The Lightfoot Family; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol., 2, No. 2 Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** The Lightfoot Family Lyon G. Tyler William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2, No. 2, (Oct., 1893), pp. 91-97. THE LIGHTFOOT FAMILY. BY THE EDITOR At "Sandy Point", Charles City Co., Va., once the splendid estate of the Lightfoot family, is a tomb with this inscription: Philip Lightfoot, Son of John Lightfoot, Esq., Barrister at Law, son of John Lightfoot, Minister of Stoke Bruain in Northamptonshire. The tomb is decorated with the Lightfoot arms, impaling Corbin. Philip Lightfoot married Alice Corbin, dau. of Henry Corbin. I have a drawing of the arms, and they answer in Burke, dexter: (Lightfoot) - barry of six or and gu, on a bend sa three escallops ar.; sinister (Corbin) ar. on a chief or, three ravens ppr. The tinctures, of course, are not given. The crest is the head of an animal with ears pointed forward and tongue protruding. The arms of the dexter side and the crest appear also on the tombs, of Philip Lightfoot, his son, who died May 30, 1748, at "Sandy Point", and of Francis Lightfoot, another son who died Jan. 7, 1727. The tomb of the first Philip Lightfoot is, however, wrong in stating that John Lightfoot, the father of the Virginia immigrant, was son of "John Lightfoot, minister of Stoke Bruain". In Berry's History of Page 92. Northamptonshire, a list of ministers of that parish is given, and the name Richard Lightfoot appears in proper order. There was no other minister of Stoke Bruerne of the name of Light- foot. Berry, quoting the parish register, states that "he was installed 27 April, 1601, and was buried here 28 Nov., 1625." According to Berry there is in the church a small brass plate having the figure of a priest kneeling before an altar - dexter side, barry of six o, & G., on a bend s. three escallops of the first - Lightfoot; sinister, Lightfoot impaling o, three bars (q? az). Upon it is this inscription: Memoriae Richard Lightfoot, Hujus Eccl'ie per xxiii (?) Annos Rectoris, Evangelii Preconis, J. L. Filius et Haeres Suus Posuit. Pascentum exemplo Populos Verboq, Ciboq. Mors Subgressa Levi Est Non Inopina Pede Vita Brevis, Nam Longa Fuit Meditatio Mortis. Sic Alios Docuit Vivere Seq. Mori, Dni 1625, Obiit Anno Aet. Suae 63. Which may be rendered as follows: This tomb was placed here to the memory of Ricahrd Lightfot, minister of the gospel and rector of this church for twenty-three years (twenty-four?) by J. L., his son and heir. Death quietly and unexpectedly overtook him while feeding his flock by word and deed. His life was short, for it was a long meditation on death. Thus he taught others to live and himself to die. He died in the year of our Lord 1625, aged 63 years. The wills of Richard Lightfoot and Jane, his wife, who was Jane Jones, are recorded in the District Registry attached to the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice at North- hampton. The will of their son, John, barrister-at-law, is on record at Somerset House, London, I have thought them of sufficient interest to attach them to this paper. Page 93. In Foster's "Oxford Matriculations" is the following: "John Lightfoot, of London (City), cler. fil. Lincoln Coll. matric. 5th May, 1615, aged 17; possibly a student of Gray's Inn in 1617, as a son and heir of Richard Lightfoot of Stoke Bruerne, Northants, cler.: brother of the next named." "Richard Lightfoot, son of Richard, of Stoke Bruerne, Northants, sacerd. Lincoln College, matriculated 27 Jan., 1625-6, aged 17; B. A. 26 July, 1628, rector of Kennarding, Kent, 1632, of Whinbergh, Norfolk, 1647, and of Chadwell Essex, 1663." Foster's "Gray's Inn Admissions" has - "June 30, 1617, John Lightfoot, son and heir of Richard Lightfoot, Co. Northampton, clerk". "Feb. 18, 1641-2, John Lightfoot, eldest son of John L., one of the fellowes of this Inn" "Oct. 24, 1653, Wm. Lightfoot, son of John Light- foot, late of Gray's Inn", Esq., deceased;" and "Nov. 15, 1653, Richard Lightfoot, son of John L. Esq., late deceased, an antient of this Society." Now the three last mentioned - John, William and Richard - were evidently brothers of Philip, of Virginia, mentioned in the opening of this paper, for the only John Lightfoot, who previously studied at Gray's Inn, was the John, son of Rev. Ricahrd, who was admitted in 1617. Will of Richard Lightfoot - Extracted from the District Registry attached to the Probate Division of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice at Northampton: In the name of God Amen, I Ricahrd Lightfoot Clerke, Parson of Stoke Brewen in the County of Northton being in helth of bodie but of pafitt memory praised be God Doemake and declare this my last Will and testament ffirst I bequeath my soule into the hand of Almightie God assuredlie trustinge through the infinite meritts & mediacon of Jesu Page 94. Christ my saviour & redeemr to have everylasting salvacon And my bodie to be interred in the chancell of the chancell of the parish church of Stoke aforesaid My Estate thus I dispose of ffirst of my lands & tenements by me purchased I give unto my eldest sonne John Lightfoote my ouse at Northton & all other things hereunto appertayninge purchased of Thomas Gutteridge Cordwiner And the gate house adionyinge purchased of Tobie Coldwell and all those lands and meadowe grounds which there appurtenances in the psh of Stoke aforesaid wch I purchased of Richard Wickens William Wickens & William Kingston and every or ainey of them and all writ- ings and evidence concernynge the same to have & to hold unto my sonne John and his heirs for ever Item I give unto my sonne Richard Lightfoote and his heirs for ever all those lands arable meadowe and pasture with their appurtenanaces wch I have bought or contracted for of Robt Wickens of Northton but if the bargaine goe not forwarde then I give unto my said sonne Richard Lightfoot so much as I should ahve given for the said lands Item I give unto my said sonne Richard & his assignes my house in the occupation of William Yorke and all the lands ground and other hereditaments which I bought of John Jackson together with the newe house ladie erected upon part thereof Item I give my twoe houses with all the lands thereunto belonging with there appurtenances wch I purchased of John Walke Esq and John Smith unto my well beloved wife Jane Lightfoote for and duringe the term of her naturall life and her decease unto my said sonne John Lightfoote & his assignes And my Will is that when my said sonne shall have possession of the last two mencened houses or either of them he shall pay unto his two sisters Sarah and Rose if they be then living five pounds apiece And I give all my bookes unto my said two sons equally to be divided between them And my Will is that the procon of my daughter Jane shall be so much as the best proson given in marriage with either of her sisters to be pd unto her at those daies and tymes upon and after her marriage as the porcon of her sister Rose was paid and touchinge anye wise those poore people at Stoke I doe for divers respects me inducinge forbeare to mencon any but leave the same to the discretion of my wife and sonne John to do therein hereafter (as the carriage of the parish to themward considered) they shall thincke meete And my Will is in respecte of the guifte hereby to my said wife that she release Page 95. her dower and third in all my free lands & not doubting but that such love will rest in her towards her children and such dutie in them to herward that they would have made as equall if not more perfitt & indifferent distrubucon of my estate than I have done hereby. The rest of all my good debts and estate not bequethed I give to my wellbeloved wife, Jane Lightfoote whome I make sole Executrix of this my last Will and I desire my dearly beloved brother Thomas Jones Esqr to be overseer hereof to see the same pformed in all things accordinge to my true meaninge hereby requestinge all the parties legatees before- named to make him judge and decider of all controversies which shall arise between them or anie of them. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale the 5th daie of May Anno Dni 1625 And in the first yeare of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles &c. Richard Lightfoote. Sealed published and declared by the said Richard Lightfoote as and for his last Will & Testamt in the presence of us Thomas Jones John Winterborne Thomas Marshe. Proved 6th December, 1625. Will of Jane Lightfoot. Extracted from the District Registry attached to the Probate Division of Her Majesty's High Court of Justice at Northampton. In the Name of God Amen I Jane Lightfoote of Stoake Bruen in the County of Northon Gentlewoman being weake in body yet in pfect minde & memory (thankes be to God) doe make this my last Will & Testament in manner & forme following ffirst I bequeath my sole into the hands of Almightie God my Creator & of Jesus Christ, my only Savior and Redeember & of the holy ghost my Sanctifier & pserver And m body I will be decently brouht to the ground & buried in the Chacell of the sayd Stoake Bruen in sure & certaine hope of resurrection to eternall life As for my worldly good and chattels first I give to my sonne Richard Lightfoot one little cottage pott with one little brasse pan half my pewter int he pewter chest and the feather bed at Stoake Bruen to be delivded within one month after my Page 96. decease being lawfully demanded Item I give to my grandchild John Lightfoot the sonne of John Lightfoot the bigger silver bole to be delivded as before Item I give to my sonne- law Robert Kingstone my other -- silver bole & my little silver spoone to be delivded as before Item I give to my grandchild Sarah Kingstone one little feather bed with bedstead & all other furniture belonging to it to be delivded as before Item I give to Mr Meacham of the said Stoake Bruen one gold ring & one silver thimble to be delivded as before The rest of my goods & chattels unbequeathed I give to my well beloved daughter Jane of Hanslop in the County of Buckon the now wife of William Asbie whom I make the true and full executrix of this my last Will & Testament in writing Robert Wickens Gentln & Richard Plowman yeoman of the said pish of Stoake Bruen my loving neighbors to be the overseers of this my last Will & Testament And in witness hereof I have to these pents sett to my hand & seale this twentieth day of December in the year of or Lord God (by computar of or Church of England) oen thousand six hundred fortie nine. the marke of Jane | | Lightfoot Sealed & acknowledged in the psence of Joseph Dayes the mark of Elizabeth X. Dunkley Will of John Lightfoot, Esq. P. G. C. Fairfax 32 Somerset House, London. 1 Janaury, 1647, John Lightfoote of Grayes Inn, Middx, Esq. Desires no mourning expence but to be kept 25 hours from the grave. To the poor of the parish of Stoke Brewen, Northon 20 s. and so much to the poor of the parish where I shall be buried. To my dear mother, Mrs. Jane Lightfoot rents & profits of lands I am possessed of in Stoke brewerne for 20 years and L10 as also L5 yearly during her life to be paid quarterly. To my dearly beloved wife, household stuff, the old gold & jewels in her possession, L50 and such books as she shall choose. To Jane Ashbie my sister 5 marks & remittance of a debt owing by her husband to testator. To Page 97. the children of my late sister Rose 40s. each and 40s to their mother-in-law. To my loving father & mother, Francis Phelps, Esq. & his wife, to Sr Edmond Sawyer, Knt. & his lady, Sr Thos Allen, Knt, Robert Harrington, Esq. and to my godmother, his wife, Mr Augustine Phillips, my brother Francis Phelips, Esq., Mr Wm Paylton, Wm Allafrye, Esq., Mr Francis Ridley, my brother Leonard Dare, Esq. & my sister, his wife, Mr. Henry Riley, to my brother Mr Richard Lightfoote & his wife, to Mr John, Mrs Mary & Phillip Phelips, my loving brother & sisters, to Mr John Cockstint, Mr Edward Taylor, the elder, & my said dear Mother, rings to each - Printed books, MSS. goods & estate not hereby disposed of to be sold to the best advantage. My friend Edward Bing, Esq: to have chamber lodging at Gray's Inne, wherein testator has an estate for life, & the life of his cousin, Mr John Jones, at such reasonable price as shall be agreed upon. To my eldest son various books, Cambden's Britannica, &c., also books "to my said brother Richard" & to each of his children 20s. To my loving cousin, Mr Thomas Jones 5 marks. To Robert Kingston 20s. out ofmoney he owes to testator & 20s to each of his children. To each of my servants 20s. "I leave a wife and many children, God bless them." (In Margin 1 John. 2 Francis. 3 George. 4 William. 5 Richard. 6 Edmond. 7 Phillip, 8 Robert. Mary, Anne, Jane, Elizabeth, Rebecca). Remainder of estate to be divided amongst testator's children -- appoints that the profit of all the estate be "wholly payed to my wife for the maintenace of herself & children" make further provision concerning this. I remit unto my said Father Phelips all money & "demands" between us. Ordains said wife, Elizabeth Lightfoote full & sole executrix. Desires Mr Harrington & Mr Riely to be overseers & gives them L5. each, desiring they will on all occasions proceed with the advice of said loving brother, Francis Phelips to whom testator gives 4 law books. "To each of my elder sonnes I give a Ringe or seale". [No witnesses.] Proved at London 24 March, 1648-9, by oath of Elizabeth Lightfoote, relict. (To be continued).