Sir William Cope, Cofferer to Henry VII

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Sir William Cope, Cofferer to Henry VII

Birthdate:
Birthplace: Grimsbury, Oxfordshire, England (United Kingdom)
Death: April 07, 1513 (62-63)
London, Middlesex, England (United Kingdom)
Place of Burial: Church of Banbury, Oxfordshire Co, England
Immediate Family:

Son of Alexander Cope, Esq. and Abbygale Cope
Husband of Jane Cope
Father of Stephen Cope; Sir Anthony Cope and Sir John Cope, MP
Brother of Margaret Iberowe

Occupation: Keeper of Porchester Castle, Treasurer to Henry VII's household
Managed by: Private User
Last Updated:
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Immediate Family

About Sir William Cope, Cofferer to Henry VII

  • Sir William COPE of Grimsby and Hanwell, Knight
  • Born: ABT 1450, Grimsbury, Northamptonshire, England
  • Died: 7 Apr 1513, London, Middlesex, England
  • Buried: Church of Banbury, Oxfordshire, England
  • Father: Alexander COPE
  • Mother: ¿?
  • Married 1: Agnes HARCOURT ABT 1470, Grimsburg, Northamptonshire, England
  • Children:
    • 1. Stephen COPE of Denmede (m. Anne Saunders)
  • Married 2: Jane SPENCER ABT 1495, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, England
  • Children:
    • 2. Anthony COPE (Sir Knight) (See his Biography)
    • 3. William COPE (Esq.) (d. AFT 1567)
    • 4. John COPE (Sir Knight) (d. 22 Jan 1559/9) (m.1 Bridget Raleigh - m.2 Mary Mallory - m.3 Margaret Tame)
  • There is a lot of confusion as regards to the parentage and marriages of Sir William Cope, the Cofferer. No two visitations [in Herald's Visitations] agree. Built castle of Banbury, Handwick and St. John's Cowcross, Smithfield. Wormleighton and Fenny-Compton. 1502 Bought Hanwell in Wiltshire. 1485 At Battle of Bosworth, fought for Richard III. Knight of the Royal Arms-awarded 2nd Coat-of-Arms for the Cope Family in England. Steward of Guildford and Henly Parks. Lieutenant of Southbere Forest. Steward and Bailiff of Bedhampton. 1470 Sergeant of Catery. 1510 Sergeant of the Poultry. 1510 Steward of Worpledon and Witeby. 1511 Constable of Porchester Castle. 1513 Secretary to the Duchess of Savoy. Cofferer (Treasurer), or Keeper of the Privy Purse, of Henry VII and obtained from that King grants of the lordships and manors of Wormleighton and Fenny-Compton. His sister Margaret had married William Iberowe.
  • Sir William Cope received the honour of knighthood at the hands of his prince, possessed much wealth. It was he who sold the "great lordship of Wormleighton" to Sir John Spencer, father of his second wife, Jane, and ancestor to the powerful Earls of Sunderland.
  • He also bought lands in Somersetshire and Wiltshire, and he it was who bought, in 1502, the domain of Hanwell, destined to be the seat of his descendants for many generations.
  • All that remains of Sir William Cope the Cofferer, is a portrait by Holbein. All that remains, at least, beside the good report of a life of liberality, benevolence, and faithful service to his King.
  • Sir William was married twice; first to Agnes, daughter and coheiress of Sir Robert Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, knight banneret and knight [knighted May 26, 1465] of the bath, who was standard-bearer to Henry VII at the battle of Bosworth Field. By her he had a son, Stephen Harcourt of Denmede, Molyns, Hants, England; Sergeant of the Butlery; Gentleman of the Bedchamber; Sargeant of the poultry to Henry VIII and Edward VI; 1510 Envoy to the Duchess of Savoy; 1523 Envoy to the Emperor of Muscovy. Secondly, he was married to Jane, daughter of Sir John Spencer of Hodnell, and heiress to her brother Thomas. Jane Spencer became the mother of Anthony, William and John. Sir John Cope of Eydon and Heale, Northamptonshire, and of Knowle Hall, Warwickshire, was Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Member of Parliament. William Cope, Esq., never married, and was in 1516 Esquire of the Body to Henry VIII; and "Servitor" at the coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn.
  • Sources:
  • J.C. Biddle-Cope: The Copes of Wiltshire. from Memoirs of the Copes of Wiltshire by , M.A. Worchester College, Oxford [ca. 1882]
  • From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/WilliamCope.htm
  • ---------------------
  • Sir William Cope1,2,3,4
  • M, #15515, b. 1450, d. 7 April 1513
  • Father Alexander Cope
  • Sir William Cope Ancestry of Dorothea Poyntz, p. 15, says Jane is mother of John. He was born in 1450 at of Banbury & Hanwell, Oxford, England. He married Agnes Harcourt in 1470. Sir William Cope married Jane Spencer, daughter of John Spencer and Ann Empson, before 1496. Sir William Cope died on 7 April 1513.
  • Family 1 Agnes Harcourt b. c 1450
  • Children
    • Stephen Cope b. 1473
    • Sir Henry Cope b. c 1478
    • William Cope b. c 1480
  • Family 2 Jane Spencer b. c 1471, d. 12 Feb 1525
  • Children
    • Sir Anthony Cope+ b. c 1496, d. 1551
    • Sir John Cope, Sheriff of Northampton+2 b. c 1504, d. 22 Jan 1559
  • Citations
  • 1.[S4221] Unknown author, Ancestors of American Presidents by Gary Boyd Roberts, p. 171; Burke's Peerage, 1938, p. 647.
  • 2.[S5] Douglas Richardson, Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 202.
  • From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p516.htm#i...
  • -------------
  • Sir William Cope
  • M, #322689
  • Last Edited=5 Dec 2008
  • Children of Sir William Cope and Jane Spencer
    • 1.Sir John Cope+
    • 2.Sir Anthony Cope+
  • From: http://www.thepeerage.com/p32269.htm#i322689
  • ---------------------
  • A record of the Cope family. As established in America, by Oliver Cope, who came from England to Pennsylvania, about ... 1682, with the residences, dates of births, deaths and marriages of his descendants as far as ascertained (1861)
  • https://archive.org/details/recordofcopefami1861cope
  • https://archive.org/stream/recordofcopefami1861cope#page/n289/mode/1up
  • "Sir William was married twice; first to Agnes, daughter and coheiress of Sir Robert Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, knight banneret and knight of the bath, who was standard bearer to King Henry the Seventh at the battle of Bosworth Field. By her he had a son. Stephen, of whom we shall have to speak hereafter. Secondly he was married to Jane, daughter of Sir John Spencer, of Hodnell, and heiress to her brother Thomas. Jane Spencer became the mother of Anthony, afterwards Sir Anthony Cope, Chamberlain to Queen Katherine Parr, an ardent Protestant, and author of several pious and learned works."
  • Of Hanwell, In Oxfordshire, knight, cofferer to Henry VII; buried at Banbury in 1513.
  • SOURCE: Gilbert Cope
  • ------------------
  • William COPE.
  • Born ABT 1450, Grimsbury, Northamptonshire, England.
  • Died 1513, London, London, England. Buried in Church of Banbury, Northamptonshire.
  • Son of Alexander COPE.
  • Married first, 1470, Grimsbury, Northamptonshire, England, Agnes HARCOURT, born ABT 1450, Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, England. * Married second, ABT 1495, Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, England, Jane SPENCER, died AFT 1496, or near, Northamptonshire, England, daughter of John SPENCER.
  • Bought Hanwell in Wiltshire in 1502, built castle.of Banbury, Hardwick and St. John's Cowcross, Smithfield, Steward of Guildford and Henly Parks, Serjeant of Catery 1470, and of the Poultry 1510; Steward of Worpledon and Witeby 1510; Constable of Porchester Castle 1511; Lieutenant of Southbere Forest; Steward and Bailiff of Bedhampton; Secretary to the Suchess of Savoy 1513.
  • !SOURCE: Copes of Wiltshire by J. C. Biddle-Cope 1881, in collection of PA Historical Society
  • SOURCE: Records of the Family Cope, compiled by Emma Elizabeth Cope 1901, in PA Historical Society
  • ------------------------
  • Bought Hanwell in Wiltshire in 1502, built castle of Banbury, Hardwick and St. John's Cowcross, Smithfield, Steward of Guldford and Henly Parks, Sergent of Catery 1470 and of the Poultry 1510; Steward of Worpledon and Witeby 1510; Constable of Porchester Castle 1511; Lieutenant of Southbere Forest; Steward and Bailiff of Bedhampton; Secretary to the Duchess of Savoy 1513.
  • The Cope Family's relationship to the Spencer Family:
  • The first reference to the Cope family are in Norman records. Turstin Coupe (1180-1195) was the first man. There was also a Hugh Coupe in 1198 records, who may or may not be a relative of Turstin's. As they became more Anglo-Norman, the name was changed from Coupe to Cope. A Robert and Walter Cope was recorded circa 1272. The following genealogy shows that there was about a 200 year gap in records, before this line starts up again:
  • GENERATION ONE:
  • Alexander Cope.
  • GENERATION TWO:
  • Sir William Cope (1450-1513),of Grimsby and Hanwell, married Agnes Harcourt (1450-1495) in 1470, Grimsburg, Northamptonshire, England. Agnes was the daughter of Sir Robert Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, and Margaret Bryon. The Stanton's "Pope Tower" was built in 1470. Sir Robert Harcourt was the high Steward of Oxford University from 1446-1471 (Wood, 174).
  • The Harcourts, like the Copes were a Norman family who came to England around 1066 with William the Conqueror. Robert de Harcourt married Isabel de Camville whose mother was a cousin of Queen Adeliza. Adeliza was the second wife of Henry I. Upon their marraige, her wedding gift was the lordship of Stanton. The Harcourt family lived in Stanton Harcourt until 1688, when Sir Philip Harcourt died and left it to his second wife Elizabeth. The Harcourt's coat of arms was the peacock.
  • Sir Robert Harcourt was standard-bearer to Henry VII at the battle of Bosworth Field. Sir William Cope built castle of Banbury, Handwick and St. John's Cowcross, Smithfield, Wormleighton and Fenny-Compton. In 1502, Sir William bought the manor house called "Hanwell" in Wiltshire, England. In 1485, at Battle of Bosworth, William fought for Richard III, and the Knight of the Royal Arms awarded the Cope family their second coat of arms. Sir William was the Keeper of the Privy Purse to Henry VII, father of Henry VIII, and was thus granted the lordships and manors of Wormleighton and Fenny-Compton. Sir William Cope possessed much wealth, and sold "Wormleighton" to Sir John Spencer, father of his second wife, Jane Spencer. The Spencers were the Earls of Sunderland.
  • ------------------------------
  • Records of the family of Cope (1901)
  • https://archive.org/details/recordsoffamilyo00thoy
    • Pedigrees of the Family of Cope Pg.5 -24
  • Pg.5
  • William Cope of Banbury, Hardwick, and St. John's Cowcross, Smithfield, Steward of Guildford and Henly Parks, born 1450; Cofferer to Henry VII.; Serjeant of Catery 1470, and of the Poultry 1510; bought Hanwell 1502; Steward of Worpledon and Witeby 1510, Constable of Porchester Castle 1511; Lieutenant of Southbere Forest; Steward and Bailiff of Bedhampton; Secretary to the Duchess of Savoy 1513; died 1513. son of Alexander Cope who died temp. Hen. VII.,; m1. Agnes dau. and heir of Sir Robert Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt, widow of Thomas Stonar; married 1470, parents of (Pg.6 Stephen Cope (m. Anne Saunders) Cope); m2. Jane dau. and heir of Sir John Spencer of Hodwell; married before 1496; re-married William Saunders of Banbury; died 1525., parents of (Pg.6 Sir Anthony (m. Jane Crewys), William (d.unm.) Cope, (Pg.7 Sir John (m. Bridget Raleigh & Mary Mallory & Margaret Tame) Cope)
  • ______________________

Of Banbury, Hardwick and St Johns Cowcross, Smithfield, Steward of Guilford and Henley Parks.

Cofferer to Henry VII, Sarjeant of Catery 1470, and of Poultry 1510. Granted

Hanwell in 1498.

Steward of Wopleden, and Witeby 1510. Constable of Porchester Castle 1511,

Lieutenant of Southbere Forest. Bailiff of Bedhampton. Secretary to the

Duchess of Savoy [Emma Eliz Cope.Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica. 1901]

Started building Hanwell Castle but was uncompleted by his death.



From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ther have been four Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Cope. The Baronetcy of Cope of Hanwell, Oxfordshire[1] was created in the Baronetage of England on 29 June 1611 for Anthony Cope of Hanwell Castle. He was a descendant of William Cope, (Cofferer to Henry VII) to whom the manor of Hanwell was granted in 1498. He was Member of Parliament for Banbury and for Oxfordshire. The second, third and fifth Baronets also represented both Banbury and Oxfordshire. References: 1. ^ A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire Vol I. John Burke (1832) p285. Google Books

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In the history of the royal household of England, a cofferer was a principal officer in the court, next under the Comptroller of the Household. In the counting-house, and elsewhere at other times, he had a special charge and oversight of other officers of the house, for their good demeanor and carriage in their offices — all whom he paid the wages. This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cofferer



Sir William Cope Of Banbury. Keeper of Porchester Castle.

A favorite of King Henry VII. He was Treasurer to Henry's household, and obtained from that king grants of the lordships and manors of Wormleighton and Fenny-Compton. William Cope was born about 1450. He married, first, 1470, Agnes, daughter and heiress of Sir Robert Harcourt, of Stanton-Harcourt, Oxfordshire, K.C.B., standard bearer to Henry VII at Bosworth Field. From this union resulted a son, Stephen Cope, of Bedhampton, Hants, ancestor of the Cope family of Pennsylvania. William Cope's second wife was Jane, daughter of Sir John Spencer, Kt., of Hodnell, Warwickshire, widow of William Saunders, of Banbury, Oxfordshire.



There is a lot of confusion as regards to the parentage and marriages of Sir William Cope, the Cofferer. No two visitations [in Herald's Visitations] agree. Built castle of Banbury, Handwick and St. John's Cowcross, Smithfield. Wormleighton and Fenny-Compton. 1502 Bought Hanwell in Wiltshire. 1485 At Battle of Bosworth, fought for Richard III. Knight of the Royal Arms-awarded 2nd Coat-of-Arms for the Cope family in England. Steward of Guildford and Henly Parks. Lieutenant of Southbere Forest. Steward and Bailiff of Bedhampton. 1470 Sergeant of Catery. 1510 Sergeant of the Poultry. 1510 Steward of Worpledon and Witeby. 1511 Constable of Porchester Castle. 1513 Secretary to the Duchess of Savoy. Cofferer (Treasurer), or Keeper of the Privy Purse, of Henry VII and obtained from that King grants of the lordships and manors of Wormleighton and Fenny-Compton. His sister Margaret had married William Iberowe. Sir William Cope received the honour of knighthood at the hands of his prince, possessed much wealth. It was he who sold the "great lordship of Wormleighton" to Sir John Spencer, father of his second wife, Jane, and ancestor to the powerful Earls of Sunderland. He also bought lands in Somersetshire and Wiltshire, and he it was who bought, in 1502, the domain of Hanwell, destined to be the seat of his descendants for many generations. All that remains of Sir William Cope the Cofferer, is a portrait by Holbein. All that remains, at least, beside the good report of a life of liberality, benevolence, and faithful service to his King.* Sir William was married twice; first to Agnes, daughter and coheiress of Sir Robert Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, knight banneret and knight [knighted May 26, 1465] of the bath, who was standard-bearer to Henry VII at the battle of Bosworth Field. By her he had a son, Stephen Harcourt of Denmede, Molyns, Hants, England; Sergeant of the Butlery; Gentleman of the Bedchamber; Sargeant of the poultry to Henry VIII and Edward VI; 1510 Envoy to the Duchess of Savoy; 1523 Envoy to the Emperor of Muscovy. Secondly, he was married to Jane, daughter of Sir John Spencer of Hodnell, and heiress to her brother Thomas. Jane Spencer became the mother of Anthony, William and John. Sir John Cope of Eydon and Heale, Northamptonshire, and of Knowle Hall, Warwickshire, was Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Member of Parliament. William Cope, Esq., never married, and was in 1516 Esquire of the Body to Henry VIII; and "Servitor" at the coronation of Queen Anne Boleyn.

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Sir William Cope, Cofferer to Henry VII's Timeline

1450
1450
Grimsbury, Oxfordshire, England (United Kingdom)
1473
1473
Bedhampton, Hampshire, England
1485
1485
Oxfordshire, England
1502
1502
Age 52
Bought Hanwell in Wiltshire
1504
1504
Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire, England
1513
April 7, 1513
Age 63
London, Middlesex, England (United Kingdom)
1513
Age 63
Church of Banbury, Oxfordshire Co, England
1930
September 13, 1930
Age 63
September 13, 1930
Age 63