Title
Fair Copy (in book)
Foundation Trust Deed of Bedford General Library
1) Samuel Crawley, Edward Isaac Lockwood, John Little, Samuel Hillyard, William Alliott, Thomas Davies, Samuel Cooper, John Harris, William Blower, Isaac Hurst, Christopher Bell, Edmund R Williamson, Robert Adams(curator), John & Samuel Wing, Theed Pearse, Henry Leech, John Frost, Ralph B Hankin, Joseph Hill, William White, David Duval, Isaac Wale, Charles Wright Hyne, John Bradley, William Biggs, Thomas Kilpin, Henry Pulley, Charles F Timaeus, Cornelius Craft.
2) John Duke of Bedford K G, John Crichton Stuart (Marquis of Bute) William Henry Whitbread of Southill, Esq, Frederick Polhill of Howbury Esq, William Stuart of Tempsford Esq, John Lee DCL of Hartwell House, Bucks Esq, William Bartholomew Higgins of Turvey Esq, Robert Newland of Kempston Esq, Thomas Gwyn Elger Esq (Alderman of Bedford), Thomas Abbott Green of Bedford Esq, George Witt (doctor of Medicine) and James Donne of Bedford Clerk
recites: Public meeting of July 1830
decided to establish an Institution consisting of Library and Museum for use of Inhabitants of Town and County of Bedford as should subscribe
recites: Institution immediately established number of subscribers "and a collection of Books and Fossils and other things necessary and proper for a library and museum" formed partly by purchases and partly by donations from "liberal persons who take an interest in the promotion of literature and diffusion of useful knowledge".
recites: considerable collection of books and manuscripts formed c1700 for use of inhabitants of Town and County of Bedford - neglected and many now lost - now transferred from St Paul's Church with consent of remaining Trustees.
recites: collections kept in house of Thomas Kingston, Butcher and of the custody of John Mayle librarian and Rober Adam, curator of the museum.
recites: Subscribers Meeting of July 1831
resolution passed listed in detail including forming of Bedfordshire General Library the object of which is to form a collection of the best books in every department of Science and Literature and also a Museum for the deposit of Geological Specimens and such other curiosities as may be presented to the Institution .
Books from St Paul's Church be considered as reference books (see T A Blyth's History of Bedford 1868 page 166)
recites: General Meeting of Subscribers July 1832 appointing of 2) above as Trustees. (They are also subscribers)
all books, mauscripts, maps, pictures, prints, fossils, furniture, goods, and chattels belonging to Bedfordshire General Library and Museum all kept in house of Thomas Kingston at Bedford and in the custody of John Mayle and Robert Adam.
conveyed by 1) to 2) in TRUST
8 August 1834