Alice Harcourt was the daughter of Sir Richard Harcourt of Wytham, Berkshire (1416-October 1, 1486) and Edith St. Clare (d. before November 8, 1472). She married William Beselles or Bessiles of Besils Leigh, Berkshire and after his death took a vow of chastity. They had one daughter, Elizabeth.

In 1520-21 and again in 1523-26, Alice and two servants lived at the nunnery of Syon, where her granddaughter, Susan Fettiplace, was also a vowess and two other granddaughters, Eleanor Fettiplace and Dorothy Coddington or Goddrington (née Fettiplace), were nuns. In her will, she made alternate burial provisions depending upon whether she was at Syon or Besselsleigh at the time of her death.