These wills are from a variety of sources – some from the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and others from county record offices. Most of the wills have been transcribed to include all the names mentioned, but not necessarily all of the details of what each person received, so please see the originals for complete details.
- Lightfote, Humfrey, Merchant of the Staple at Calyce [Calais?], 1549
- Lightefoote, William, Citizen and Grocer of London, 1551
- Lightfoote, William, Merchant of the Staple, 1567
Lightfote, Humfrey, Merchant of the Staple at Calyce [Calais?], 1549
- Dwelling in St Peter the Poore, Broadstreet Ward, London
- To be buried in the church of St Peter Le Poer
- Wife Dorothy Lightfoot
- Late wife’s brother Bartholomew Beynham
- Robert Beynham
- Children of sister Elizabeth Perche
- Children of brother William Saxbye
- Cousin Roger Lightfote
- Mother-in-law Margaret Beynham, widow
- Cousin John Clerch’s wife
- Mr Richard Fermor and his wife
- Cousin, wife of Cordall
- Cousin William Lightfote, Citizen and Grocer of London
- Servants: Alice, Humfrey Woodall
- The poor of Roxwell, Essex, “where I was born”
- Children Alice Lightfote and William Lightfote, to be in the custody of testator’s friend Mr Andrew Judde, Alderman of London, until they are of age
- Friend Harry Southwike, merchant of the staple in Calais to have custody of son John until he is 21
- Daughter Margaret wife of Clement Clarke
Executors: friends Mr Andrew Judde, Harry Southwike
Witnesses: Thomas Carmerthyn, Edward Catcher, Jerome Burdett, Hugh Boddy, Christpher Dowe notary, & citizens of London
Written 9 Aug 1549, probate 4 Oct 1549
PCC
Transcriber’s notes: the son William mentioned in this will is the testator William Lightfoote, whose PCC will was proved in 1567 (see below). The daughter Margaret married first Clement Clarke of Bocking, Essex (died 1562), then John Cole of Markshall, Essex (died 1567 or 68) and finally Edward Derehaugh, also of Markshall (died 1598). See below the will of “cousin” William Lightfoot, citizen and grocer of London.
It’s possible that the testator was the son of Edward Lightfoot of Roxwell, Essex. Edward is mentioned as the brother of John Lightfoot in John’s will (ERO, John Lyghtfote of Corringham, 1520), and John’s duaghter’s are named as Emme, Mary, Anne, Beatrix and Kateryn. Guardianship of the children and their lands was given to Edward. Several Chancery disputes have survived, naming Emma the wife of Thomas Cordall, Margery the wife of William Godbold, and Anne the wife of John Page alias Baxter – the daughters of John Lightfoot, and the granddaughters of Hugh Lightfoot. One of the disputes refers to Edward withholding the deeds of the women’s land, and other disputes see the three women pitted against Robert Derehaugh – quite possibly the same Robert who is the father of William, Edward and Robert Derehaugh (Edward Derehaugh married the testator’s daughter). Although “cousin” is a flexible term at this period, the testator’s cousin, wife of Cordall, is highly likely to be Emma, the wife of Thomas Cordall, and as the testator was born in Roxwell, where Edward Lightfoot lived, it seems possible that the testator was her first cousin.
It’s interesting to note that Humphrey was friends with Andrew Judde, who was Lord Mayor of London in 1550, and was eventually knighted. Edward Derehaugh’s son William married Mary Reynolds in Latton, Essex in 1584. Mary’s grandmother was Dame Mary Judde – Andrew Judde’s third wife. Mary’s mother, Elizabeth, was from her mother’s first marriage, to Thomas Langton. It wouldn’t be at all surprising if William Derehaugh and Mary Reynolds married thanks to this connection via William’s stepmother.
Lightefoote, William, Citizen and Grocer of London, 1551
- Money to the poor in London parishes, and Roxwell, Essex, and the poor of Minchin Lane
- John Marteyn “sometimes my father’s servant”
- John Cuthbert and his wife and children
- Joyce, testator’s maid, unmarried. Servant William Pynchan
- “Either of my Norsers [nurses?] having my children
- Money to St Bartholomew’s Hospital
- Forgives John Wattes his debt. Mentions a Mistress Wattes
- Uncle William Butler
- My good mistress Chertsey
- My brother Clarke, my sister Johane Clarke
- Wife Anne, and mentions her father [unnamed]
- Brother John Bogasse, John Oder the elder, William Oder, Robert Oder, John Oder the younger. Jasper Alleyn and Thomas Cascell
- My sister Bogas
- Five poor Cambridge scholars: £1 each
- Apprentice Christopher Relis, “my boy” John Markeland under 21
- My brother Roger and his wife
- My cousin Cordall and his wife
- Forgives Thomas Oder a debt
- Brother-in-law John Harte Cuthbert [perhaps an error and should be two brothers-in-law, John Harte and John Cuthbert]
- Children, unnamed: two boys, both under eight, the eldest to be the ward of Blasy Saunders, the youngest to brother Roger Lightfoot. The daughter to remain with his wife. Roger and Blasy to occupy two-thirds of his children’s portions until they come of age, and John Cuthbert to occupy one third.
Executors: wife and brother Roger. Overseer: Blasy Saunders
Witnesses: William Clerke, John Cuthbert, John Harte, Thomas Cordall
PCC
Written 10 July 1551, probate 10 Aug 1551
Transcriber’s notes: a cousin of Humfry Lightfoot (see his will above). Both Humfry and William mention their cousin Cordall.
A Chancery dispute from between 1544-47, Cordall v Derehawgh, sheds some light. The plaintiffs were the granddaughters of Hugh Lightfoot, deceased, and their husbands: Emma, wife of Thomas Cordall; Margery, wife of William Godbold; Anne wife of John Page alias Baxter. The defendants were Robert Derehawgh/Derrow, and John Johnson. In dispute were lands and properties in Suffolk (Dennington and Brundish) and Norfolk (in Morningthorpe, Long Stratton, Fritton, and Shelton). Note that a man called Lightfoot Godbold is mentioned in the 1618/1620 SRO will of Roger Godbold the elder of Dennington, Suffolk – either his son or grandson.
It seems that a Robert Derehaugh was the father of Edward, who married Margaret Lightfoot. Edward and Margaret’s marriage was later than the 1540s though. I wonder if Robert’s wife was a sister of Emma, Margery and Anne. And that by marrying Margaret, Edward had married his cousin. It certainly seems like more than a coincidence that we see two instances of Derehaughs and Lightfoots crossing over – Edward and Margaret’s marriage, and the Chancery dispute. Such disputes often arise due to marriages and inheritances.
Lightfoote, William, Merchant of the Staple, 1567
- To be buried in the church of St Olyve in the Lane
- Brother John Lightefeld £700, and to be executor
- Children of my sister Colle £140
- Cousin Studley £40, and £60 to her three children
- Cousin Roger Lightfelt’s children: £40
- Mother-in-law £10
Witness: Richard Pattrick, haberdasher
Written 13 Oct 1566, probate 20 Jan 1566/7
PCC
Transcriber’s notes: William was probably buried at St Olave’s Hart Street, St Olave’s, Old Jewry, or St Olave’s, Silver St (not rebuilt after destruction in the Great Fire) in the City of London. He is the brother of Margaret Lightfoot, who was firstly married to a man called Cole, and subsequently to Edward Derehaugh of Markshall, Essex. See their wills. And the Chancery document C 3/55/89 Derehawghe v Lyghtfoote. Although his name is given as Lightfoote, there was clearly a mistake in the copying of it as his brother and cousin are named as “Lightefeld”. His “mother-in-law” (unnamed) is presumably his stepmother – the will of his father Humfrey Lightfoot mentions his wife Dorothy, and also mentions a “late wife” – presumably the mother of William.
Admon for Roger Lightefoote, 1569, of St Bt Ls (one of the St Botolph’s in the City of London, perhaps) went to John Taylor, k [reference from index to LMA wills]. This might be the testator’s cousin mentioned in the will.