HOPTON, Thomas, of Rockhill, Salop.

It is difficult to distinguish the MP from Thomas Hopton of Hopton, who inherited estates at Fitz, Sandford and Burwarton in Shropshire and at Staunton-on-Arrow, Herefordshire. That Thomas would appear to have been the 2nd s. of Walter Hopton, esquire, who was murdered at Ludlow in 1412; and h. to his bro. Walter, then left a minor in the wardship of Thomas Fitzalan, earl of Arundel. He came of age bef. 1420 and m. Eleanor, da. of Sir Walter Lucy of Newington, Kent, and Richard’s Castle Herefs. by whom he had 1s. (Walter, who, a retainer of the duke of York, was to inherit a moiety of the Lucy estates in 1460 but die a year later) and 1da. (Elizabeth, afterwards w. of John Tiptoft, earl of Worcester). Thomas was also kinsman and h. of William Burley (d.1445) of Birley Herefs.-not to be confused with he of Broncroft. Which of the two served as a commr. of inquiry, Salop 1438, 1446; to raise royal loans 1446; of gaol delivery Richard’s Castle 1446 and Shrewsbury 1450; and as j.p. 1440-53; remains uncertain. Wm. Salt. Arch Soc. (ser. 2), ii. 158; C140/5/42; H. Owen and J.B. Blakeway, Hist. Shrewsbury, i. 132-3; C1/19/54; CPR, 1429-36; p. 65; 1446-52; p. 91; Feudal Aids, iv. 265, 267, 270; JUST 1/753/ m. 11; CP, xii. (2) 845; Bodl. Blakeway 24; ff. 32-33.