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William DanversWilliam 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. OriginsHe 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. CareerHe 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] MarriageIn 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. DeathHe died on 19 April 1504 and was buried in St Mary's Church, Thatcham. References
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