Showing 15 results

Letter from Dorothea Watson of Middleton Tyas, Yorkshire to an unknown female recipient, 24 Sep 1688. Has heard from Mrs Watson of Danby Wiske, [North Riding of Yorkshire], that a servant (a niece of Mrs Watson) was leaving the recipient's service at Martinmas (11 November); asks her 'to answer the queries on the [o]ther side ... and were Master and Mistresses to [be] upon honor, in their character of servants, there woud [so] on be an end of all complaints of bad ones'. Autograph, with signature. Some traces of the questions from the dorse are visible in reverse on the face of the letter.

Letter from A Offley, c 1790. No address. To Mrs Walker. Supplies a character reference for a servant, Mrs Stent, who had among her recommendations that she 'stayd with ye dificall lady Manchester [Elizabeth Montagu, Duchess of Manchester] longer than most of her sarvents do but as to her [Mrs Stent's] temper it is warm and pashonat and she cant allways commande it ...'.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Walter Francis Montagu-Douglas-Scott to Messrs Chubb, 25 May 1857. Asking the firm to make 6 locks for miniature frames, exactly similar to those they made for him previously, and to send them to Mr Scott of Messrs Colnaghi.

Autograph, with signature.

Extract from records of proceedings before the Commissioners 'for hearing and determining appeals against the duties on male servants' at the Golden Lion Inn at Cheriton Bishop, Devon, on 3 Feb 1807, giving reasons for allowing an appeal against a surcharge on a domestic servant made by the Rev. Bryan Roberts, Rector of Drewsteignton. The appeal had been challenged by James Searle, surveyor, and the commissioners were Richard Holland, John Cann and Baldwin Huldford. The return made by Roberts in 1806 had included 1 four wheel carriage, 2 riding horses, 2 labour horses, 4 sporting dogs, 1 male servant, and 'one other occasionally employed in his garden'.

Letter from Edward Law (1st Earl of Ellenborough) of Grosvernor Place, [London] to Rev Henry Walter, 28 Feb 1839. Replying to a letter on the state of labourers in contemporary society.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Lady Quentin of Kew, [Surrey] to Mr Emanuel, [jeweller] of Bevis Marks, St Mary Axe, London, 27 Apr 1833. Stating that the payment of his account will have to be further postponed, as she has been disappointed in her expectations of receiving a large sum of money. Encloses a draft for £20 [missing] and requests a receipt.

Autograph, unsigned.

Letter from William Ward Jackson of Normanby, [North Riding of Yorkshire] to George Brigham, near Hutton, Rudby, [North Riding of Yorkshire], 20 Mar 1822. Describing how a servant of Jackson's had been killed 'by an accident from a horse' that day and an early inquest is desired. Asks Brigham to tell the bearer of the letter what time he will arrive.

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Thomas Harvey Hull of the Worshipful Company of Wheelwrights, Guildhall, London to Captain B J Watkins of the Royal Navy, 27 May 1930. Regretting that no company privileges are available to Watkins's friend, Mr Frederick Beetham, despite the fact that his great-grandfather was Master of the Company in 1835-1836. 'For your friend I cam enclosing a little history of the Company, printed and circulated ... in 1928'.

Autograph, with signature.

(i) Letters to Sir Graham Eden Hamond and Lady Hamond, 1850-1865. Mainly concerning references and testimonials for domestic servants, either formerly employed in or potentially to be engaged by the Hamond household. Including 1 receipt for £6 wages and a letter mentioning the 1852 general election.

(ii) Letter from Charles Scovell of Bembridge, Isle of Wight, to Mr Escount, 16 Feb 1865. Relating to the business affairs of Sir Andrew Hamond [Sir Graham Hamond's son and successor as baronet].

Manuscript volume containing 'An essay on the causes and cure of a redundant agricultural population', written in Glasgow, 1832-1833. Inscribed by Herbert Somerton Foxwell as written 'By a boy under 16 years of age'.

Letter from Thomas Dares to Mr Darmer, 7 May [1670]. Discussing employing a servant: 'Syr being destitute at this time of a servant your man made meanes yt I would intertaine him, wch (if it shall neither unfurnishe you and that upon your commendation I may have him [?...], I shall be willing therunto ... therfore unlesse it be yt he were to goe from you and you not to be unprovided youre slefe, and likewise yt by your paritcular letter ... I may asssure my slefe of an orderly servant free from excesse of drinking and disorder, I shall be unwilling to intertaine him, besides I am in want of one presently by reason yt I knew not of ye so soudaine departure of my owne man ...'.

Autograph, with signature. The hand suggests that a date of c1670 is plausible.

Letter from Sir Charles Cockerill of Sezincote, Gloucestershire to [Messrs Thwaites and Reed, clockmakers], 28 Jan [1800-1850]. In reply to their letter of 27 Jan, Cockerell 'will send to the clock maker at Stow[-on-the-Wold] to examine the clock with his own clerk of the works and to oil them, as suggested. The result of which shall be communicated to T. and R.'

Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Jean Joseph Louis Blanc of London, 10 Apr 1864. Asking for advice on behalf of a workman named Chatelier, who 'desire proposer dans un meeting d'ouvriers â un plan d'association destine, croit-il, a ameliorer la condition de la classe ouvriere.' Autograph, with signature.

Letter from Sir Thomas Bazley of Eyford Park, Stow-on-the-Wold, [Gloucestershire] to C Manley, Esq, 13 May 1871. Thanking him for a 'further communication'. Bazley has come to Eyford Park for a few days to be among some workmen who are 'defining' his water stream. Hopes to meet Mr Buckland when he returns to town. Autograph, with signature. Headed with a crest and the motto 'Finem respice'.

Manuscript volume of accounts lettered 'Farm Work 1816' giving daily rates paid to labourers, boys and women from 5 Jan to 27 Dec 1816 on a farm probably near Stockbridge, Hampshire, and followed by a weekly 'abstract of farm work for the year 1816'. The volume is signed by Thomas Beazly and inscribed 'This account balanced in the book of 'Stock bought & sold', on page 62.