BLOUNT, Charles (Thomas) (1634-75)

There is some confusion about the name of the 3rd earl of Newport, who, like his brothers suffered from some congenital intellectual impairment. The Newports buried a child named Charles in 1631, but nearly three years later the same forename was given to another child, born at the family home, Newport House in St. Martin-in-the-Fields, in January 1634. Ibid. 100, 260. There is no evidence that this Charles also died in infancy as stated in Complete Peerage. On the contrary, this Charles was still living in February 1666 when financial provision was made for his care and support. He is clearly named as Charles in his father’s will, and as Charles in Collins Peerage. TNA, PROB 11/319; Collins, Peerage (1812), ix. 458. The 3rd earl is believed to have died at Weyhill, near Andover in Hampshire, where an entry in the burial register recorded the death of ‘Thomas Dominus Blount Comes de Newport’ on 4 May 1675. This appears to be the first mention of Thomas rather than Charles Blount and to be the source of subsequent confusion. Arch. (1787), viii. 77.

The 3rd earl of Newport probably held the title for no more than a few weeks and he made no impact on the business of the House. He was succeeded by his younger brother Henry, as 4th earl of Newport.