John Hopton (died 1478)

[1] Sir Robert Swillington made his home in his wife's family estate of Kirby Bellars in Leicestershire,[3] where he died in 1391 and was buried in the priory there.

[11] Robert Sampson and Elizabeth his wife at once (1428) released all their rights in the manors of Ditchingham (Pirnhow) and Ellingham (in Norfolk), and of Blythburgh, Westleton, Claydon, Thorington, Westhall, Yoxford and others (in Suffolk), and all the lands late Sir Robert Swillington's, to John Hopton, Esq., and his heirs.

[13] The young John had no particular prospects until this series of deaths left him in 1430, aged about 25, owner of many valuable holdings inherited from his grandfather.

Among them were the lands of Swillington outside Leeds, and also several manors centred upon the estate or headmanor of Westwood at Blythburgh, standing on a ridge towards Walberswick and facing south-east towards the now lost city of Dunwich, which was then still of some importance.

[14] He made Westwood his home for the rest of his life, adding to his Suffolk holdings by the purchase of two further estates.

From that year he also sat on the commission of the peace, leaving the bench in 1458 but being reappointed from 1461 until 1468, when the loss of his sight made him unable to continue.