Scope and Content
For the mid-18th century there is deposited at the Bedfordshire C.R.O. and catalogued at R 3/
Steward's letters 1739 - 1741
1755 - 1762
1766 - 1767
In 1974 and 1975 the central correspondence covering the years 1747 - 1752 was deposited at the C.R.O. temporarily for the use of Dr. H. Wellenreuther. Transcripts of letters of Bedfordshire interest were made by voluntary workers and are on the bookshelves in three volumes
1748 - 1749
1750 - 1751
1751 - 1752
Calendars of the whole correspondence (letters received) have been made for two periods in the 18th century and are also on the bookshelves at 160:
By Dr. H. Wellenreuther 1748 - 1752
By Record Office Staff 1769 - 1776
Administrative History
A list of the Earls of Bedford (1550-1694) and of the Dukes of Bedford (1694-1953)
EARLS OF BEDFORD
1. John, b. c. 1485, death 1555.
2. Francis, b. 1527, death 1585.
3. Edward, b. 1572, death 1627.
4. Francis, b. 1593, death 1641.
5. William, b. 1616, death 1700.
DUKES
1. William, cr. 1694, death 1700.
2. Wriothesley, b. 1680, death1711
3. Wriothesley, b. 1708, death 1732
4. John, b. 1710, death 1771.
5. Francis, b. 1765, death 1802.
6. John, b. 1766, death 1839.
7. Francis, b. 1788, death 1861.
8. William., b. 1809, death 1872.
9. Hastings, b. 1819, death 1891.
10. George William Francis Sackville, b.1852, death 1893.
11. Herbrand, b. 1858, death 1940.
12. Hastings, b. 1888, death 1953.
13. John Robert, b. 1917.
COUNTESSES
Anne, ne Sapcote, widow of Broughton & Jerningham, death 1559
Margaret, ne Street John, widow of Gostwick, death 1562 Bridget, ne Hussey, widow of Manners & Morrison, death 1601.
Lucy Harington, death 1627.
Catherine Brydges, death 1657.
Anne Carr, death 1684.
DUCHESSES
Eliz. Howland, death 1724.
Anne Egerton, death 1762.
Diana Spencer, death 1735
Gertrude Leveson-Gower, death 1794.
Georgiana Byng, death 1801.
Georgiana Gordon, death 1853.
Anna Maria Stanhope, death 1857.
Eliz. Sackville-West, death 1897.
Adeline Somers-Cocks, death
Mary Tribe, death 1937.
Louisa Jowitt, death 1960.
Clare, ne Bridgman, widow of Holloway; [Henry Robert Ian; Rudolf]; Lydia, dau. of Lord Churston, widow of Lyle; [Francis. Hastings]; Nicole, ne Schneider, formerly w. of Milinaire.
Related Material
The whole correspondence at the Bedford Office 1749 - 1752 and also later letters also at the Bedford Office in London 1791 - 1803 are MIC 203 - MIC 207.
In 1977 to 1979 a second block of correspondence at the Bedford Office in London was deposited temporarily at the Bedfordshire C.R.O. and letters of obvious Bedfordshire interest (both received, and copies from the letter books of those sent) were photocopied, the photocopies given a serial number, and catalogued and stored as below:
Sheets
FAC 47/7 letters rec'd by Robert Palmer 1 - 198 1773 - 1775
FAC 8 199 - 250 1776
FAC 9 251 - 377 1777 - 1779
FAC 10 378 - 589 1780 - 1783
FAC 11 590 - 720 1784 - 1786FAC 47/12 letters sent by Robert Palmer 1 - 123 1764 - 1769
FAC 13 124 - 271 1769 - 1771, 1777 - 1787
A complete run of the letter books covering the whole of the years 1764 - 1787 are MIC 225.
Letters held at the Estate Office in London, in 59 volumes, and known as 'HML 8 Russell Correspondence' filmed 1979 See mict 10. Covering dates 1564 - 1770
The Record Office holds a large quantity of later estate correspondence - late 19th - early 20th century in date - which has not yet been listed. There is, however, an index to this correspondence, one vol. of which is dated on the front, 1887 and the other 1912. These indexes are stored (May 1974) on the bottom of stack D13 at the end of the boxes of correspondence
Copies Information
See also MIC 203-207 for corresp. to Butcher and Shackleton, 1749-1803 (and transcription of Bedfordshire letters - searchroom shelves, above catalogues)
Scope and Content
Correspondence of the Russell Family and the Bedford Estate
RUSSELL CORRESPONDENCE
Early Letters
Laur. Smyth 1590 1
Bart. Berry undated, 1614 2 - 7
Hugh Vaughan 1600-4 8 - 9
3rd Earl 1604 10/1
4th Earl 1636 10/2
William Batten 1654 10/3 - 5
5th Earl 1655 10/6 - 7
Anthony Senhouse 1673 10/8
Ralph Peirson 1674-94 10/9 - 10
To Robert Butcher 1739-69 11 - 141/4
Note : includes one to John Butcher (101/6) one (long) from R. Butcher to Duke (140)
Additions : 101/2 - 14
104/2
105/2
106/1-2
For further correspondence, 1749 - 1803
See MIC 203 - 207 and transcription of Beds letters (search room shelf - 160)
To John, 4th Duke of Bedford (See also above)
1738 141/5 - 69
(Orig.bdle.)1748-57
1769
1772
To John Wynne
1759-61 142 - 191
To Percival Beaumont
1766-7 192-526/1
To Robert Palmer
Two letters from Bodinson 1779,1784 526/2 - 3
To Daniel Beaumont, 1790 (see also below) (a few earlier probably Percival) 527 - 926
Note : Woburn : Bodinson,
Bullock, William
Jones, William
Miller, Samuel
Note also Thorney :
Wing, J
Note also : Holland, Henry (surv.)
To Harrington, 1790 927-51
To Daniel Macnamara, 1790 952-8
To Daniel Beaumont, 1791 (see also above) from various 959-1, 176
1792 1,177-1,322
1793 1,323-1,623
From Farey, 1793-7 (begins 1,429) 1,624-1,780
From various, 1797-8 1,781-1,853
1801-7 1,854-1,953
To John Gotobed, 1793-1800 1,954-2,040
To Various (sale of Riseley to Lord St.John) 1810-19 2,041-2,113
Papers of R. Salmon, 1806-23 2,114-2,182 (Acc.3029: 2114/1-572)
Papers of Woburn Hirdle, 1820-7 2,183-2,203
To Edward Crocker (papers on Park Keepers 1814-37) 2,204-2,220
Papers on Roote, 1828-36 2,221-2,239
Papers on Organisation 1828-34 2,240-2,255
Papers on Estimates, 1825-39 2,256-2,294
Papers on Game 1821-38 2,295-2,312
Papers on Tween 1830 2,313-4
Papers on plants from Norwich 1832-8 2,315-2,326
Papers on Burness, 1835 2,327-2,330
N.B. Daniel Beaumont's correspondents are:-
Woburn : John Clayton, John Greensmith, William Jones, J. Farey, H.F. Martin
Thorney : Wing, Holland
Chenies : Woburn Davis, N. Kirkman
Leighton: S. Davis
To Edward Crocker (Cont.)
From the 6th Duke, 1828-39 2,331-2,822
From Woburn Adam, 1838-39 2,824-3,050
From C. Haedy, 1828-39 3,051-3,165
From various, 1828-39 3,166-3,330
Reports and statements, 1815-39 3,301-3,394
(ADD: Reports and statements, 1838, 1 bdle.) Found & now in box.
To W.G. Adam (those not done are in 3/meat box.D)
From E. Crocker 1827-34 3,395-3,648
(ADD: 1 bdle., 1838)
From T. Bennett, 1830-37 3,649-4,045
(ADD: 2 bdles., 1838, 1839)
Bennett's accounts, 1835-6 4,046-4,093
ADD:
1 bdle., 1838)
(ADD: From C. Haedy, 1 bdle., 1839)
(ADD: From various, 2 bdles., 1836-9; they deal with Woburn flowerhouses & water, Nene outfall, Thorney)
(ADD: Misc. financial papers, including tithe, 1836-9)
To C. Haedy (those not done in 3/meat boxes. A - B) - box 3/meat box A transfer permanently to Beef Office London 17/12/80
From T. Bennett, 1836, 4,094-
(ADD: From Woburn Adam, 10 bdles, 1828-35, 1837-8)
Bennett & mix (in 3/meat box.C)
NOTE: The additions above marked in red were received in August,1968, (Acc. 3029) but dovetail in with the material received previously. (See above)
Period surviving 1749-63
ROBERT BUTCHER
130 items only.
Not very informative; little about Bedfordshire except an Eversholt removal case (106), and a letter from Mary Brandreth (103); and letters from Samuel Davis.
London: Robert Butcher
Woburn: Samuel Davis (pineapple plants coming; purchase of Conquest estate)
Chenies: John Davis, Robert Harris
Thorney: Charles Burdet
Thornhaugh: Richard Disbrowe
Drayton: Thomas Churchman
Essex: Daniel Barnard
In general a miscellaneous assortment from tenants etc. about small points. A few letters from Butcher himself to the Duke; see in particular his 35 pp. statement on Thorney (140).
PERCIVAL BEAUMONT
334 items 1766-7
Note that Robert Butcher had a son Thomas, who wrote from Cople in 1760 (168,171); and continues in Bedfordshire under Beaumont (238-43).
Percival Beaumont was already on the staff and lame in 1761 (155); so was probably not young when he became chief officer. He may be the elder brother of Daniel (199).
London: Percival Beaumont
Wynne, John, had already been on Butcher's staff. He forwards letters, deals with franks, send stationery to the Abbey (169), and a theodolite to Davis (171). He goes on tour (142 & 373) He now continues (459-524) dealing with many matters, including elections; seems to be getting older in 1767 (502). Is he now chief clerk?
Murray, Don. (373-83); is he assistant clerk?
Harrington was already on the staff in 1759 (166) & presumably continues
Allan, A. is gardener (150)
Woburn: Bodinson writes about militia & Bedford election.
Miller, Samuel, writes from the Abbey; he distributes charity corn & cloth, pays an annuity, arranges meat for theAbbey & sends the month's bills
Bullock, William, seems to be Keeper; venison (159-64, 235-6)
Woburn Martin, William., seems to be gardener.
Parkes, William. reports on frozen pipes (406-8)
Butcher, Thomas. (see above) continues at Cople, Wilden etc.
Chenies: Davis, W., sends flour
Thorney: J. Wing
Streatham: Goldsmith, Henry, reports on mowing
Hants: Bullock, Thomas, 222-34 (cf. William. above)
Solicitor: Is this Robert Palmer (399-404)
HARRINGTON c. 1790
Harrington, who had been on the staff as far back as 1759, seems to have been steward, but ill, as 1790 opens, and died early in the year, (927-51 and other refs.) Butcher calls him "esteemed fellow clerk" (579)
DANIEL BEAUMONT 1790-1793 1797-1798
One would have expected him to be the son of Percival, but there is a John Percival Beaumont who addresses him as uncle; so perhaps he is Percival's younger brother. (Cf reference to his brother at Bath 552) 1801-1807
London: Henry Holland is surveyor (665-81)
Woburn: Bodinson continues (butter, quit-rents, militia)
Jones, William., seems to have taken the place of Samuel Miller (who, from notes with vouchers, seems to have continued to 1778). He negotiates with the Duke, sends accounts by coach, goes to Hampshire, or Devon when required, conducts audit & requires money. death 1792 (1205) 4th October (1227)
Bullock, William., still keeper (577)
Martin, J.F., at the Abbey is very gouty (771)
Davis, Samuel, writes from Leighton (feoffment, accounts, audit, 614-6) (?local solicitor holding courts etc.)
Williams, J: gives Duke's movements (794-800)
Note that Thomas Butcher has disappeared, though L. Butcher, Exeter, gets annuity.
Chenies: Davis, William., continues (617-35), rents, leases etc.
Hants: Windebank, J.
Thorney: Wing, J.
Wansford: Medmore, P.: sends venison, & money for Duke's road interest.
Dorset: Henvill, P.
Devon: Bray, Edward & William., Tavistock (561-73) 1793
Note: what is position of Luxmoore family? Mayor of Okehampton 1395. political agents? From Namier, some at least seem to be active on other side (cf. also 598)
Many others have finger in political pie: Carpenter, Colling (928), Kingdon (932-3), Limbear (935-7), Vickry.
Solicitor: Daniel Macnamara (767-70 & other references)
Steward's correspondence for the Bedford Estate