William Cope (cofferer)
{{Short description|English courtier}}
Sir William Cope PC (1450 Grimsbury Northampshire - 7 April 1513 Hanwell Oxfordshire) was an English courtier who was Cofferer to Henry VII. {{cite book|title=The History of Banbury|first=Abfr|last=Beesley|page=190}} {{Cite web |title=Family tree of William (Sir Knight) Coape Cope |url=https://gw.geneanet.org/jackmorter?lang=en&n=cope&p=william+sir+knight+coape |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Geneanet |language=en}}
Career
He was born into the well-to-do Cope family of Oxfordshire. In addition to the lands he inherited from his family he also acquired more estates, particularly that of Hanwell Castle around 1500, which became the family seat for many generations.
He served as Cofferer of the Household of Henry VII from 1494 to 1505. Cope was a member of the Privy Council.{{Cite book |last=Haydn |first=Joseph |title=The Book of Dignities |publisher=Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans |year=1851 |location=London}} In the absence at that time of a Treasurer of the Household he carried out the duties of that office as well.{{Cite book |last=Bernard |first=Burke |title=A genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the peerage and baronetage, the Privy Council, knightage and companionage |publisher=Harrison & Sons |year=1915 |location=London}}
In 1498 he was granted the Lordships of Wormleighton and Fenny Compton, part of the lands of Simon de Montford who had been attainted in 1495. He later sold the lands to Sir John Spencer, who was also the cousin of Cope's wife Jane Spencer, later of Althorp.
He was made Keeper of Portchester Castle in 1509.
He was made a Knight by Henry VII.
Family
His father was Stephen Cope. His grandfather was William Cope. His great-grandfather was John Cope of Denshanger, MP for Northants.
He firstly married Agnes, the daughter and coheiress of Sir Robert Harcourt of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, with whom he had a son, Stephen, who also became a courtier, serjeant of the poultry to King Henry VIII. Stephen is the ancestor of the Copes in America.
William Cope secondly married Jane, the daughter and coheiress of Sir John Spencer of Hodnell, member of the Spencer family, Warwickshire. With the latter he had three sons, Sir Anthony Cope, William and John.
He died in 1513 and was laid to rest in St Peter's church in Hanwell.