Sir John Higford
Sir John Higford (1529-1607) was an English landowner and member of Parliament.[1]
He was the son of William Hugford of Dixton Manor, Gloucestershire by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Rudhall, serjeant at law of Brampton Abbotts, Herefordshire.[2] He was descended from an old Shropshire family, who had acquired Dixton through marriage in the mid-fifteenth century.[3] He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford under John Jewel.[4] He married Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund Fettiplace of Besselsleigh, Berkshire, by whom he had 2 sons (including his heir John Higford and 4 daughters.[2] His will mentions the graves of two further, unnamed wives.[1]
He represented Buckingham in the parliament of 1558.[1] This was presumably through the influence of his wife's family, one of her brothers having represented the same seat in 1554.[1] He was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1572-3 and 1585–6.[1] He was employed by Giles Brydges, 3rd Baron Chandos in the management of his estate and as deputy to him as Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.[5]
He was knighted in September 1592 during a visit of Elizabeth I to Dixton,[1][6] where he had rebuilt part of the existing manor house.[7] According to his grandson, he was 'famous for his hospitality'.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f "HIGFORD, John (1529-1607), of Dixton in Alderton, Glos". Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ a b The visitation of the county of Gloucester, taken in the year 1623. Vol. 21. Harleian Society. 1885. p. 86.
- ^ Rudder, Samuel (1779). A New History of Gloucestershire. p. 220.
- ^ Higford, William (1658). Institutions: Or, Advice to His Grandson. p. 46.
- ^ Higford 1658, p. 31.
- ^ "HIGFORD, John (c.1551-1612), of Dixton, Glos". Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ "VCH Gloucestershire 6:Alderton with Dixton". Retrieved 29 January 2024.
- ^ Higford 1658, pp. 89–90.