 

 Chiveral of Hindon, and Mary Auber}' of Shrewton, were admitted 

 for want, &c. The remainder of the income arising out of the 

 trust property, to be expended in apprenticing boys belonging to 

 the two parishes. For many years past the inmates of the alms- 



