FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
CHRISTOFER LANGFORD AND
JOANNA PAYNE

Christofer Langford was born in about 1525 of Spelsbury, Oxfordshire, the son of Richard and Annys Langford. Spelsbury is a parish about three miles from Enstone. He married 1) unknown, then 2) Joanna Payne 2 May 1557 in Spelsbury.

Christofer Langford marriage

Marriage record for Christofer Langford and Joanna Payne in Spelsbury:
"Christoferus Lankford & Joanna Payne fuit nupti ij die Maij anno dom 1557"


Christofer was a day laborer of the hamlet of Taston in Spelsbury parish. Taston's name was "derived from Thorstan, meaning "Thorstone", a small standing stone claimed to be a thunderbolt of the god Thunor. At the centre of Taston are the base and broken shaft of a Medieval preaching cross". (www.wikipedia.com)
Taston

Taston - the standing stone in the foreground
and the preaching cross in the background


Christofer was mentioned in the will of William Webb in 1555: "Item I gyve to John Butler Edward Margytts Wyllyam Kytte Roberte Careles John Careles Hugh Woodwarde Alice Huckwell Martyne Margytts Maude Jorden, Christopher Langford ev’y of these a pecke of barley".

Christofer was mentioned in 1559 in A History of Spelsbury: "In the year we are dealing with Thomas Wyse secretly took 'les par del Ship Sherries' (the pair of sheep shears?) to the value of 4d. out of the fold of Christoper Langford".

Joanna Langford patron

In 1558 Johanna Langford was a witness at a baptism:
"1558 Johanna filia Robti Lardnar baptizata 19 die Maij Dabe Fletcher, Dorothie Deston & Johanna Lankford patrini"

Christofer Langford patron

In 1559 Christofer Langford was a witness at a baptism:
"Anna filia Thome paxford baptizata fuit Christoferus Lankford, An Frenche & Isabella Hobbe patrius 3 Julij"


Christofer and Joanne were often listed as patrons for the christening of children in Spelsbury in the 1550s. Christofer was also a witness for the will of Anthony Osbastone in 1557.


Christofer died and was buried 25 November 1574 in Spelsbury.


Christofer Langford burial

Burial record for Christofer Langford in Spelsbury:
"Christopher Langford buried ye 5th"


Christofer left a will.


Christofer Langford will

Will of Christofer Langford of Spelsbury, 1574


In the name of God Amen the xxviijth daye of June 1574 et Anno decimo sexto Elezabethe Rne I Christopher Lanckeford of Spellisburye in the countye of Oxforde day laborer make my wyll and testament in forme ffollowinge Firste I bequeathe my soule to allmightie God my maker and redemer and my bodye to be buryed in the churche yearde of Spellisbury aforesaide, I bequeathe to the mother churche ijd I bequeathe to the poore mens boxe iiijd. I bequeathe to my sonne Edmunde where as he hathe of his owne vij sheepe I make those sixtene sheepe a table borde a cubborde a brasse potte which I had at Chippingnorton and the best platter. I bequeathe to my daughter Elnor where she hathe of her owne thirtene sheppe I will make theim sixtene sheepe, a payre of sheetes a platter and foure shillinges in monie and a brasse pott of three gallons. I bequeth to my daughter Alice eight sheepe a payre of sheetes a platter I bequeath to my daughter Jane sixe sheepe a payre of sheetes and my best fryinge panne, I bequeathe to my daughter Francis sixe sheepe besydes her owne one sheepe, a payre of sheetes and a posnett with a handell the lesser of the twayne. I bequeathe to my sonne John eighte sheepe, a sesterne a payre of sheetes the seconde tableborde and a posnett with a handell, I bequeathe to my daughter Elezabethe a sheepe and to her daughter Brydgett one other sheepe, and to Roberte Thomas Butlers sonne one other sheepe I bequeath to my daughter Anne one sheepe and to her daughters Alice and Elnor either of theime one sheepe, I give to my sonne Gryffynne a woorte pann which his grandmother gave him and two sheepe, and my stokinge axe I bequeth to my daughter Juliane a strycke of gryste or bredcorne and a stryke of malte, The reste of my goodes I give to my wyffe Jone whom I make my wholle and sole executrixe, And I desyre my brother Robart Lankeforde and Leonard Ryman to be the supervisors of this my last wyll or Testament and I give to either of theime for theire paynes xijd Wytnesses hereunto Henrye Sadler vicar Robert Lankeforde John Webbe Richard Fletcher and Leonard Ryman with others detts owinge to me the saide Christopher/ Mr John Osboston of Spellysburrye for stuffe, of Edmunde Fletchers xiijs iiijd. Item for fallinge of Feanyn and woorkinge in harnesse ijs viijd. Edmunde Fletcher xs Thomas Trendar two stryke of barlye, which I give to my sonne Edmunde, Willm Margytts oweth me an axe, John Freeman xxs which I give to my sonne in lawe Thomas Butler to helpe him and his children.


Christofer and his first wife had the following children:


1. Anne, mentioned in step-grandfather's will of 1557; mentioned in father's will of 1574; had daughters Alice and Elinor.


2. Bridget, christened 13 December 1547 in Spelsbury; buried January 1549 in Spelsbury.

 

Christofer and Joanna (Jone) had the following children:


3. Elnor, christened 24 October 1557 in Spelsbury; mentioned in father's will of 1574.


4. Elezabethe, mentioned in father's will of 1574.


5. Gryffynne, mentioned in father's will of 1574.


6. Edmunde, mentioned in father's will of 1574.  Edmund was mentioned in A History of Spelsbury: "In 1617 Richard Carter was a churchwarden; and Anne and Christopher Larner, Margaret Cross, Thomas Hunt and John Holloway are among the 36 poor persons to whom is distributed £5 left by Edmund Langford of Taston for this purpose."


7. Alice, mentioned in father's will of 1574.


8. Jane, mentioned in father's will of 1574.


9. Maria, christened 27 July 1565 in Spelsbury.


*8. Frances, christened 1 February 1567 in Spelsbury; mentioned in father's will of 1574;  married George Sleamaker 25 October 1596 in Enstone.

Frances Langford baptism

Baptism record for Frances Langford in Spelsbury: "Francisca filia Christoferi Lankforrde baptista fuit primo die Februarij
Thomas Taylor: Anna Webb & Elizabetha Gye patriius"


10. John, christened 6 July 1572 in Spelsbury; mentioned in father's will of 1574.


11. Julianne, mentioned in father's will of 1574.



SOURCES: Will of Christofer Langford of Spelsbury, 1574; Spelsbury parish register; A History of Spelsbury, including Dean, Taston, Fulwell and Ditchley, by Elsie Corbett.



FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
RICHARD AND ANNYS LANGFORD


Richard Langford was born about 1500 of Spelsbury. He married Annys.


Richard died and was buried 1 December 1546 in Spelsbury.


  Richard Langford burial

Burial record for Richard Langford in Spelsbury:
"Richardus Lankford sepultus fuit 1 Decembris"


Annys married again to John James of Taston in the parish of Spelsbury. John died in 1559, leaving a will. He mentioned Annys' children in his will: "I bequethe to Anne the dawghter of Christopher Langford a shepe and to John the sonne of Robt Langford a shepe The rest of my goods I geve and bequeth to Agnes my wyffe whome I make my hole and sole executrixe to dyspose for my soule and all Christen soules And Christopher Langford and Robt Langford to be supvisors of this my last will and teastamet."


Annys died in 1562, leaving a will.


Annys Langford James will

Will of Annys James, 1562


Testamentum Agnetis James de Taston paroche de Spellisburrye

In the name of God amen in the yere of owr lorde god a 1562 the xv daye of Decembre I Annys James of Taston in the parisshe of Spellisburye beyng sicke of body and parfytte of mynde and memorye doo make my last wyll and testamente as here after followith fyrst I bequeth my sowle to allmightie God and my body to be buryed in the churche yarde of Spellisburye when that it shall please God to call for me. Inprimis I bequeth to the mother churche of Oxforde ijd. Item I bequeth to the poore of the parisshe xiijs iiijd the one halffe to be bestowed at my burying the other halffe that moneth at the discretion of my overseers. Item I bequeth to Christofere my eldest sonne twelve pounde the one halffe to be payed at the feaste of allsaynts next following the date and yere above wrytten and the other syxe pounde to be payed that daye twelve moneth following. It'm I bequeth to Christofere Langfords children everye one of theym a sheepe and a paire of sheets and his dowghters everye one of theym a platter. To Besse and Anne two table clothes and Gryffynne Langforde the best panne. Item I bequeth to Isbell Woollen my dowghter the wyffe of Wyllyam Woollen eight pounde four pounde of it to be payed at Holyroode Daye in Maye cum twelve moneth, the other four pounde to be payed that daye twelve moneth following. And to evry one of his children a sheepe, a paire of sheets his three dowghters three platters Julyane a towell and Ann another, Raffe Woollen the lytle cofer, Fyllys the myddest broche. Item I bequeth to Anne Hore a sheepe a paire of sheets a table cloth a towell the lyttell panne. Item I bequeth to Anfylde Hore a sheepe a paire of sheetes And all the resydue of my goods unbequeathed I gyve to my sonne Robert Langforde whom I make make myne executor and the overseers of this my last wyll and Testamente shalbe John Harte, Henry Paxforde and bequeth theym for their paynes twentie pence apece Wytnesse to this Humfrey Kyrry Thomas Guy with others.


Richard and Annys had the following children:

*1. Christofer, married Joanna Payne 2 May 1557 in Spelsbury; buried 25 November 1574 in Spelsbury.


2. Isbell, married William Woollen; had children Julyane, Ann, Raffe and Fyllys.


3. Robert, married Elinor Prentysse 23 October 1552 in Spelsbury; buried 7 September 1596 in Spelsbury, leaving a will. The will mentioned eldest son John, son Edmond, third son Antony, eldest daughter Brigett (the wife of William Webb), daughter Alice (the wife of John Sansom), daughter Joan (the wife of Thomas Guy), and wife Eleonor. Robert was mentioned in A History of Spelsbury when his sheep were stolen, and this was reported in the court rolls: "Also Troylus Hunyman toke away by fors Robert Langfordes shype from in Taston field which were dryving Henry Trinder the ...vid pounde."



SOURCES: Will of Annys James of Taston, Spelsbury, 1562; will of John James of Taston, Spelsbury, 1559; will of Robert Langford of Spelsbury, 1597; A History of Spelsbury, including Dean, Taston, Fulwell and Ditchley, by Elsie Corbett.