BLOUNT, Cuthbert (by 1515-by 1561), of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumb.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, ed. P.W. Hasler, 1981
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Family and Education

m. by 1547, Barbara, da. of James Lawson, alderman of Newcastle, 5s. 1da.2

Offices Held

Sheriff, Newcastle 1548-9, mayor and gov. merchants co. 1553; alderman by 1555; v.-adm. in the north by 1558.3

Biography

Blount’s career was almost over by the time of Elizabeth’s accession. His wife’s family were wealthy merchants, and it may have been in partnership with them that he began his trading operations with the Continent. During the reigns of Edward VI and Mary he was involved in several lawsuits with French and German merchants, and in 1558 was threatened with dismissal from his office of vice-admiral for failing to appear to answer charges against him in Danzig. Though he may have been deprived of his post (later details of the case are obscure), he was apparently still in government employment early in Elizabeth’s reign. The last reference found to him is in a letter from the Queen to Sigismund, King of Poland, written on 8 Feb. 1561. Elizabeth answered a charge—possibly still concerned with the 1558 case—that owing to Blount’s failure to appear three Englishmen, citizens of Danzig, had forfeited their pledges of surety. At the time of his default, according to Elizabeth’s letter, he had been on important (unspecified) crown business, and had since died.4

For some reason Blount’s will, made in November 1559, was not proved until October 1569, at Durham. He asked various relatives to supervise the upbringing of six children, only the youngest son William being left in the widow’s care. Among a number of bequests to friends was a ‘gift for a token’ to Sir James and Lady Croft.5

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N. M. Fuidge

Notes

  • 1. E371/402(1) has ‘Blount’. OR , i. 401 has ‘Brown’, a misreading of an almost illegible return.
  • 2. Arch Ael. (ser. 4), xviii. 35; Surtees Soc. cxii. 19-20.
  • 3. R. Welford, Hist. Newcastle and Gateshead, ii. 291; APC, vi. 316, 343.
  • 4. APC, iv. 81, 119; vi. 316, 343, 352; Welford, ii. 367.
  • 5. Surtees Soc. cxii. 19-20.