William Dauntesey

Alderman William Dauntesey (or Dauntsey) was a London merchant and Master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

A merchant of the Staple at Calais he was the son of John Dauntesey of West Lavington in Wiltshire. He died in April 1542, leaving money in his will for the founding of Dauntsey's School.

By a Will dated 10 March 1542, Dauntesey gave the Mercers' Company lands in London so that they could build a schoolhouse for a grammar school at West Lavington and also support seven poor persons in an almshouse.

William Dauntesey is quoted from his will to bequeath his land in West Lavington to become an elementary school - "I William Dauntesey Citizen and Alderman of the Cities of London... will that in West Lavington a house called a church house and a house for a schole be kept... and that Ambrose Dauntesey shall name and appoint one apt and convenient person to teach gramer in the Schole house..." according to his will, Ambrose Dauntesey was responsible for the fulfillment of this request.

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