Rev. Richard Lightfoot

Originally of County Kent, Richard Lightfoot, who was Rector of Bruerne in Northhamptonshire, heads a pedigree of four generations of his family registered during the Herald's Visitation of London made in 1687. The registration is signed by William Lightfoot (Son of John I and Grandson of the Reverend Richard) of London, one of the Attorneys in the Lord Mayor's Court and Register of Sutton's Hospital, who was then aged 53.... The Coat of Arms accompanying the entry of pedigree may be blazoned, Arms: Barry of six and/or gules on a bend sable three escallops, or Crest: A griffin's head erased or beaked and gorged with a collar sable charged with three escallops. The pedigree was filed by Robert Lightfoot (brother of William) who was Apothecary to the Queen Dowager, Queen Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II of England.

Richard (believed to be originally from London) was ordered a deacon and priest on 14 March 1582 by John, Bishop of Gloucester, and was licensed as preacher on 11 Dec. 1589 by John, Archbishop of Canterbury. The parish register reports that he was installed as Rector of Stoke Bruerne, England on 27 April, 1601 and was buried there on 28 November, 1625, after serving for 23 years. His tomb is marked by a small plaque bearing the Lightfoot coat of arms and the inscription [in latin]:

This tomb was placed here to the memory of Richard Lightfoot, minister of the gospel and rector of this church for twenty three years 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.

Little is known of Richard's wife Jane (Jones) save her death, as recorded by her will filed with the Church of England, in 1649.

Stoke Bruene, Northhamptonshire is located in the middle of England 118 miles north of London. The thatched cottages climb up the hill. The lock-keeper's gardens are gay with flowers in season and the canal winds by until its waters vanish into a tunnel nearly two miles long. The Church on the hill above the village was begun by the Normans in 1066 and was completed with battlements in the 15th Century when the richly carved Cross was set above the east wall of the chancel. The Nave Arcades with four circular Clerestory Windows above are 14th Century. Beautifully lettered gravestones are all over the church and include the "Lightfoots" and "Jones". On the wall is a brass portrait of Richard Lightfoot with a pointed beard and wearing a ruff as he kneels at a prayer desk.

Children of Jane JONES and Richard LIGHTFOOT are:

1. John LIGHTFOOT was born ABT 1580 in , , Middlesex, England, and died 1648 in , , , Virginia. He married Elizabeth PHILLIPS, daughter of PHILLIPS and Mrs. PHILLIPS. She was born ABT 1590 in , of London, London, Eng, and died 1686 in London, Eng.
2. Richard LIGHTFOOT was born ABT 1582 in , , Middlesex, England.
3. Rose LIGHTFOOT was born ABT 1584 in , , Middlesex, England. She married Robert KINGSTONE.
4. Sarah LIGHTFOOT was born ABT 1586 in , , Middlesex, England. She married Leonard DARE.
5. Jane LIGHTFOOT was born ABT 1588 in , , Middlesex, England. She married William ASBIE.
6. (Unknown) LIGHTFOOT was born 1588 in <, , Middlesex, England>.
7. Richard LIGHTFOOT was born 1590 in Stoke Bruton, Northamptonshire, England. He married Mrs. Richard LIGHTFOOT in , , Eng..
8. Rose LIGHTFOOT was born 1592 in Stoke Bruton, Northamptonshire, England, and died BEF 1648/1649.
9. Sarah LIGHTFOOT was born 1596 in Stoke Bruton, Northamptonshire, England.
10. John LIGHTFOOT was born 1598 in of Grays Inn, Middlesex, England, and died 1648 in London, Middlesex, Eng.. He married Elizabeth PHILLIPS, daughter of PHILLIPS and Mrs. PHILLIPS. She was born ABT 1590 in , of London, London, Eng, and died 1686 in London, Eng.
11. Jane LIGHTFOOT was born ABT 1599 in Stoke Bruton, Northamptonshire, England. She married William ASBIE. Grandson John LIGHTFOOT was born MAR 1681 in Gray's Inn, Middlesex, England, and died 28 MAY 1707 in St. Peter's Par, New Kent Co, Va. He married Anne GOODRICH, daughter of Thomas GOODRICH and Ann. She was born ABT 1660 in of Gloucester, , Va, and died in , , Va.

• Updated from WikiTree Genealogy by SmartCopy: Jan 29 2015, 14:49:51 UTC
• Updated from WikiTree Genealogy via son John Lightfoot I by SmartCopy: Jan 29 2015, 14:48:17 UTC

<nowiki>---------------------------</nowiki> FIRST OF THE 'LIGHTFOOT' FAMILY THAT THIS SOURCE HAS AUTHENTIC INFORMATION ON: RECTOR OF STOKE BRUAIN PARISH FOR TWENTY FOUR YEARS. ACCORDING TO "BERRY" THERE IS A BRASS TABLET IN THE CHURCH TO HIS MEMORY ON WHICH APPEARS AN ENGRAVING OF A KNEELING PRIEST BEFORE AN ALTAR, THE LIGHTFOOT ARMS AND THE FOLLOWING INSCRIPTION: (TRANSLATED) THIS TOMB WAS PLACED HERE TO THE MEMORY OF RICHARD LIGHT-FOOT, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AND RECTOR OF THIS CHURCH FOR TWENTY-FOUR YEARS, BY HISSON J.L. HIS SON AND HEIR. DEATH QUICKLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY OVERTOOK HIM WHILE FEEDING HIS FLOCK BY WORD AND DEED. THUS HE TAUGHT OTHERS TO LIVE AND HIMSELF TO DIE. HE DIED IN THE YEAR OFOUR LORD 1625, AGE 63 YEARS.

HE MADE A WILL MAY 5 1625 AND SAME WAS PROVED DEC 6 1625, NAMES HIS WIFE JANE SOLE EXECUTRIX ANDSONS JOHN & RICHARD AND DAUGHTERS SARAH, ROSE AND JANE.