William Cope, Esq.

William Cope, Esq, who married a daughter of William Gossage, of Spratton, and she was living in 1847 (sic: 1487)

Notes

Northamptonshire Past and Present (2017) Number 70. John Cope of Deanshanger (c.1355 – 1414)...an eminent person. By William Cope. Page 9-15. < PDF >.

The last son of John and Joan was William, born between 1410 and 1414, who married the daughter and heir of William Gossage of Spratton. Spratton is a village north of Northampton, 22 miles from Deanshanger.William Gossage acquired Spratton in its entirety, and his daughter carried it in marriage to William Cope, who according to Victoria County History, held it in 1488.19 This succession makes some sense, but the date is problematic in that it makes this William a contemporary of his grandson, William Cope of Hanwell, Oxfordshire. For this, VCH cites George Baker in The History and Antiquities of the county of Northampton and Baker cites Knightley’s Evidences.20 William and wife Gossage had one son, named either Stephen or Alexander, of whom there is sparse documentary evidence. Other than his listing, by either name, in various Cope family pedigrees, nothing is known of his birth or death dates, marriage, domicile, or occupation. In Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, he is purported to have died ‘temp HenryVII’.This is possible, but he did not leave a documentary footprint. There is much confusion over his name and he is listed as either father or grandfather of William Cope of Hanwell, cofferer to Henry VII. I come down on the side of Alexander and father.Adding proof ofAlexander’s early demise,upon the death ofAlexander’s father, William Cope, the manor of Spratton passed to his nephew, John Cope, son of his elder brother Stephen. Consequently, we must assume that Alexander had already died earlier than ‘temp Henry VII’.

References

• https://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p517.htm#...
• SOURCE: Records of the Family Cope, compiled by Emma Elizabeth Cope 1901, in PA Historical Society
• Northamptonshire Past and Present (2017) Number 70. John Cope of Deanshanger (c.1355 – 1414)...an eminent person. By William Cope. Page 9-15. < PDF >.
  • 19 Victoria County History - Northamptonshire, Vol 4, pp 100-107.
  • 20 Baker, G. The History and Antiquities of the county of Northampton,1822-30