Sir John Higford
English politician (1529–1607)
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Sir John Higford (1529–1607) was an English landowner and member of Parliament.[1]
He was the son of William Hugford of Dixton Manor, Gloucestershire by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Rudhall, serjeant at law of Brampton Abbotts, Herefordshire.[2] He was descended from an old Shropshire family, who had acquired Dixton through marriage in the mid-fifteenth century.[3] He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford under John Jewel.[4] He married Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund Fettiplace of Besselsleigh, Berkshire, by whom he had 2 sons (including his heir John Higford and 4 daughters.[2] His will mentions the graves of two further, unnamed wives.[1]
He represented Buckingham in the parliament of 1558.[1] This was presumably through the influence of his wife's family, one of her brothers having represented the same seat in 1554.[1] He was High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1572-3 and 1585–6.[1] He was employed by Giles Brydges, 3rd Baron Chandos in the management of his estate and as deputy to him as Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire.[5]
He was knighted in September 1592 during a visit of Elizabeth I to Dixton,[1][6] where he had rebuilt part of the existing manor house.[7] According to his grandson, he was 'famous for his hospitality'.[8]