Washbourne Family of Wichenford.

John Washbourne was born in 1548 (84 years of age in 1632) probably in Wichenford, Worcestershire, England.
John Washbourne was the son of Anthony Washbourne, esq.
Marriages and Children
John married twice:
1. Mary Savage, the daughter of Francis Savage of Elmley Castle, Esq, in about 1567 at Elmley, Kent, Englan.
2. Elenor the daughter of Richard Lygon of Madresfield Esq.
John had seven sons and six daughters, including:
1. Mary, married to William Kingston, esq, (died 10 December 1614 aged 39) son and heir of Anthony Kingston.
2. John Washbourne, esq, died 25 September, 1615, aged 48.
The Inner Temple
Students admitted to the Inner Temple 1571-1625
John Washbourne, of Wichenford, Worcestershire, born 1548; son of Anthony Washbourne, Esq., of this place.
He died 1632, having been in the Commission of the Peace for Worcestershire 60 years, and twice Sheriff of that County.
It is recorded of him " that he was the best continual housekeeper and the best beloved gentleman in the County."
Death
There is a monument to this John Washbourne in St Lawrence's Church, Wichenford, which had the inscription below, copied in about 1640, but by 1896 had been replaced by a brass plate.
In the North side of the Chancel at the lower end is a fair tomb and underneath the portraiture of a man armed all except his head; at his feet a lion: above this there is another portraiture in the same fashion: and above them are two gentlewomen kneeling and between them the Washbourne's arms; being Argent on a fesse between six martlets Gules 3 quatrefoils of the first. On the top all his arms appear quartered, those of the Pohers are Gules a fesse and two mullets in chief Argent; on the head of the monument was this inscription:-
This monument was erected by John Washbourne Esq., in pious memory of his father Anthony Washbourne Esq., as also of himself and his two wives, the first Mary the daughter of Francis Savage of Elmley Castle, Esq., the second Elenor the daughter of Richard Lygon of Madresfield Esq., descended from one of the co-heiresses of the Lord Beauchamp of Powick. The said John Washbourne being at the time of this inscription of the age of 84 years within which time he hath been 60 years in the commission of the peace and twice high sheriff of this County, and deputy-Lieutenant to four Lords Presidents of the principality of Wales and marches of the same, the Lord Eare, the Lord Gerard, William Earl of Northampton, and John Earl of Bridgewater, living A.D. 1632.
John Washbourne, Sheriff of Worcestershire, made his will on 9 February, 1634, having survived both his son and grandson. From the transcripts at the Bishop's Registry in Worcester: "Mr John Washbourne Esquier was buried the fifth day of March ano dni 1633" [now 1634] and "Elnor the wife of John Washbourne, esquiore was buried the seaventh day of February, ano dni 1628" [now 1629].

" In Edward the IIl.'s time a family of the name of Poher was seated at Wichenford. From them it passed to the Washbournes, descended from the Washbournes of Stanford [Little urn]. John Washbourne, of Stanford, after the death of his first wife Jane Musard, married Margery, daughter and coheir of John Poher, (commonly called Power) of Wichenford and their son Norman became the progenitor of the Washbournes of Wichenford. Of them the most notable was Colonel John Washbourne, a distin-guished Royalist in the time of the Rebellion. He was plundered by the Republican party, and obliged to pay the sum of, £797 to redeem his estates from them; but as the author of Magna Britannia tells us - 'He was even with them, paying them more than once in another metal.' William Washbourne' sold the estate to Mr. Edward Skinner in 1712. It has since passed through many hands, and has lately been purchased by Daniel Britten, Esq. of Kenswick. The interior of the house appears to be of rather older date than the external brick casing, and one of the rooms on the ground floor is wainscoted," with an enriched frieze and cornice running round it, and contains an elaborate Jacobaean chimney piece in oak. The fireplace is flanked by pilasters, and above it are two panels between grotesque caryatides. The dexter panel contains a shield with the arms of Washbourne, mantling, and crest.

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