John LIGHTFOOT I

  Noted events in his life were:

• Biography. John, the eldest son of the Rev. Richard and Jane Lightfoot, was admitted to Lincoln College at Oxford, May 5, 1615 (age 17 years) and was subsequently admitted to Gray's Inn, Middlesex [a prestegious Court and Law School] in June 1617. After completing his studies and apprenticeship there he was appointed a Fellow and Barrister of Gray's Inn, married Elizabeth Phillips (c1620), and took up residence at P.G.C. Fairfax 32, Somerset House in London, where he practiced law until his death in 1648. It is likely that all or most of his children were born there (in London). According to his will [included in papers of M. Shaver as part of article entitled "The Lightfoot Family"], he was an extensive land holder and left a considerable amount of property to his mother, who survived him, his wife's family, his brothers and sisters, and his own large family of 13 children. To each of his sons he left a "Ring of Seal" with other property. He ordered his books and manuscripts to be sold and the money divided among his children.

The eldest son John II and his younger brother Phillip migrated with their families to America c1670, long after the death of John Sr. In the case of the older brother this is somewhat odd given his status as first-born and heir. But he was apparently a seagoing adventurer whose exploits are only hinted at in the family records. The fourth son, William, appears to have followed in his father's footsteps also graduating from Gray's Inn in 1653 and pursuing a career as a barrister in England where he and his brother Robert secured and extended the family fortune. The descendants of brothers John and Phillip would eventually comprise the "Lightfoots of Virginia" whose family members served honorably in the State Legislature, the Church and the Militia. They frequently intermarried with the famous "Lee Family of Virginia" and one such union produced Francis Lightfoot Lee, a member of the Continental Congress from Virginia and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Of the two sons who emigrated to The Colonies, Philip was by far the most financially successful building a mercantile empire that was subsequently taken over and further expanded by his son Philip who was also known as Philip of Sandy Point "The Merchant Prince".

[http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/s/h/a/Michael-P-Shaver/FILE/0019text.txt]

• Land: transfer of property, 1638, Surry County, VA. Anne Sheppard's mother Elizabeth Spencer was a daughter of William Spencer and his wife Alice Lightfoot. William Spencer, born about 1560 in England, arrived in Virginia in either 1607 or 1608, depending upon which of two conflicting accounts one accepts. According to the "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography," Vol. I, p. 329, William Spencer arrived in the so called 'First Supply' voyage from England to provision the first Colonists in 1608. This version is supported by information preserved by the "Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities." The other version, outlined in considerable detail on p. 580-5 of "Adventurers of Purse and Person, Virginia, 1607-1625," 1987 ed., has William arriving in the "Sarah Constant" at Jamestown in 1607 with the very first Colonists, subordinate officer to ship's Captain Christopher Newport. In either case, William Spencer was one of the first English Colonists in the New World.

[...]

The same source says, "In the muster of 24 Jan. 1624 William Spencer resided at James Island (Jamestown) with his wife Alice and their daughter Alice, the family being well supplied, having ten barrels of corn, 200 fish, and for their protection ammunition consisting of four pounds of powder, eight pounds of shot and three 'peeces,' along with twelve swine, three goats and two kids. They also had two dwellings and a boat..."

William Spencer was an Ensign; he was Burgess for Jamestown in the first Virginia Assembly in 1619; in 1632-3 he was Burgess of Mulberry Island (from Tyler "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography," Vol. I, p. 329).

Hotten's "Emigrants" (p. 228) shows among those living at James Island in 1624 "William Spencer came in the "Sarah (Constant)," Alice his wife in the - - - -, Alice, their daughter, aged 4 yeres." Among the dead at James City and in the island is mentioned "William Spencer a Child" (ib., p. 229), who was almost certainly a son of this family.

Numerous land grants were made to William Spencer in Surry County. In 1624 he is referred to as "Ensigne William Spencer" in a grant to John Johnson, yeoman (Nugent, p. 4). A grant of 550 acres in Surry in 1635 calls him "William Spencer, Gent.," indicating that he was a Justice of the County at that time. The two largest grants made to Spencer were for 1100 acres in 1635 which were later held by his son-in-law Robert Sheppard (who was, of course, the father of Spencer's granddaughter Anne Sheppard-Hart) and deeded to a William Caulfield in 1652; and one for 1350 acres in 1637, which was inherited by William's other son-in-law William Cockerham, who was married to his daughter Anne.

On Jan. 21, 1638, Nicholas Spencer (William's brother - apparently also an early Jamestown settler) testified that John Lightfoot left his property to William Spencer (minutes of the Council and Gen'l. Ct. of Col. Va., p. 181), which suggests a relationship between Spencer and Lightfoot. John Lightfoot was likely Alice Lightfoot's father, and therefore William Spencer's father-in-law. Only the two daughters - Elizabeth, wife of Robert Sheppard, and Anne, wife of William Cockerham - seem to have survived him. In any case, Major Robert Sheppard and Captain William Cockerham of the Colonial Militia appear to have inherited all of his land.

[http://home.midsouth.rr.com/genealogy/newsom3.htm]

• Will, 1647, London, Middlesex, ENGLAND. 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 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.

[http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/schools/wmmary/quarterly/l2320000.txt]

• Alt. Death, 24 Mar 1648, London, England.

• See also. http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/r/o/Philip-E-Crowther/GENE13-0073.html#CHILD67176196

7144. John (Sr) Lightfoot, born 1598; died 1648. He was the son of 14288. Richard (Sr) Lightfoot and 14289. Jane Jones. He married 7145. Elizabeth Phillips 16 Jan 1625/26 in St Andrews, Undershaft, London, ENG.

7145. Elizabeth Phillips, born cir. 1600; died 24 Dec 1689 in London, ENG. She was the daughter of 14290. Francis Philips and 14291. Olive Sawyer.

i. John (Jr) Lightfoot, born cir. 1627; died 28 May 1707 in VA; married Ann Goodrich 1681.
ii. Francis Lightfoot, born cir. 1629.
iii. George Lightfoot, born cir. 1631.
3572iv. Richard Lightfoot, born cir. 1635; died Bef. 1686; married (Wife) Scott cir. 1654.
v. Edmond Lightfoot, born cir. 1637.
vi. Philip (Sr) Lightfoot, born cir. 1639 in ENG; died 1708 in Gloucestor County, VA; married Alice Corbin 28 Sep 1679 in Middlesex County, VA; born 14 Feb 1659/60 in Middlesex County, VA; died Aft. 1689.
vii. William Lightfoot, born cir. 1640; died 1699.
viii. Robert Lightfoot, born cir. 1641.
ix. Sherwood Lightfoot, born cir. 1645.
x. Thomas Lightfoot, born cir. 1650; died Bef. 1690; married Rebecca ? Larkin Bef. 1690.
xi. Goodrich Lightfoot, born cir. 1653.
xii. Alice Lightfoot, born cir. 1655.

John married Elizabeth PHILLIPS, daughter of Francis PHILLIPS and Olive SAWYER, on 16 Jan 1620 in St. Andrews Parish, London, ENGLAND. (Elizabeth PHILLIPS was born about 1600 in ENGLAND and died on 24 Dec 1683 in London, England.)

  Noted events in their marriage were:

• Alt. Marriage, 16 Jan 1621, St. Andrews Parish, London, ENGLAND.