Title:

Knight

First Name:

William

Last Name:

Cary

Memorial Type:

Burial site

Does the monument still exist?

No

Installation Date:

Contemporary (pre-1500)

Allegiance:

Lancastrian

Memorial Notes:

Sir William Cary was the son of Philip Cary. He was born on 12 August 1437. His father died soon afterwards. From an early age, William was in the service of Queen Margaret of Anjou. He was knighted by 1462, possibly after service at the Second Battle of St. Albans (1461). Not much is known about Sir William prior to the Battle of Tewkesbury (1471) apart from the fact that he married twice. His second wife was Alice Fulford, daughter of Sir Baldwin Fulford, former Sheriff of Devon. He may well have joined the Lancastrian cause while Queen Margaret was recruiting in Devon prior to her journey towards Tewkesbury. His brother in law Sir Thomas Fulford may well have joined the Lancastrian forces at this point too. Sir William was killed during the fighting and his body was recovered and buried in the churchyard. Sir Thomas Fulford was captured after the battle but was pardoned. Sir William is still commemorated by a memorial brass in the Church of All Saints in Clovelly. His grandson, also a William, gained favour in the court of Henry VIII and went on to marry Mary Boleyn, sister of Queen Anne.