John Littleford
Peile, in his entry (p. 90) on John’s son Thomas, suggests that there may have been some connection with the Wolryches of Dudmaston and Quatt. (Thomas tutored two of John Wolryche’s sons, and later was named as a trustee for some of the property of one of them, Sir Thomas Wolryche, 3rd baronet. Presumably, the Wolryches were also responsible for at least some of the appointments of John Littleford’s sons as curates and rectors of parishes in their neighbourhood.) It is not clear whether the connection was one of kinship.
John Littleford was elected a High Burgess of Albrighton in 1662/3. (Blakeway, p. 55)
John Littleford, yeoman, was an overseer of the poor in Boningale in 1684. (Shropshire Archives P7/L/7/4)
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: unknown.
Date of Death: between 30 September and 1 December 1693.
Place of Death: unknown.
John signed a document on 30 September, and administration of his estate was given to his son, John, on 1 December.
Relationships
Father: John Littleford.
Mother: Mary Poole.
A post-nuptial agreement (Staffordshire Archives D740/1/11-14) records the father of John's sister as "John Littleford of Bonningale, Shropshire, yeoman." Further evidence is given on John Littleford (the father's) page. Mary's name is recorded in her marriage record.
Grandfather: John Littleford.
The 1650 marriage settlement gives this relationship. John was an appraiser on the 1609 probate inventory of Thomas Taylor of Albrighton, Shropshire.
Spouse: Mary Smith. Married 23 May 1650 in Pedmore, Worcestershire.
The marriage is recorded in a marriage settlement dated 14 May 1650.
Children:
(Complete source citations for the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. The names of the children come from the 1706 PCC will of Joseph Littleford. The baptisms come from a patron submission to the IGI.)
John Littleford (buried 19 March 1712/13 in Boningale, Shropshire) married Jane.
Thomas Littleford (born about 1654; died 22 February 1708/9). Matriculated at Magdalen, Oxford 1669/70. M.A. from Christ's College, Cambridge in 1688. Rector of Hughley in 1686. Rector of Quatt in 1695.
Joseph Littleford (born about 1657 in Boningale, Shropshire; died 1706) married Mrs Elizabeth Dingley 2 February 1687/8 in St James, Picadilly. Joseph was a hosier in St Clements Danes at the time of his marriage in 1687 and in 1706.
Sarah Littleford (baptized 19 February 1662 in Boningale, Shropshire; buried 19 July 1733 in Ribbesford, Worcestershire) married Thomas Foley 27 February 1687 in Rock, Worcestershire.
Isaac Littleford (baptized 4 October 1665 in Boningale, Shropshire - buried 22 December 1727 in Albrighton, Shropshire) married Mary.
Elizabeth Littleford (baptized 1668) married Francis Devy 30 November 1689 in Albrighton, Shropshire.
Richard Littleford.
Jacob Littleford (baptized 21 October 1673 in Boningale, Shropshire; buried 27 December 1722 in Hughley, Shropshire) married Jane Parsons 8 June 1706 in Hughley, Shropshire. Jacob was curate, and then rector, of Hughley, and perpetual curate of Church Preen.
Mary Littleford (baptized 1 April 1674 in Boningale).
Mary Littleford (baptized 15 April 1675 in Boningale).
Martha Littleford married Henry Smith 27 July 1698 in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.
Evidence
from the Worfield parish register (October 1612):
The 12 day was maryed John Littlefort of Bonninggall taylor and Mary daughter of John Poole of Rowley husbandman
Marriage settlement:
Date: 14 May 1650
Description: Parties:
1. John Littleford sen. of Boningale, yeoman and John Littleford jun. grandson of John sen.
2. John Sparrey of Clent, gent. and John Cox jun. of Broom, yeoman
John Littleford jun. is to marry Mary Smith one of the daughters of Roger Smith late of Stourbridge. Lands in Bongingale and Albrighton, Shropshire are conveyed to 2 as trustees.
from the bishop's transcripts to the Boningale parish registers:
Sarah Littleford the daughter of John & Mary his wife was bapt Feb 19 Anno Dom 1662
Isaac Littleford the Son of John & Mary was bapt 4 October. 1665
[Eliza]beth Littleford the daughter of John & Mary was bapt. Anno Dom 1668
Jacob Littleford the Son of John & Mary was bapt October 21: Anno Dom 1673
Mary Littleford the Daughter of John and Mary Littleford was Baptized the first of April 74 [an X covers part of the entry]
Mary the daughter of John and Mary Littleford was Baptized April the fifteenth 75
Fines
[Amphlett p. 101]
12 Charles II Michaelmas Term [1660]
Inter Thomam Taylor querentem et Johannem Littleford Smyth et Cox et alios defendentes in Belbroughton.
[Amphlett p. 143]
17 & 18 Charles II Hilary Term [1665/6]
Inter Johannem Littleford querentem et Thomam Smyth et alios defendentes in Didcott et alios in Comitatu Wigornensi et in Amblecott et aliis in Comitatu Staffordensi
[Amphlett p. 251]
34 Charles II Michaelmas Term [1682]
Inter Edwardum Woodhouse et alios querentes et Thomam Smith Littleford et alios defendentes in Stowerbridge et aliis in Comitatu Wigornensi et in Amblecott in Comitatu Staffordensi
[Amphlett p. 259]
35 & 36 Charles II Hilary Term [1683/4]
Inter Johannem Fincher et alios querentes et Willelmum Scott seniorem Smith Littleford et alios defendentes in Old Swinford et aliis.
Lease for 99 years of land in Boningale (Henry Shenton to John Littleford, dated 1674). (Staffordshire Archives M1072/19/10)
In the 1691 will of Henry Sheldon of Boninghall, John Littleford signed his name as a witness and was an appraiser of the inventory, also signing his name. He was also an appraiser of the 1692 probate inventory of Edward Hollis of Albrighton.
A 1693 document
Be it knowne unto all men by these presents, that I John Littleford of Bishton in the County of Sallp, yeoman, for and in consideration of paying my daughters Mary, & Martha fourty pounds apiece to be payed, and secured to be payed, by John Littleford of Bonningall in the county of Sallop, yeoman, as allso for divers other valluable considerations, and, there unto moving have given granted sold, and confirmed, & by this my present writing do fully & absolutly give grant sell & confirm unto the said John Littleford all & singular, my goods, corne, grain, cattle, utensills household stuffe, and things whatsoever of what nature, and kind soever, the same to be to have hold, use, dispose of & enjoy all my said goods corne graine, cattle, utensills, household stuffe, and all other provisers (?), aforesaid unto the said, John Littleford his, executors administrators, &, assigns, from hereforth for ever without any manner of claime, challeng, or demand, whatsoever, for by any manner or person, and persons, whatsoever, and I the said John Littleford all & singular the said good, corne, graine, cattle, utensill, household stuffe, & things whatsoever, & all others, the premisses, unto the said John Littleford his executors, adminstrators & assigns, against all [...] shall & will [...] & fore ever defend by these presents of all & every which said goods corne, graine, cattle, utensills, household stuffe, & all other premisses I the said John Littleford have put the said John Littleford in full, & [...] possession by the delivery of a key, in the name, of possession, & seizen of all & singular, the said premisses, in wittenss where of I the said John Littleford, have here unto put my hand, seale, & dated the thirtieth day of September in the fifth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraine Lord, & lady William, & Mary, by the grace of god king, & Queene, of England, Scotland France, & Ireland, Defenders of the faith, etc: Annoque Domini 1693.
Sealed & delivered with a key
delivered in the name of possession of
all the premisses above mentioned in
the sight and presence of
Tho: Littleford John Littleford
Isaac: Littleford
Jacob: Littleford
A transcription of the will of Joseph Littleford:
In the name of God Amen I Joseph Littleford of the Parish of St Clements Danes in the County of Middlesex hosier this eighteenth day of May in the fifth yeare of the Reigne of our Sovereigne Lady Anne by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c and in the yeare of our Lord God one thousand seaven hundred and six being sick in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory praise be to Almighty God for the same) doe make this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme following that is to say) First and prinicipally I bequeath my Soul and Spirit to Almighty God who gave it me my body in hopes of a joyfull Resurrection through the merritts and mediation of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ I commit to this Earth to be buryed in such decent and Christian like manner as my Executors hereinafter named shall think fitt But in case of the absence of my Executors at the time of my Decease then my will and desire is that my body may be decently interred at the discretion of my Couzen Ann Norbury (now liveing with me desireing her that the charges of my said Funerall may not exceed the Summe of fifteen pounds of lawfull money of England And as to those Worldly Goods it hath pleased God of his infinite goodnesse to blesse me with all (my just Debts as shall be oweing my me at the time of my Decease and my Funerall Charges and expences as being first paid and satisfyed, I dispose of the same as followeth (that is to say) Imprimis I give devise and bequeath unto the poor of the Parish of Bonningall in the County of Salop (where I was borne) the summe of three pounds to be distributed and disposed of amongst the said poor as my Executors shall think fitt Item I give devise and bequeath unto my own Neece Sarah Littleford daughter of my brother Richard the Summe of tenn pounds of lawfull money of England Item whereas my Cozen Anne Norbury aforesaid hath at my request lived with me and been very assistant to me in my way of Trade as also been very carefull of me and my late wife in our severall sicknesses I doe hereby release acquitt and discharge her the said Anne Norbury of and from all Claime and demand for and on account of her meat drink washing and lodgeing dureing the time she hath and shall live with me And as a further acknowledgement and reward for such her care and assistance I give devise and bequeath to her the said Anne Norbury the Summe of forty pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid to her within Six monethes after my Decease Item all and singular the rest and residue of my Goods and Chattells and Personall Estate whatsoever not herein before devised I give devise and bequeath unto my loveing brothers and sisters John Littleford Thomas Littleford Isaac Littleford Richard Littleford Jacob Littleford Sarah Foley Elizabeth Devey Mary Littleford and Martha Smith to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike And I doe hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said brothers the said John Littleford and Thomas Littleford to be the joynt full and whole Executors of this my last Will and Testament Lastly I doe hereby revoake annull and make void all former and other Will and Wills whatsoever be they Testamentary or Nuncupative howsoever at any thime heretofore my me made declareing this to be my only true last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and yeare first above written Joseph Littleford /. Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Joseph Littleford to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names in his presence Tho Henley John Charpe Will Wyne.
[Proved 24 July 1706].
References
Amphlett, John. An Index to Worcestershire Fines 1649-1714. (1896).
Blakeway, J.B. "History of Albrighton, near Shifnal" in Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 2nd series, Vol. XI, 1899. (pp. 25 - 137).
Boningale, Shropshire, bishop's transcripts. Digital images on FamilySearch.org, accessed 10 March 2018.
"England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NVZT-69Q : accessed 8 November 2015), John Littleford and Mary Smith, 23 May 1650; citing Pedmore,Worcester,England, reference ; FHL microfilm 352,028.
"International Genealogical Index (IGI)," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.2.1/MWLK-M1H: accessed 2014-11-02), entry for Sarah Littleford.
Letter of Administration, etc., for John Littleford of Bishton, Salop, yeoman. Lichfield Consistory Court. Lichfield Record Office (B/C/11)
Marriage Settlement, Pearson MS, SD Pearson/381, William Salt Library.
Parish register of Worfield, Shropshire. Digital images on Findmypast.co.uk, accessed 16 December 2018.
Peile, John. Biographical Register of Christ’s College 1505-1905 and of the Earlier Foundation, God’s House, 1448-1505. Vol. II 1666-1905 (Cambridge University Press: 1913).
Will of Edward Hollis of Albrighton, proved 1692 in the Consistory Court of Lichfield and Coventry [digital images on Findmypast.uk, accessed 20 December 2015].
Will of Henry Sheldon, proved 1691 in the Consistory Court of Lichfield and Coventry [digital images on Findmypast.uk, accessed 20 December 2015].
Will of Richard Littleford, Innholder of Shifnal, Shropshire. The National Archives PROB 11/229/541
Will of Joseph Littleford, Hosier of Saint Clement Danes, Middlesex. The National Archives PROB 11/489/302
Will of Mary Littleford of Shifnal, widow. Proved 27 November 1654 in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. 1644-1654, Piece 241: Alchin; quire number 428.