DIGHTON, Christopher I (d.1587), of Worcester.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

s. of Thomas Dighton of Normanby, Lincs. by Joane Eland. educ. ?G. Inn 1540. m. (1) Margaret (Mary or Margery) Bellingham or Bullingham; (2) Alice Congard alias Richardson; (3) Elizabeth Booth of Cheshire; 4s. inc. Christopher II 4da.1

Offices Held

Freeman, Worcester 1546; member of the 48, 1552, of the 24, 1555; bailiff 1559-60, 1574-5; auditor 1561-2, 1576-7, 1586-7; gov. Worcester free sch. from 1561; bridgemaster 1568.2

Biography

Dighton, a vintner, was the ‘grave and wise citizen’ who advised Edwin Sandys, bishop of Worcester, on his replies to the Privy Council’s letter of 1564. As high bailiff when Queen Elizabeth visited the town in 1574, he spent £173 8s.4d. on her reception, for which he was reimbursed and received a gift of £30 from the corporation. In Parliament, he was licensed to depart on 11 Feb. 1576, and in the next session served on one committee concerning wool, 13 Feb. 1581.

He died in 1587. In his will, made 3 Feb. and proved 23 Mar., he asked to be buried in St. Helen’s, ‘near to that seat where I have used to kneel’, and directed that £5 should be distributed among the poor of Worcester on the day of the funeral. The widow was to receive plate, jewels, 100 marks and an annuity of £4. Most of the personal property was divided among his children and 40 marks were reserved for the children of his dead son William. Dighton’s son-in-law, Francis Streate, and Walter Jones were named among the overseers; Thomas Walsgrove alias Fleet* was a witness.3

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: W.J.J.

Notes

  • 1. PCC 16 Spencer; Vis. Worcs. (Harl. Soc. xxvii), 48-9; Gloucester Shire Hall, anon. peds. Dighton box. The pedigrees confuse the Member with his son and namesake.
  • 2. Nash, Worcs. app. cxii.; Worcester Guildhall, audit of city accts. 1540-1600, passim; CPR, 1554-5, p. 308.
  • 3. VCH Worcs. iv. 479, 492; APC, viii. 263; CJ, i. 105, 125; W. R. Williams, Parl. Hist. Worcs. 92; HMC Hatfield, i. 306; PCC 16 Spencer.