George Cope, MP

• COPE, George (c.1534-72), of Canons Ashby and Eydon, Northants.
• b. c.1534, 2nd s. of Sir John Cope† of Canons Ashby by Bridget, da. of Edward Raleigh of Farnborough, Warws. educ. L. Inn 1551. m. 24 Nov. 1561, Dorothy, da. and coh. of Thomas Spencer of Everdon, 1s.1
• From: http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1558-1603/member/co...
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Family and Education b. c.1534, 2nd s. of Sir John Cope† of Canons Ashby by Bridget, da. of Edward Raleigh of Farnborough, Warws. educ. L. Inn 1551. m. 24 Nov. 1561, Dorothy, da. and coh. of Thomas Spencer of Everdon, 1s.1

Offices Held

Biography Cope was a minor Northamptonshire gentleman whose short life left little impression on the known records. About 1555 he and his father sold the manor of Southfalley, Berkshire. In 1569 he obtained a 21-year lease of tithes, rents and profits out of the vicarage of Hampton, in Knoll, Warwickshire for £27 down followed by a red rose for the first 3 years and £9 for the remaining 18 years. The lease was challenged and Cope exhibited a bill in Chancery to establish his title. He had an interest in the manor of Thorley, Northamptonshire, in 1567.2

His one seat in Parliament he presumably owed to his wife’s aunt, Lady Brydges, who owned the borough, and who was probably behind the return of the other 1563 Member. On 11 Mar. 1563 Cope was licensed to be absent from Parliament ‘for his affairs at the assizes’.3

He died 23 June 1572 and was buried at Holy Trinity the Less, Knightrider Street, London.4

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603 Author: W.J.J. Notes 1. Baker, Northants. i. 13; Vis. Northants. 1564, 1618-19, ed. Metcalfe, 175. 2. CPR, 1554-5, p. 158; CSP Dom. Add. 1566-79, p. 75; C2 Eliz./ C12/18; Bridges, Northants. ii. 266. 3. CJ, i. 68. 4. Baker, ii. 13; Vis. Northants. 175.

The only surviving son and heir William Spencer, married Elizabeth Milney, but died without issue, leaving his four married sisters, Dorothy (wife firstly of George Cope, esquire, and secondly of Gabriel Pulteney, esquire), Susanna (wife of John Temple, esquire), Mary (wife of Richard Wallop, esquire), and Catherine (wife of Thomas Browne, esquire), as his coheirs.

References

• Will dated 15 September 1496 and proved 25 January 1497, of John Spencer (d. 4 January 1497) of Hodnell, Warwickshire: PDF