John Hampton, the founder of the Worplesdon branch, was baptized at Searle in 1 626. Four of his sons, John, William, James, and Thomas, were living at Worplesdon in 1685.[1] James Hampton, head of the Puttenham family, was baptized at Seale in 1628, and the baptisms of five of his children, with the burial of his wife Joan, are recorded at Puttenham—John, 1664; James, 1666; William, 1670; Elizabeth, 1673; Joan, 1677.
« Anno Mcoocc Ixziiij.
"The xiiij day of November was maryed Heniy Bozhold to Margret Hampton." (Elstead Reg.)
1586. "The xzix daye of September was baptysed Henrye Hamtone the sone of John Hamtone. (Elstead Reg.)
In 1576 a John Hampton was living in Elstead. He had a son William, baptized and buried here in that year. His name occurs agai^ a few months afterwards:—
" The xxi day of Janvary was baptysed the douter of Wyllyam Sporge sayde to be ihe chyllde of John ffcmipton and named amyss.** (Elstead Reg.)
John Billinghurst, senior, of Puttenham, mentioned in the court roll of 1601, must have hved somewhere between Shakelford and " Bryttie " Hill. I suppose at Bodsall, from the nature of his evidence; for the Billinghursts resided here in 1507, when William Billinghurst paid the sum of 8s. per annum to Thomas Parvoche (you have just seen his brass in Godalming Church) for certain lands which he held of him in Rodsall. (Rent-roll of Thomas Parvoche in his own handwriting.)
I take this opportunity of referring to Britty Hill, a well-known eminence in this parish, on the west side of Puttenham Great Common. On the summit of this hill I have found about thirty flint "scrapers," three barbed arrow-heads, a fine leaf-shaped spear-head, and a celt of Devonshire granite, the whole of which are now in the Charter-house Museum. Does the name Britty Hill in any way refer to this early occupation?
- ↑ Probate of William Hampton's will 1685; in writer's possession.
