Publications
The Stophams, the Zouches, and the Honour of Petworth, by J. H. Round, LL.D., published 1912 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 55, article, pp.19-34) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 2140] & The Keep [LIB/500273] & S.A.S. library View Online
The Early Stophams of West Sussex, by Michael J Burchall, published June 2014 in Sussex Family Historian (vol. 21 no. 2, article, pp.56-61) accessible at: The Keep [LIB/508981]
Preview:The medieval knightly family of STOPHAM derived from the village of that name in West Sussex. The earliest references are to a Ralph de STOPHAM who was the first witness to a charter of Reginald de WINDSOR, (dapifer to Henry I's widow Queen Adelizia and her second husband William D'AUBIGNY, Earl of Arundel) while he was holding the honour of Petworth, giving the church of Petworth and others to Lewes Priory about 1140. Ralph de STOPHAM also appears sometime later as third witness of Walter de DUNSTANVILLE III's gift of land at Newtimber to Lewes Priory. He or his son Ralph II was a pledge in 1194-4. Ralph was probably the father of Ralph II and Hugh de STOPHAM who before 1190 were witnesses to a deed of his overlord Alan la ZOUCHE. These acts of witnessing were common for knightly families but at this period we have no knowledge of the lands they held other than perhaps that of Stopham manor. The family's later more extensive land holdings over three counties derived from two fortunate marriages.