Vol 1: The Bluets - Lackham Countryside Centre

The Bluets 124
wife Eleanor will inherit fully after the death of her uncle Ralph Bluet
including parcels occupied by William de Cusaunce. This is noteworthy for a
number of reasons. It shows that the lands were not only to be split
between the two heirs as has been indicated previously, but that Sir John‘s
brother Ralph inherited some of them for his lifetime, although it would
appear that William de Cusaunce at least was holding some from him (and
was therefore still alive in 1344) There is a Ralph who was a member of an
extent and appraisement jury 548 held in Chippenham on the 10 June 1379
and it is possible that this was Ralph VI, although he would have been very
old and it is at least as likely that this was yet another Ralph Bluet. If
Ralph VI was holding Daglingworth in 1321 it is not likely he is the one
mentioned in 1379.
Finally the document dated 1334/5 is the earliest record so far found
that shows Edmund and Eleanor married. How much earlier than this
they were married is not yet known.
It is possible this was before Eleanor became the last surviving Bluet and
gained control of both Silchester and Lackham, but may have been
afterwards. The Manor at Beanacre may have formed part of Eleanor‘s
549
dowry – it was conveyed to Eleanor and Edmund Baynard in the year
of their marriage.
In Silchester church there is an effigy that is thought to be of this
last of the Bluets, Eleanor Baynard
The effigy, later fourteenth-century and probably that of
Eleanor Baynard, wears kirtle, open-sided cote-hardie with
deep V-neck once painted vermilion, and mantle; her head is
covered by a substantial kerchief, and her neck and chin by a
wimple-like barbe‘ – in all, widow‘s weeds. Her feet peep out to
548
Conyers, A (ed) (1973) Wiltshire Extents for debts Edward 1 – Elizabeth 1
WRS Devizes vol XXVIII pp25-26 no 21
This was held after a writ had been issued by John atte Yerd and William
Worston merchants of Winchester because William fitz William owed them
60l. The extent was a survey of the debtor‘s lands made by the sheriff with
the assistance of a local jury composed of at least twelve men, as in this case
Under the statute procedure all lands held at the time of the debt were
liable to be surrendered t the creditor(s). This extent found that William
owned a messuage and a carucate in Wambergh, with meadows, feeding, and
pasture belonging worth 4 marks [£2 13s 4d = £2.67] yearly - the record
notes that the lands were delivered on 14 June according to the writ
549
Victoria County History Wiltshire VII p435