On 03 Jan 1448 Anne Beauchamp 15th Countess Warwick (age 4) died at Ewelme, Oxfordshire aged four whilst in the care of Alice Chaucer Duchess Suffolk (age 44).

After a prolonged legal dispute between her three half-aunts, Margaret Beauchamp Countess Shrewsbury and Waterford (age 44), Eleanor Beauchamp Duchess Somerset (age 39), Elizabeth Beauchamp Baroness Latimer (age 31) and her full aunt Anne Beauchamp 16th Countess Warwick (age 21), the courts decided her full aunt Anne Beauchamp (age 21) should succeed. Anne Beauchamp  (age 21) succeeded 16th Countess Warwick. Her husband Richard Neville (age 19) by marriage Earl Warwick; the first step on his journey to becoming Kingmaker.

The decision of the court was not subscribed to by Edmund Beaufort Earl Somerset (age 42) who was married to Anne's (age 21) half-sister Eleanor (age 39); he wanted his share of the considerable Beauchamp inheritance.