Carson Johnson - The Lightfoot Family

Genealogical History of Some Carsons, Johnsons, and Related Families

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Chapter 32 - The Lightfoot Family

The Lightfoots were a Quaker family who migrated to Pennsylvania. They are important to our story because of Mary Lightfoot, who married Samuel Clarke.

Beginnings in England

Thomas Lightfoot was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1619. He suffered persecution for his Quaker beliefs at Cambridge in 1653, and was a companion of George Whitehead in his religious journeys. Among his children was another Thomas Lightfoot.

To Ireland and to Pennsylvania

Thomas Lightfoot was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1645. Thomas Lightfoot lived near Lisburn Meeting in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1692. He was a Quaker minister. In 1692 he was appointed to purchase the Friends graveyard at Lisburn from Robert Richardson. In 1694, he moved to Moate Meeting in County West Meath, and in 1716 he emigrated to New Garden in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In 1724 he made a religious visit to New England.

Thomas Lightfoot married first Mary -----. After the death of Mary -----, he married second Sarah Wiley , a widow, about the time of his move to West Meath. Toward the end of 1724, he married Margaret, widow of John Blunston of Darby. Thomas Lightfoot died December 4, 1725, in Darby, Chester County, Pennsylvania. He had at least nine children.

Children of Thomas Lightfoot and Mary ----- were:

Catharine Lightfoot (December 12, 1682-October 17, 1729, immigrated to Philadelphia, PA, in 1729, was Quaker minister, married James Miller)
Reverend Michael Lightfoot
William Lightfoot (lived in Ireland but visited relatives in Pennsylvania in 1725)
Abigail Lightfoot (married Joseph Wiley)
The children of Thomas Lightfoot and Sarah Wiley were:
Elizabeth Lightfoot (born January 11, 1695, married Arthur Jones)
Sarah Lightfoot (May 29, 1698-1702)
Samuel Lightfoot (February 5, 1701-February 26, 1777)
Margaret Lightfoot (born December 18, 1702, married Isaac Starr)
Jacob Lightfoot (born October 16, 1706, married Mary Bonsall)

Treasurer of Pennsylvania

Reverend Michael Lightfoot, son of Thomas Lightfoot and Mary -----, was born in 1683. On March 21, 1704 or 1705 in Ireland, he married Mary Newby , and they emigrated to New Garden, Chester County, Pennsylvania, in 1712. He was appointed an Elder in the Society of Friends in 1725, and recommended as a minister in 1728. He travelled extensively in religious service in America, Great Britain, and Ireland. In 1743, Michael Lightfoot settled in Philadelphia to become Provincial Treasurer, which office he held until his death, December 3, 1754.

Mary Newby , above, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1677. She was the daughter of John Newby and Grace Edmundson . John Newby was born in 1647 and died on May 29, 1691.

Children of Michael Lightfoot and Mary Newby were:

Sarah Lightfoot (born April 30, 1707, married ----- Hutton))
Elinor Lightfoot (born October 16, 1708, married ----- Parvin)
Mary Lightfoot (see below)
Katharine Lightfoot (born June 12, 1714)
Thomas Lightfoot (born May 16, 1716)
William Lightfoot (born March 22, 1720)

Mary Lightfoot , daughter of Michael Lightfoot and Mary Newby , was born on January 20, 1710. She married Samuel Clarke (See Chapter 31).