William Danvers
William Danvers (1428 – 19 April 1504) of Chamberhouse Castle in Thatcham, Berkshire, was a British judge. He was a Serjeant-at-Law and a Justice of the Peace.
Origins[edit]
He was a younger son of John Danvers (died 1449)[1] of Calthorpe, near Banbury and of Prescote in the parish of Cropredy, both in Oxfordshire who served four times as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire, in 1420, 1421, 1423 and 1435.[1] His mother (his father's second wife) was Joan Bruley, daughter and heiress of John Bruley, of Waterstock, Oxfordshire, a son of William Bruley, MP.[1] His elder half-brother was Sir Robert Danvers (d.1467), another notable judge.
Career[edit]
He became a Justice of the Peace for Oxfordshire in 1456, and served again for Berkshire in 1463.[2] He represented Taunton in Parliament in 1467 and 1472, and with him in that Parliament was his brother Thomas, who sat for Downton. William was also member for Hindon in 1478.[2] He became a Serjeant-at-Law in 1485 and was made a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas on 5 February 1488.[3]
On the death of his brother Thomas Danvers in 1502, William Danvers inherited the manors of Adderbury, Colthorpe, and the family property in Banbury, Bourton, Cropredy, Milton, and elsewhere.[4]
Marriage[edit]
In 1470 he married Anne Pury, by whom he was the grandfather of Edmund Docwra MP and great-grandfather of Henry Docwra, 1st Baron Docwra of Culmore.
Death[edit]
He died on 19 April 1504 and was buried in St Mary's Church, Thatcham.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Woodger, L. S. (1993). "Danvers, John (d.1449)". In Clark, Linda; Rawcliffe, Carole; Roskell, J. S. (eds.). The House of Commons 1386-1421. The History of Parliament Trust.
- ^ a b Nash Ford, David (2007). "Sir William Danvers (1428-1504)". Royal Berkshire History. Retrieved 15 January 2009.
- ^ Foss, Edward (1870). A Biographical Dictionary of the Justices of England (1066–1870). London: John Murray. p. 213.
- ^ Macnamara, F. N. (1895). Memorials of the Danvers Family (of Dauntsey and Culworth). London: Hardy & Page. p. 177.