Page:History of Norfolk 1.djvu/396



In 1532, Richard Bainard, Gent. Edm. Knevet, Knt. and John White, Esq. sold Bekhall manor to

John Green, John Grey, Esq. John Crofts of West-Stow, Esq. Edm. Bacon of Troston, Esq. and John Brampton, Gent. his trustees; and so all the parts were joined again, by Green's purchase.

In 1564, Tho. Green of Wilby, Gent. son of John Green, died; he married Cecilia, daughter of ''Tho. Guybon of Lyn, and Rose his wife, leaving his manor of Beckhall, in Wilby, Hargham, Eccles, Banham, Bokenham, Crostwick, and Ruston, to Francis, his son and heir, then three years old; it then contained 12 messuages, 220 acres of land, 220 acres of pasture, 4s''. 8d. rent, &c. all which were held of Christopher Heydon, Knt. in right of Temperance, his wife, relict of ''Tho. Greye, as of his manor of Bainard's Hall in Bunwell; he died seized also of Hargham'', &c.

In 1571, Mathew Bacon, Gent. was lord, in right of Cecily his wife, relict of ''Tho. Green, as guardian to Francis Green'', her son, who died without issue in 1580, leaving it divisible among his five sisters.

Rose, married first to Butterworth, then to Paul Gooch of Hargham.

Prudence, to John Launce of Halisworth.

Thomasine, to ''Tho. Edgar of Glemham in Suffolk''.

The fourth, to John Prettiman, Knt. and

The fifth, to ''Will. Stokes'', Gent. of whom

John Wilton of Topcroft, Gent. bought the several parts, and completed his title in 1622.

John Wilton of Topcroft, Gent. purchased the advowson, and joined it to the manor; he left one daughter, Cecily, married to Sir John Brewse of Wenham in Suffolk, and Richard Wilton of Topcroft, Gent. his son and heir, who married Anne, daughter of Robert Buxton of Channons in Tibenham, Esq.; he conveyed Beckhall to Robert his son, reserving an annuity of 50l. a year to be paid in his house at Tunnegate Green in Topcroft, where he had a good estate: he died in 1637: Robert Wilton of Wilby, Esq. his son and heir, was born in 1599; he purchased Wilby Hall manor, and the hundred of Shropham, and by so doing, joined the leet to the manor, and made the estate complete: he had three wives; by Hannah, daughter of John Jay, Gent. he had only one daughter, Hannah, who married to Robert Buxton, Esq. Aug. 24, 1654, by whom he had Robert Buxton, born April 9,1659, and Elizabeth, born Dec. 16, 1661; by Susanna, his second wife, youngest daughter of Sir Anthony Drury of Besthorp, he had issue; and by Bridget, daughter of Sir John Mead, of Lofts in Essex, he had two daughters, and one son only, ''viz. Nicholas Wilton of Wilby, Esq. who married a Clinch; he sold the manors, hundred, and advowson, to Ralf Hare of Hargham, Esq. whose descendant, Hugh Hare, now [1737] a minor, son of Thomas Hare of Hargham'', Esq. deceased, is lord and patron.

The advowson of the rectory, after the Dissolution, came to the Crown; and, in 1558, was held by Edward Lord North, and John Williams, and their heirs, in free soccage by fealty only, as of East ''