Lightfoot Family; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 2, No. 3

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Lightfoot Family

   Lyon G. Tyler
   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2, No. 3.
   (Jan., 1894), pp. 204-207.

                               LIGHTFOOT FAMILY.

                                BY THE EDITOR.

                                     II.

   It appears that two of the sons of John Lightfoot, barrister-at-law of Northampton Co.,
England, came to Gloucester Co., Virginia.  John1 and Philip1, who are called "brothers" - 
Gen. Court Record MSS. 1672; Petsworth Parish Vestry Book.  The first of these, John, re-
ceived, on June 10, 1670, the King's grant as auditor general of Virginia in place of
Thomas Stegge, lately deceased - Sainsbury MSS.  But on May 25, 1671, the commission was
suspended till the King's pleasure was heard, "the reversionary right to the office having
been long since granted to Edward Diggs, Esq., by comicon from the power of this country".
On December 17, 1671, the suspension was confirmed by the King's order on account of the
prior right of Diggs - Sainsbury MSS.  In 1681, Mr. John Lightfoot is mentioned has having
married Anne, the daughter of Thomas Goodrich (Rappahannock records).  [Goodrich was Bacon's
Lt. General in 1675.  His will proved in Essex Co., 3 April, 1679, mentions sons: Benjamin,
Joseph, Charles, Peter.  Daughters:  Anne and Katharine.  By a deed his wife was Ann ---.]

   In 1687, the birth of a negro belonging to Mr. John Lightfoot was entered in the register
of St. Peter's Parish, New Kent Co.  He apparently visited England, since in 1692 it is said
that John Lightfoot, "Lately come into the country," was councillor.

   In 1699, he was collector for the country between James and York Rivers (Sainsbury MSS.)
In 1701, he voted with other members of the council for the recall of Nicholson - Perry's
Hist. Coll.  He was commander-in-chief of King and Queen Co.

   St. Peter's Parish (New Kent Co.) register has "Col. John Lightfoot, Esq., obiit xxviii
die Mali circa undecin, Anne Dom. 1707".  The Sainsbury MSS. refer to him as dead

Page 205.

in June, 1707.  On 25 December, 1698.  "Alice, daughter of John Lightfoot, Esq., and Ann,
his wife, was born and baptized".  He probably married twice, since 1711, negroes belonging
to Madam Mary Lightfoot in New Kent Co., were baptized.  He appeared to have had issue,
Goodrich2, Sherwood2, Thomas2 and Alice2.

   A.  Col. Goodrich2 Lightfoot was vestryman of St. George's Parish, in Spotsylvania in
1727, lay reader at Germanna Church, member of the first vestry of St. Mark's Parish.  The
Virginia Gazette of April 14, 1738, thus announced his death:  "We hear from Orange Co. that
Col. Goodrich Lightfoot died lately at his brother's there."

   He had (St. Peter's Parish Register) 1.  Anne3, b. 22 7ber, 1708, 2. John3, b. 17 Feb.,
1711, 3. Goodrich3, bapt. 14 Feb., 1713, 4. Mary3, b. 2d 8br. 1717; according to will of
John3 Lightfoot(1), his son, proved in Orange Co. Court 17 June, 1735, he had also 5. 
William3,  6. Elizabeth3.

   Capt. Goodrich3 Lightfoot was vestryman of St. Mark's till 1771, when he removed from the
Parish - Slaughter's St. Mark's Parish:  He married Susannah --------.

   William3 Lightfoot, vestryman from 1752 to 1758, when he removed to Broomfield parish, in
what is now Madison Co.  Probably, father of Goodrich5 of Madison County, who married Martha,
dau. to Rev. Henry Lightfoot and had ten c hildren, five daughters and five sons.  William6
who m. Catharine
__________________________________________________
   (1)Dr. A. G. Grinnan writes that there is only one Lightfoot will on record, viz: that of
John Lightfoot, probated 17 of June, 1735.  Gives negroes and land to his brother William,
sisters Mary and Elizabeth, father Col. Goodrich Lightfoot, Sr. and to Mrs. Martha Chew; his
father sole executor.  Witnesses, Thomas Chew, John Howard, and Isaac Smith.  "Mrs. Martha
Chew", adds the Doctor, "was Martha Taylor, sister of Erasmus and George Taylor, wife of
Thomass Chew, magistrate, vestryman, etc., of Orange, in 1734, and after.  It is a mystery
to me (A.G.G.) that he should leave property to Mrs. Chew.  I know the Taylor connection,
and there was no relationship to the Lightfoots".

Page 206.

Maury, of Albemarle, Wesley6 m. Miss Franklin of Amherst, Frank6 m. Miss Fielder of Culpeper,
Walker6, clerk of Culpeper Co. d. single, and Edward6 who m. Miss Conner. - Slaughter's
Memoirs of Col. Joshua Fry and St. Marks Parish.

   B.  Sherwood2 Lightfoot had 1. Mary3, born Sept. 9, 1707.  2. Frances3, b. Oct. 31, 1708;
died Feb. 9, 1725-6.  3. John3, b. Nov. 13, 1711.  4. Sherwood3, b. May 1, 1714.  "Major
Sherwood Lightfoot, died April 26, 1730". - St. Peter's Parish Register.

   Of these John3 married Mary - and had 1. Sherwood4, b. Feb. 13, and bapt. March 10, 1733,
2. Francis4, b. Feb'y 9, bapt. March 20, 1736.  3. Frances4, b. July 30, 1738.

   C. Thomas2 Lightfoot had 1. Frances3, born 8 8br, 1717.  2. Anne3, b. August 7, 1720.
3. Frayser3 b. and d. March 30, 1723-4.  4. Henry3 b. March 30, 1723.  5. Mary, born May 24,
1725.  According to the New England His. and Gen. Quarterly, Vol. 39, 165, Henry Benskin 
(will proved in England 19 Oct. 1692) left in Virginia two daughters, Mary, wife of William
Harman, and Frances, wife of William Marston, of James City.  Frances had a son Benskin
Marston, sheriff of Charles City in 1747.  He married Elizabeth Soane, daughter of Mr.
Henry Soane, and Marston's will was proved by the executors, Richard Kennon and Elizabeth,
the widow, in 1750.  She then married Rev. David Mossom(1) of St. Peter's Parish.  (Charles
City Co. Records and tomb at Francis Jerdone's in  Charles City, of said Elizabeth, who
died April 2, 1759 in her 55th year.)

   Geo. Benskin Poindexter(2), son of George Poindexter (son of George, d. 1716, son of
George of the Middle Planta-
_________________________________________________________
   (1)Mossom (1690-1769) appears from his tombstone (Meade II, 460) to have had two other
wives, "Elizabeth and Maria", who were buried at St. Peter's Church.  The Register has
"Elizabeth, wife of Rev. David Mossom, died Jan. 27", 1737.  He was minister forty years.
David Mossom, doubtless his son, qualified in 1737 as an attorney in Charles City Court, and
on Aug. 4, 1777, David Mossom was appointed Captain of the Company of Artificers in the
State Regiment of Artillery.
   (2) The Poindexters of Louisa doubtless came from New Kent.

Page 207.

tion, alive in 1688) and Susanna his wife (dau. of Benskin Marston?) was born Aug. 25, 1739,
and had by Frances Lightfoot (married July 17, 1760) Edwin, Robert, George, James Lightfoot,
Armistead, and by Sarah Parke(1) married March 20, 1777), Susanna, Parke, Frances.

   One John Lightfoot (dead before 1782) and Mary his wife, had lands in James City Co.,
which descend to William Lightfoot, Edward Jaquelin, Aristead, and Nicholas Lightfoot.
William Lightfoot married Lucy Armistead only daughter of Cole Digges of James City Co., and
had Armistead N., Catharine, Elizabeth, George Benskin, Susan G. and Mary C. Lightfoot.
[See QUARTERLY, Vol. I., p. 178 for their marriages.  Also assessor's books for 1782 in
State Auditor's office.]

   In the Enquirer for Nov. 19, 1805, is an obituary of "Hon. Henry Benskin Lightfoot, late
of the Island of Antigua", aged about 58 years who died in Richmond Oct. 20, 1805 (W. G.
Stanard MS).  Also "in the same paper an advertisement that if Francis Lightfoot, a native
of New Kent and formerly a resident of Va., had any descendants or heirs, living in the
U.S., he or they might hear of something highly important by applying to George or Nicholas
Lightfoat, of James City Co., George or Lightfoot Poindexter of New Kent, or to James
Poindexter of Powhatan.  Perhaps, Hon. H.B.L. had died without issue, leaving an estate".

                               [TO BE CONTINUED]:
___________________________________________________
   (1)Daniel Parke, Esq., of York Co., who died in 1679 (tablet in Bruton church, Williams-
burg) married Rebecca Evelyn, "who left behind her a most hopeful progeny".  Daniel Parke,
governor of the Leeward Islands, who lived for a time in St. Peter's parish, was one of the
children: and doubtless John Parke, of the same parish (St. Peter's) who died Jan. 17,
1709-10, was another.  He was doubtless the ancestor of Susanna of the text.