By the Rev. Thomas Miles. 



215 



memoir of Mr. St. Barbe, in the " Gents. Mag," Dec. 1854. The 

 Rev. Thomas Miles, M.A. was presented to the living of Stockton, 

 on the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. St. Barbe in 1854, by 

 the Eight Rev. Charles Sumner Bishop of Winchester. 



The Parish Register of Stockton commences in the year 1590, 

 with the entry of the second marriage of Jerome Poticary, with 

 Eleanor Fooks. The early part was transcribed, and the entries 

 made for several years by the Rev. Thomas Crockford, of whom 

 an account is given above. The first register book is very curious 

 and interesting. Among the marriages are the following, con- 

 nected with the Bennetts of Norton : — 



" 1677. William Bishop of Chilcomb, Dorset, Esq., and Patience Bennett, 

 married Jan y . 7th, 1686. William Bennett of Norton, Esq., and Patience 

 Bishop of Shaston, Dorset, married Oct. 5th. 



1661. Thomas, son of Sir Seymour Pile, Bart., and Lady Elizabeth his wife, 

 Baptized Dec. 27th. 



1662. Thomas, son of Sir Seymour Pile, Bart., Buried Oct. 4th." 



It does not appear how Sir Seymour Pile was connected with 

 Stockton, unless he resided in the Manor House, in the absence of 

 the Topps. Sir Seymour Pile was probably the second son of Sir 

 Francis Pile of Compton Beauchamp, Berks, created a Baronet in 

 1628. He married a daughter of Sir Francis Popham of Littlecot, 

 Wilts, and died 1635. There is an old book of parish accounts, 

 including those of the churchwardens and overseers, which contains 

 many particulars connected with the history of Stockton, and 

 several curious entries. This book was long in the possession of 

 Mr. Penchard of Taunton, who returned it to the parish in 1835, 

 and it is now in the custody of the Rector. The church wardens' 

 accounts commence in the year 1660. 



The School House. 

 In the year 1861, the school-room, which had been much wanted 

 in the parish, was made out of some old buildings, consisting of a 

 cottage, shop, &c, that had been held as a copyhold, and occupied 

 for many years by a family named Humphries. This copyhold 

 fell this year to the Lord of the Manor, who allowed the Rector 

 to become yearly tenant of the cottage, garden, and out-offices, in 

 order that they might be converted into a school-house. 



