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Sir John Danvers was the 2nd son of Richard Danvers, of Prestcote and born about 1455.[1] He is known to have had an elder brother, Richard, who was a witness at his marriage in 1487 and the birth of John's son, although died shortly after in 1505 at Prestcote.[2]

In 1490, John was enfeoffed in the estates of Culworth and Sulgrave, at the death of his father, Richard.[3] He lived on these estates, in Northamptonshire, until about 1503. On the death of his older brother, Richard, in 1505, he inherited the titles to the manor at Prestcote.[4]

He was sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1494.[5]

He was knighted, on the occasion of the Heir-Apparent, to the Throne of England, Prince Arthur, in 1501.[6]

He had evidently moved to Dauntsey, Wiltshire, shortly before 1503 as he appears as sheriff of the county in that year and again in 1513.[7]

Family and Legacy

He married Anne Stradling and the marriage certificate has been preserved. They were married on the 13th December 1487, in the chapel of the Holy Trinity, within the precincts of the College of St. Martin-le-Grand, London.[8] In the marriage certificate Ann is called simply daughter of John Stradling, of Dauntsey, implying that her brother Edward was still living. Her brother, however died 25 July 1488 and Anne is confirmed as sister and heir to Edward Stradling, of Dauntsey, shortly after, bringing the lands and titles of Dauntsey into the family of Danvers.

They had four sons and six daughters.[9] Of which:

Thomas Danvers, the eldest son, married Margaret Courtney. Married before 1513.[10] Thomas had died before 1539.[11]
Richard Danvers. Richard is noted in the Will of his father as inheriting the manors of Culworth Mandeville, Culworth Pinkeney, and Sulgrave Pinkeney in Northamptonshire. The Will provides that Richard, and his heirs male, should have the use of them; and that failing these his third son, William, and his heirs male should enjoy the use.[12] Richard died 17 July 1517. He is buried in the Temple Church, London, where his Arms "quarterly 1 & 3 pales & a bend charged with 3 cinquefoils, the second 2 barres nebulee" are noticed.[13]
William Danvers, third son, stated in the same Will. He marries Elizabeth Fiennes, and, Anne, his mother, in her Will makes provision for two sons; John, the eldest, and Thomas.[14]
John Danvers, the youngest son, not included in his father's Will, is noticed in the Will of his mother. He, before 1539, is married, although the name is not provided in Macnamara, and he is provided the "farm at Tocknam".[15] The children of John, named Anthony and Anne, are mentioned in the Will of Sir Anthony Hungerford in 1558.[16] where it might be noted that he was already dead.
Dorothy Danvers, the eldest daughter. Had, by 1539, lost her first husband, John Fettiplace, and was now married to Sir Anthony Hungerford.[17]
Elizabeth Danvers, the second daughter, has, by 1539, married to Sir John Abarowe, and has a daughter, Mary.[18] The marriage occurred prior to her father's death and likely c. 1512. He was the son and heir of Sir Morrice Abarowe, of Dichett and Northborough in Somerset.
Margaret Danvers, named in her father's Will and unmarried in 1514. She, by her mother's Will, had been married to Edward Fiennes, and had, since his death, married Thomas Nevell, whom Dame Ann makes one of her executors. Anne, in the Will, remembers her grandson, Richard Fiennes.[19] Edward Fiennes, noticed as "of Broughton Castle", died in 1528. Macnamara notices that Richard succeeded to the family honours and estates and had a sister, Elizabeth Fiennes, that married Sir Francis Barrantyne, of Great Haseley, Oxfordshire.[20] Margaret then remarried, to a Sir Thomas Nevell, of Holt in Leicestershire, and they had a son, William. Sir Thomas Nevell had married three times; firstly to Clara Nevell, a close relative, secondly to Katherine Foljambe, of Walton, thirdly to Margaret. He was Sheriff of Leicester in 1539 and he died in 1569.[21]
Ann Danvers, the fourth daughter, is not named as unmarried in her father's Will of 1514 and it might be presumed she already married to Thomas Lovett. She is named in her mother's Will and has, by 1539, also lost her first husband, Thomas Lovett, and is now married to an unknown Wykes. Macnamara speculates it likely to be the Wykes who witnesses the will.[22]
Susan Danvers, named in her father's Will and unmarried in 1514. She, by 1539, is the first wife of Sir Walter Hungerford, Lord Hungerford.[23]
Constance Danvers, named in her father's Will and unmarried in 1514. She, by 1539, is married to John Staveley, and has a daughter, Dorothy.[24]
Residence

The manor-house has experienced a number of rebuildings. Nothing of the medieval house now survives, but as it was successively lived in by several important families of Oxfordshire gentry it must have been a house of some size. The Bruleys inhabited it in the 13th and 14th centuries and the Danvers family in the 15th century.

John Danvers and his wife were given papal licence to have a portable altar to be used for the saying of mass for themselves and their household.

Burial and Tomb

He died 14 January 1514, according to the inscription on his tomb.[25] His Will was proved, in London, on 24 January 1514. His wife, Anne, survived him, living at Dauntsey for much of her life.[26]

The tomb of Sir John Danvers and Anne are located in the Dauntsey church , south east of Malmesbury in North Wiltshire.[27]

A monumental brass can be found in Macnamara's work, facing page 270.[28]