William Higford (c. 1580 – 1650) was an English landowner, member of Parliament and author.[1]
He was the son of John Higford of Dixton Manor, Gloucestershire.[2] He was educated at Corpus Christi, Oxford, where his tutor was Sebastian Benefield,[3] and graduated in 1599.[4] He was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1600.[1]
He married Mary, daughter of Sir John Meux of Kingston, Isle of Wight.[2] Through the influence of his wife's family he was chosen to represent Newtown, Isle of Wight in the parliament of 1614,[1] after George Stoughton chose to sit for Guildford.[5] He was a commissioner of sewers for Gloucestershire by 1615.[6] By 1619 he was a Justice of the Peace in Gloucestershire through the good offices of Giles Brydges, 3rd Baron Chandos.[1]
In the following decade Higford was mired in debt.[1] His position was alleviated by the dowry payment received on the marriage of his eldest son John (d. 1635) to Frances, sister of John Scudamore, 1st Viscount Scudamore,[7] but his failure to fulfil the terms of the marriage agreement led to protracted legal disputes.[8]
Towards the end of his life he wrote a manual of advice for his grandson and heir John (d. 1703), which was published after his death as Institutions, or, Advise to his Grandson (1658).[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "HIGFORD (HICKFORD, HUGFORD), William (c.1580-1657), of Dixton, 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.
- ^ Higford, William (1658). Institutions: Or, Advice to His Grandson. p. 46.
- ^ "Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714: Hieron-Horridge". Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "History of Parliament, 1604-1629: Newtown I.o.W." Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Hewlett, Rose (2020). The Gloucestershire Court of Sewers, 1583-1642. p. 107.
- ^ "The National Archives: C 115/38/2357". Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ "The National Archives: C 115/109/8830". Retrieved 31 January 2024.