Vol 1: The Bluets - Lackham Countryside Centre

The Bluets 76
responsibilities of the two foundations, for example it is known that the
Vicar of St Cyriac‘s had a few of the abbey officers as parishioners, but
all the others within the gate of the Abbey shall be parishioners of the
Chapel of St Edmund 321 . Although it cannot be proved it is possible that
Roger, previously restrained by the Lord of Lackham, took the
opportunity of his relative‘s death to have a go at the Abbey about
access rights.
Finally, in the history of another Bluet manor, Hilmarton, it is seen that
by 1242–3 Roger Bluet was holding it of Ralph de Wancy 322 , who held it
of the Earl Marshal,
323
another indication that Ralph is dead by 1242
That William‘s father was Ralph IV is attested by a record 324
gifting of land to Lacock Abbey by William Bluet son of Ralph .
of a
This is of some importance, as it has been suggested by some that the
William who was father to the later John Bluet of Lackham was William
of Salisbury Manor (Wales), Ralph IV‘s brother, not his son. The witness
list for the charter here includes a reference to Ralph, the donor‘s
brother. From Fig. 9 it can be seen that this would apply to either
William of Salisbury [son of Ralph III, brother of Ralph IV] or William
son of Ralph IV brother of Ralph V. Distinguishing between these two
Williams is difficult, as charters tend not to make it clear where they
are from, but the latest charter we have for a William Bluet dates from
the last quarter of the thirteenth century 325 which is too late for it to
be William of Salisbury Manor.
Some of the witnesses for this charter, notably Richard de Wyk and
Thomas Bubbe are also found in other charters of William that date to
321
Talbot, CH (1911) The Will of Joan Trye WN&Q vol 7 p58
322
Not much has been found of Ralph de Wancy, although he witnessed 3 charters
for Lacock Abbey (no‘s 347, 351 and 352)
323
Victoria County History Wiltshire vol 9 p52 Parishes: Hilmarton
324
Rogers, KH (ed) (1978) Lacock Abbey Charters WRS 15 p 28 no 122
undated
325
Rogers (1978) ibid p81 no 320 dated to between 1275 and 1298. the dates are
those for the Constable of England here, the 3rd Earl of Hereford, 2nd Earl of
Essex