William Capel

For the cricketer and foxhunter, see William Capel (sportsman).

Arms of Capell: Gules, a lion rampant between three cross-crosslets fitchée or

Hadham Hall in the parish of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, purchased by Sir William Capel

Sir William Capel (c.1446-1515) of the City of London and of Hadham Hall in the parish of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, served as Lord Mayor of London and as a Member of Parliament for the City of London.

Career

He was the son of John Capell (1398–1449) of Stoke-by-Nayland in Suffolk, whose family is not listed in the heraldic visitations of Suffolk, thus not qualifying as gentry. William Capel was a member of the Worshipful Company of Drapers, who served as Sheriff of the City of London for 1496, and was twice elected Lord Mayor of London, in 1503 and 1510. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the City of London from 1511 to 1515.

His London mansion stood on the site of the present London Stock Exchange. Number 3 Capel Court in the City of London is named after him. He added a south chapel to the parish church of St Bartholomew-by-the-Exchange in the City. He purchased the estate of Hadham Hall in the parish of Little Hadham, Hertfordshire, which remained in the Capell family from many generations. A new house was later built there, whether on the site of the old hall or on a new site is uncertain, which became the seat of his Capell descendants from the 1570s onwards.

Marriage & issue

Canting arms of Arundell: Sable, six martlets argent (hirondelle (French), martlet)

He married Margaret Arundell, a daughter of Sir John Arundell (1421–1473) of Lanherne in Cornwall, by his second wife Katherine Chideocke, by whom he had issue a son and two daughters, including:

• Giles Capel, son and heir, whose descendants included: Sir Gamaliel Capell (1561-1613), MP, of Rookwood Hall, Abbess Roding, Essex, 4th son of Henry Capell (d.1588), MP, of Little Hadham and of Rayne in Essex, by his wife Katherine Manners, a daughter of Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland; Arthur Capell, 1st Baron Capell of Hadham (1604–1649), only son of Sir Henry Capell of Rayne Hall in Essex by his wife Theodosia Montagu, a daughter of Sir Edward Montagu of Boughton House, Northamptonshire; Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex (1631–1683), son of 1st Baron Capell, created Earl of Essex in 1661.
• Elizabeth Capell, the first wife of William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester.