William Coupland Explained

William Coupland
Parliament:England
Term Start1:1554 (November)
Term End1:1555
Predecessor1:John Beane
Richard White
Birth Name:1501
Death Date:1569
Nationality:English
Spouse:Elizabeth Ledale
Relations:Christopher Ledale (Father-in-Law)
Children:George + 2 other sons
3 daughters
Parents:John Coupland (Father)
Mawards:is not set -->
Awards:is not set -->

William Coupland (also recorded as Cowpland) was one of two Members of the Parliament of England for the constituency of York from the November 1554 session to 1555 .

Life and politics

William was the son of John Coupland. He married Elizabeth Ledale and had 3 sons and 3 daughters. Two of his daughters were married to sheriff's of the city.[1]

He held several offices in the city. He was a muremaster[2] who were responsible for collecting taxes for the upkeep of the city walls. He also was a junior chamberlain (1537–38); tax collector (1540); sheriff (1543–44); alderman (1549 until his death) and Lord mayor (1553-354 and again in 1568-69).[3] [4] Like his father he became a tailor and became a freeman of the city in 1522. He went on to become a trader in general merchandise while living in the parish of St. Sampsons'.[1]

During his first term as Lord mayor, he was noted for taking firm action against trading irregularities. His second term was marred by Williams' house being used to place one William Hussey under house arrest for anti-Catholic talk.[1]

William died in 1569 and was buried in St Sampson's church next to his first wife.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The History of Parliament Trust. 20 August 2021.
  2. Book: 'City Officials Responsible for the Walls', in An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in City of York, Volume 2, the Defences (London, 1972), pp. 174-175. 22 August 2021.
  3. Book: Hildyard, Christopher. The antiquities of York city, and the civil government thereof; with a list of all the mayors and bayliffs, lord mayors and sheriffs, from the time of King Edward the First, to this present year, 1719. Collected from the papers of Christopher Hildyard, esq., with notes and observations. G.White. 1719. 74, 76 & 79 .
  4. Book: The Merchant Taylors of York: A History of the Crafts and Company from the Fourteenth to the Twentieth Century, Volume 33 of Borthwick texts and studies. Richard Barrie Dobson & David Michael Smith. Borthwick Publications. 2006. 65. 9781904497165.