Stephen Cope, Esq., of Denmede.

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

[from J.C. Biddle-Cope: The Copes of Wiltshire. from Memoirs of the Copes of Wiltshire by M.A. Worchester College, Oxford [ca. 1882

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Of Bedhampton, county of Hants, Sergeant of the Poultry to Henry VIII and Edward VI, Living 1552.

Disinherited by his father

SOURCE: Copes of Wiltshire by J. C. Biddle-Cope 1881, in collection of PA Historical Society

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Stephen Of Bedhampton (SIR) was born in 1473. He died in 1534. He was a Sergeant of the Butlery to Henry VII. STEPHEN COPE (1473-1534), OF Bedhampton, Hats was born in 1473;

Sergeant of the Butlery to Henry VII; Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Sergeant of the Butlery and Poultry to Henry VIII; Envoy to Duches of Savoy 1510, and to Emporor of Muscovy 1523;

Married Anne, the only child of William Saunders, of Banbury Co., Oxford.

They had issue

1. Thomas

2. William of Ashton, Co. Northampton, b. 1506; m. Stephen Of Bechampton (SIR) and Jane SPENCER Daughter Of Sir John Spencer were married between 1490 and 1520.

from http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~harringtonfamilies/...

Sergeant of the Poultry to Henry VIII and Edward VI - It was the duty of the Sergeant of the Poultry to assure that enough poultry was in stock, and to restrain his staff from making off with birds that were of fit quality for the queen's table. The theft of a hen, which cost 2d., would require the Kitchen to use mutton in its place, which cost 8 to 10d. He was also required to "see that the said Poultry shall be dayly put into the Scalder's hands, at such houres, both morning and after dinner, that they may have convenient time to dress the same," a duty that required constant attention, since they scalding house had to have enough time to prepare the birds for the kitchen before they were needed for the various meals.

Was Sergent of the Butlery & Poultry for Henry VIII

Disinherited by his father

Married his step-sister

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• 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)
• From: http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/WilliamCope.htm
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• Stephen Cope
• M, #47810, b. 1473
• Father Sir William Cope b. 1450, d. 7 Apr 1513
• Mother Agnes Harcourt b. c 1450
• Stephen Cope was born in 1473 at of Bedhampton, Hampshire, England.
• From: http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p1591.htm#...
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• Records of the family of Cope (1901)
• https://archive.org/details/recordsoffamilyo00thoy
  • Pedigrees of the Family of Cope Pg.5 -24
• Stephen Cope of Bedhamton born 1473 eldest son of Agnes (Harcourt) & William Cope of Banbury, Hardwick, and St. John's Cowcross, Smithfield, m. Anne dau. of William Saunders of Oxford, parents of Thomas, Anthony (m. Anne Stafford), John, William (m. _ Morris), Elizabeth (m. James Harrington), Elborow Cope.
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His mother is not known.

• MOREOVER, this person-profile lacks confirming sources.
• ONLY ONE SOURCE (below) mentions Stephen as William's son, but it supplies no source.
  • "WILLIAM COPE of Banbury, co. Oxford, Esq., Cofferer to K. Henry 7, mar. …. .and had issue, — Stephen, his eldest son; — after, the same William mar., to his second wife, Jone, da, of John Spencer of Hodnell, co. Warwick, Gent., and by her had issue, — Sir Anthony Cope, Kt., second son; Sir John Cope, Kt."
    • Source: Harvey, William, Walter Charles Metcalfe, and Augustine Vincent. 1887. The Visitations of Northamptonshire Made in 1564 and 1618-19: with Northhamptonshire Pedigrees from Various Harleian MSS. London: Mitchell & Hughes. Available at: Archive.org,
• Wikitree's profile for Stephen Cope shows his mother as Agnes Harcourt (14 Dec 2023). However, the assigned mother, along with Stephen as a son of William, is based on assumption, not evidence.

Meritless Source: No Source Citations

• The Prominent Families of the United States of America:—
  • STEPHEN COPE (1473-1534), of Bedhampton, Hants; b. 1473; Sergeant of the Butlery to Henry VII ; Gentleman of the Bedchamber and Sergeant of the Butlery and Poultry to Henry VIII; Envoy to Duchess of Savoy 1510, and to Emperor of Muscovy 1523 ;
  • m. (i) Anne, only child of William Saunders, of Banbury, Co. Oxford, by whom he had issue:—
    • 1. Thomas, d.s.p.
    • 2. William, of Ashton, Co. Northampton, b. 1506...
    • 3. Anthony...
    • 4. Stephen, of Pidley, Co. Huntingdon; ancestor to the Copes of Hunts and Suffolk;
    • d. 15 April 1581.
    • 5. John, d.s.p.
    • 1. Elizabeth, m. James Harrington, Clerk of the Bakehouse to Henry VIII.
    • 2. Ursula.
    • 3. Edborowe.
  • He d. 20 March 1634, having m. (2) Margaret , who survived him, and was sole executrix of his will. <— NOTE: Finding the Will is vital for supporting this information.