STOKE MANOR
(subordinate to Hanslope Manor).
It derived its name from Thomas Stokes (15th century)

One of the small estates in Hanslope held by service of a quarter fee appears in the 15th century under the name of STOKES, later HANSLOPE alias STOKES MANOR. It remained subordinate to Hanslope Manor, a connection which is last mentioned in 1618. This estate derived its name apparently from Thomas Stokes, who married Eleanor daughter of Sir Robert Luton of Hartwell. Their daughter Agnes, having survived her two husbands Sir Thomas Shingleton and ... Petite, died seised in 1479. Stokes Manor descended with that of Hartwell to Sir Alexander Hampden. In 1617 he settled it on his niece Margaret Hampden on her marriage with Thomas afterwards Lord Wenman. See Wenman: On the death of Sir Alexander Hampden in March 1617-18 it came Margaret and Thomas as part of her heritage. They evidently gave Stokes Manor to their son Richard, who predeceased his parents about 1646. It was settled in trust on his widow Barbara in 1650, on her marriage with James Earl of Suffolk. See Suffolk: James Earl of Suffolk, with his wife and her trustees, conveyed this manor in 1653 to Richard Reeves, jun., and his heirs, with surety against claiments through Sir Alexander Hampden and Richard Wenman. See: Herbert: It afterwards passed to Sir Henry Herbert, younger brother of Edward first Lord Herbert of Chirbury, who left it by will to his son Henry. The latter, with his mother Elizabeth, made a settlement concerning it in 1678. The family title was revived for Henry Herbert in 1694, and Stokes Manor descended with it in 1709 to his son Henry, who sold the manor in 1713 to James Howe. See Howe: Mary widow of James Howe, and his son John, made a settlement of Stokes in 1741, a further settlement being made in the following year on the marriage of John Howe with Constance Howe, daughter of Mary Sophia Charlotte, dowager Viscountess Howe. John Howe died without issue in 1769, and in 1774 Richard Viscount Howe, his brother-in-law and executor, sold Stokes Manor to Edward Watts of Hanslope Park, with whose estate it since descended.