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]
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]