John Lygon Esq (abt. 1500 - abt. 1577)

Born about 1500 in Worcestershire, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1577 at about age 77 in Richard's Castle, Shropshire, England

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Biography

John Lygon was a son of Richard Lygon and Anne, daughter and co-heir of Richard Beauchamp of Powyke.^[1][2]

His siblings were Richard, Thomas, Edmond, George, William, Michael, and Roger^[2]; while Richardson^[3] referred to Edward rather than Edmond.

John Lygon married Eleanor Hickford.^[1][2]

Children:

• Mary Lygon^[2] (married Bradshaw then Francis Blount)^[4][5]
• Isabella (Sibyl) Lygon^[2][4] (married Francis Smyth of Corsham, Wiltshire)^[6]
• Eleanor Lygon^[2][4] (married Richard Courtney)^[5]
• Winifred Lygon^[2][4]
• Frances Lygon^[2][4]
• Alice (an illegitimate daughter)^[4]

John Lygon of Richard's Castle, Herefordshire, was noted as the father of Isabella (Sibyl) Lygon who married Francis Smith of Corsham, Wiltshire.^[6]

A document from 1593 recorded Mary (wife of Francis Blount), Elinor (wife of Richard Courtney) and Frances as the daughters of John Lygon late of Little Malvern, Worcs., deceased, and Elinor, his wife, deceased.^[5]

Summary of the Will of John Lygon esq of Badgrote, Shropshire 1577

The following summary is of the Will of John Lygon esq of Badgrote, Shropshire, the will made on 23 Mar 1575 and proved on 11 May 1577.^[4]

NB a similarly titled record but with a proved date of 28 Jan 1577 can be found in the Catalogue of the National Archives.^[7] This document has not been examined.

'Badgrote' may perhaps be Batchcott, a hamlet within the parish of Richard's Castle on the Herefordshire/Shropshire border.

His will was to be buried in the parish church of Richard's Castle [a parish partly in Herefordshire and partly in Shropshire]. He made charitable bequests to the poor of Richard's Castle and to the poor of the Almshouses of Ludlow.

Firstly he bequeathed £100 unto Sybill Ligon his daughter, the money to be paid within one year after his decease.

He bequeathed £100 each to his daughters Elinor Ligon and Winifred Ligon, the money to be paid within two years after his decease.

He bequeathed £100 to his daughter Frances Ligon, the money to be paid within three years after his decease.

The above mentioned daughters were all unmarried at the time the will was made.

He also made bequests as follows:

• to John Badger his son in law, £10;
• to Alice "my base daughter", £10;
• to "Ellenor my wieff .. the moytie or one half of the parsonage or rectorie of Ricardes Castell sett lying and beinge in the counties of Hereford and Salop", for the term of the Lease;
• "that Mary Blunte my daughter and her assignes shall have the use and occupacion of thother moytie or half parte of the saide parsonage or rectorie of Ricardes Castell" and that after the death of Eleanor, Mary was to "have all saide parsonage or rectorie of Ricardes Castell" and after the death of Mary they were to pass to Rowlande Bradshawe her eldest son;
• "to Ellinor my wief .. landes etc in Little Malverne in the countie of Worcester" and after her death .. "to my fower daughters Sybell Elenor Winefride and Frannice";
• "to Ellinor Lygon my wieff the use and occupacion of my Leasse and terme of yeares of Brounesfforde mylles in the countie of Worcester" …. after her death.. "to my fower daughters Sybell Elenor Winefride and Frannice";
• "to my sonne in lawe Frannice Blunte esquier and unto Marie his wief two Rings of goulde of the value of twentie shillings for them to weare in remembrance of me wherein I will this posey to be ingraved Lyve to dye"

His Executors were to sell all his lands in Bishop's Castle, Salop, which he had purchased from Lewes Jones gent for the payment of his four daughters' portions.

He made bequests to various named servants.

The residue of his estate he bequeathed to his wife, Eleanor, whom he made sole Executrix.

His brother Roger Lygon esq, his brother in law John Huggesford and Thomas Handford esq, Francis Cressett esq and Thomas Gylles his servant were appointed Overseers.

Witnesses were John Higford, Francis Blunte, Brian Hawes clerk, Edward Higforde and Thomas Giles.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Visitation of Worcestershire 1569. Publications of the Harleian Society. Vol. XXVII, 1888, Lygon Pedigree pp 90-91 Internet Archive.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Collins's Peerage of England; Genealogical, Biographical and Historical. By Sir Egerton Brydges K J. Vol IX, 1812, p 508 Internet Archive.
3. ↑ Douglas Richardson (2011) Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families. Vol III, p 22.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} Will of John Lygon of Badgrote, Shropshire. 11 May 1577. PROB 11/59/(134?). The National Archives, Kew.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Bargain and sale and feoffment from Franncis Blount of Richard's Castle, Herefs., Esq., Mary, his wife, Richard Courtney, gent., Elinor, his wife, and Frannces Ligon, the said Mary, Elinor and Frannces being daughters of John Lygon late of Lytle Malverne [Little Malvern], Worcs., deceased, and Elinor, his wife, deceased, to Henry Russell of Lytle Malverne, Esq., of 3/5 of a messuage called Ruffes, with close and barn adjoining, lands and appurtenances, 3/5 of a messuage formerly called Cookesayes but then called the White Howse with a close adjoining and a cottage, lands and appurtenances in Lytle Malverne. 2 November, 35 Eliz.I. Witnesses: John Crowther, John Collrick, clerke, Henry Gilley, Jane Blounte. Seals. Consideration: £60. 02 Nov 1593. 705:24/94. Worcestershire Archives.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Wiltshire Visitation Pedigrees 1623. With additional pedigrees and arms collected by Thomas Lyte of Lyte's Cary, Co. Somerset 1628. The Publications of the Harleian Society. Vol LV and LVI. Edited by GD Squibb. 1954. Markes Pedigree, p 122.
7. ↑ Will of John Lygon of Badgrote, Shropshire. 28 Jan 1577. PROB 11/59/223. The National Archives, Kew.