10 Jul Lordship Title of Bushmead ID1040
Posted at 20:00h
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The Augustinian priory of Bushmead, later known as BUSHMEAD MANOR, was founded by Hugh de Beauchamp of Eaton ante 1187, in which year he met his death whilst on crusade. He endowed the canons with the site of the priory, with certain rights of wood and pasture and with the tithes of his park of Eaton. This endowment was supplemented by private grants in this parish and elsewhere during the following century, and in 1291 the prior was assessed at £6 2s. 10d. for lands in Eaton alone. In 1302 he held one-fortieth of a knight's fee here of the Eaton barony, and in 1330 claimed view of frankpledge from all his tenants in Eaton as of right immemorial. Between 1350 and 1364 various parcels of land were added to the possessions of the priory, and in 1380 the important manor of Cadbury (q.v.) was acquired. At the Dissolution the value of the priory lands in Eaton and its outlying districts of Staploe, Devilhoe and Honydon was £14 2s. 8½d. The priory and its lands then became Crown possessions, and, as appears from a letter written by Sir Francis Bryan to Cromwell in 1537, were at first granted to Sir John St. John. Writing on behalf of Sir John, 'a man of gentle nature,' Sir Francis says: 'When the king was last at Ampthill he gave Sir John Sant Johne the abbey of Bushmead in farm because he had £8 a year within the same, and it lay so near his house that if he should be driven to remove he could find no place so meet. I am sure his name was entered in the book, but I hear Mr. Gasgyne labours for the same in recompense of the land he exchanged with the king.' In spite of the appeal to Cromwell the exchange with Sir William Gascoigne was confirmed by letters patent in the same year, and he received the Bushmead property, which included:— The house and site of the late priory of Bushmead and all houses, &c., within the inclosure and circuit of the said priory; and all lands . . . viz. a field called Plasworth field, containing 300 acres; two meadows of 3 acres; a pasture with a pond, 3 acres; a pasture called Milgelde, 100 acres; pasture called Patsall lease, 8 acres; closes of Great Catburie, Little Catburie and Cootes, containing 40 acres; a close called Dovehouse Close, containing 40 acres; a field of 80 acres, called le Wyndmylfeld; 30 acres of land lying near with a windmill; also the church, steeple and churchyard of the priory. The Gascoignes did not long retain Bushmead. In 1545 Sir John Gascoigne son of Sir William made a settlement on Anthony Cokett, and in 1562 alienated the property to William Gery. William son of William Gery succeeded his father, and held Bushmead till his own death in 1596. His son Richard, who was then under age, became Gentleman of the Privy Chamber to James I, and later to Charles I. He was a staunch adherent of the latter, and when Sheriff of Bedfordshire in 1636 is found writing to the Privy Council with regard to ship-money. 'My predecessor having gathered up what was willingly paid, the residue left to collect has to be compelled, or is not to be had, making it a work of time and difficulty. I will not be wanting in my utmost endeavours to expedite the service.' Richard Gery died apparently before 1647, in which year his son William, also an ardent Royalist, compounded for delinquency in arms and was fined onesixth of his estate, valued at £740. He died before the Restoration, and his son William, who for his adherence to the Royalist cause was 'himself plundered to his shirt,' retired abroad, meeting the exiled king at Breda. On the accession of Charles II both William Gery and his sister Anne are found petitioning for appointments under the new régime. She, whose married name was Dartiguenave, asked on behalf of her husband in 1660 for the clerkship of the Bills for Customs in the port of London, and in 1662 for the post of Dresser to the queen for herself. She complained that, owing to the devotion of her family, who had lost £12,000 in all, she was 'left to inherit nothing but sadness.' William Gery asked for a commissionership as a reward for his services in the royal cause, and though it does not appear whether he was successful in obtaining this appointment, his circumstances improved sufficiently to allow of his return to the family seat at Bushmead; for in 1675, when he married Katherine widow of Richard Taylor, the marriage licence states that the ceremony was to be performed in the parish church at Eaton Socon, or his chapel at Bushmead. He died before 1688, when Charles Gery suffered a recovery of the manor. In 1738 William Gery held the property, and one of the same name who possessed Bushmead in 1788 was possibly his son. Hester, third daughter and co-heir of this last-named William Gery, married in 1792 the Rev. Hugh Wade, rector of Thurning, who on his marriage assumed the additional surname and arms of Gery, and who on the death of his father-in-law bought up the portions of his sisters-in-law in accordance with their father's will, (fn. 231) Bushmead Priory remaining henceforth with Hester and her heirs. William Hugh Wade-Gery, her son, succeeded his father in 1832. He died in 1870, and his son Mr. William Hugh Wade-Gery is the present representative of the family and owner of Bushmead Priory.
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Listed in the Domesday Book:
No