Joan Leche

Joan Leche (c. 1450 – March 1530), benefactress, was the wife successively of Thomas Bodley, and of Thomas Bradbury, Lord Mayor of London in 1509. She founded a chantry in London, and a grammar school in Saffron Walden, Essex. Her great-grandson, Sir John Leveson (1555–1615), was instrumental in putting down the Essex rebellion of 8 February 1601, and her great-grandson William Leveson (d.1621) acted as trustee for the original shareholders of the Globe Theatre.

Joan Leche, born about 1450, was the daughter of Denis Leche of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and his wife Elizabeth, whose surname is unknown. She had three brothers whose names are known, Henry, Thomas and John. John entered the priesthood, and was vicar of Saffron Walden, Essex, from 1489 until he died on 8 November 1521.

At some time between 1470 and 1475 Joan Leche married Thomas Bodley (d.1492). Bodley's family was from Devonshire, and although the exact connection has not been established, he was of the same family as Sir Thomas Bodley, founder of the Bodleian Library, and bore the same coat of arms, 'Gules, five martlets argent on a chief indented or three crowns azure'. Bodley was by occupation a tailor, and had a brother, Richard (d.1491), a London grocer. Both brothers and their families lived in the parish of St Botolph Billingsgate, and both died within months of each other, leaving young children.