died childless in spite of three marriages
and chose Henry Seymour as heir. Henry took
the surname Portman but himself died
childless in 1728 and the family vault at
Orchard Portman was opened one last time to
receive him; for no future head of the
family would choose burial there.
By 1761 decline had become all too evident
and the paling at Staple Park was being
sold off that year after more than five
centuries.
Source: Orchard and the Portmans
by T. W. Mayberry, 1986
