This exceptionally interesting collection consists of the archives of a London business family, the Howards, and their relations by marriage, the Eliots. The family were based in London, with homes in the City and various places round about, but they also had property and connections in several other parts of England.

The chief interest of the collection is in its quality as the personal record of a group of prosperous manufacturing and merchant families who were members of the Society of Friends. The Eliots were merchants and their account books, which cover both business and private expenses, together with letters and memoranda, reflect a picture of "City" life in the Eighteenth century. They attended the Change, Lloyd's and Child's and Jonathan's and other Coffee Houses, and dealt with a variety of business including trade overseas in cotton and duck cloth and Cornish tin and invested in "a voyage to Lima" and other merchant shipping ventures (including that of the Tuscany, unfortunately "Taken by the French and carried into Marseilles" in 1757). (See especially numbers 905, 928, 929, 944, etc.).

There is interesting material relating to John Eliot's estates supplemented by John Eliot's letters (e.g. Numbers 988-1011), which also mention a "good season" for pilchards, the decline of the docks at Topsham, the appropriation by the Government of some sugar pans near Exeter to use for French prisoners, etc. John's sister Mariabella also purchased in 1765 Pickhurst Farm, Hayes, Kent (Nos. 376-475).

There are amongst this collection a few letters and papers of later Howards, including an interesting pocket diary in which Samuel Lloyd Howard, grandson of Luke, jotted (unfortunately rather roughly in pencil) memoranda and sketches of impressions of his visit to America in 1854 (No. 1618). At sea his ship rescued the crew of the Hannay of Whitehaven, loaded with salt and flying a distress signal-"lay to and took all off, boy, baggage, chronometer, barometers and all".

At all periods the family kept in close touch with their relations in all parts of the country, including the Hows of Aspley, Bedfordshire, the Paces of Westmorland and London, the Leathams of Yorkshire as well as with fellow Quakers. This gives the collection a national rather than a local interest-indeed the family were not primarily associated with any one locality.

A curious document amongst the collection is a receipt dated 1824 for 8. 15s from R. Smith for freeing Hamma Fie, slave to Bentoo Demba, and signed with the mark of Madeba, Alcaide of "Birkow" (No. 1617/p.12). The Society of Friends Committee for African Instruction supported some missions, and Richard Smith, a friend of Luke Howard, was in Africa in the 1820's.

Quaker marriage certificates, of which there are several examples (eg. Nos. 117, 565, 1273, 1274, etc) give full details of both parties and are signed by members of the Meeting as witnesses. Birth certificates (e.g., Nos. 1275-1286, 1390-1393) give the date of birth and name, and were signed by witnesses to the baby's birth. The Society of Friends was in advance of both the State and established Church in respect of such documentation.

Photocopy of 'Farmer-soldier', a typescript memoir covering his life and career, [1905]-1945, notably his training with the Territorial Army, 1924-1939, and his service with the Wiltshire Regt in the UK, 1939-1943, and India and Burma, 1943-1945, written in 1945.

A journal kept by William Hoskins from 1 December 1655 to 13 November 1667.

Records of Hornsey Road Methodist Church, including registers of baptism, 1843-1939; register of marriages, 1867-1913 and financial accounts.

John Horne papers comprising notes taken whilst a student in Edinburgh, 1858.

Records of Horne, Engall and Freeman, solicitors, [1200]-1953, consisting of practice papers, records deriving from clerkships and other official capacities and Mr Scott Freeman's personal records, collection of maps and prints of Middlesex and printed material on the history of Staines. The material relates predominantly to Staines but also includes Ashford, Cranford, Egham, Feltham and Stanwell.

Records of Horfield Health Centre including Midwifery register, 1954-1962, and visits diaries, 1963, 1979-1983.

Papers of Thomas Jeeves Horder, 1904-1955, including Horder's appointment diaries, [one at St Bartholomew's Hospital and one at his private practice], memorabilia, Horder's talks and writings, obituaries and appreciations of his life and work, and a very small accumulation of case notes, apparently from his private practice.

William Harvey Hooper's journals as purser on HMS ALEXANDER, HMS HECLA, and HMS FURY, 1818-1825, and extracts from meteorological observations, on the John Ross and W E Parry expeditions in search of the Northwest Passage.

Journal, 1825-1829, of Elijah Hoole on his mission in India, describing his missionary work and life in India. The last few entries mention his illness in 1828 and return to England, and the journal ends in January 1829.

Papers of Samuel Hood comprising letter and order books, 1794 to 1795, 1806, 1808 to 1809; signals and instructions, 1790 to 1791; and logs, 1806 to 1814. The large section of papers relating to the East Indian command includes letters from the Admiralty, Victualling and Transport Boards, as well as copies of correspondence with Sir Stamford Raffles (1781-1826). In addition there are extracts from logs of ships on the East Indies Station during Hood's command, including the MODESTE, 1810; HESPER, 1810; HMS CORNELIA, 1811; DORIS, 1811; PHAETON, 1812; HECATE, 1813; SALSETTE, 1813 to 1814. Finally, there are a number of Hood family papers, 1745 to 1817.

Records relating to the manor of Honeylands and Pentriches and the manor of Worcesters, Enfield; including court books and rolls for the Court Baron, Court Leet and Court of Survey; rentals and surveys; plans; and quit rents.

Records of Marjorie Blanche Honeybourne, including papers of Eliza Jeffries Davis, correspondence with Professor V H Galbraith regarding Eliza Jeffries Davis, and correspondence relating to the production of a London volume in the Historical Atlas of Town Plans series.

Records of Holywell Mount Congregational Church, comprising baptism certificates, 1837-1854.

Records of Holybourne Presbyterian Church, including Court of Session minute books, 1880-1970; Minute book of Ministers and Elders of the Alton Monthly Meeting (Society of Friends), 1848-1856; Communicants' roll book, 1897-1970; register of baptisms, 1879-1893 and Treasurer's cash book, 1918-1944.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Beresford Square, Woolwich, registers of baptisms, marriages and banns; registers of church services; legal documents relating to parish property; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; and financial accounts.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Winchmore Hill, including registers of baptisms, marriages, confirmations, banns of marriage, church services; Parochial Church Council and Vestry meetings minutes; and Fund Raising and Appeal Committee minutes.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Wealdstone, including registers of baptisms, marriages, confirmations and banns of marriage; preachers' book; registers of services; papers relating to alterations to parish boundaries; papers relating to the construction or maintenance of the church, vicarage and church hall; Vestry meeting minutes; Parochial Church Council minutes, reports, correspondence and papers; programmes and invitations for parish events; financial accounts; papers of parish societies and clubs; and printed items including newspaper cuttings, newsletters and annual reports.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, West Hill, Wandsworth, including baptisms 1874-1950; marriages 1886-1952; banns of marriage 1891-1984; service registers 1877-1986; building committee minutes and fund book; faculties and licences for church; accounts, ledgers, cash books, churchwarden accounts and pew rent books; vestry minutes 1909-1921; Parochial Church Council minutes 1914-1982; standing committee minutes; plans. photographs and correspondence and memoranda.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Trinity Road, Upper Tooting, including registers of baptisms, marriages and banns; registers of church services; papers relating to the maintenance of the church; papers relating to the vicarage; financial records; and papers relating to parish societies.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Twickenham, including registers of baptisms; registers of marriages; registers of burials; registers of banns of marriage; registers of church services; and registers of preachers.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Tulse Hill (including some records for Saint John's, Tulse Hill), including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns, and confirmations; registers of church services; general correspondence, financial accounts; parish magazines; photographs; and papers regarding the Sunday School.

Also records of Saint Matthias, Tulse Hill, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns and confirmations; registers of church services and preachers; faculties and correspondence relating to the church building; Parochial Church Council minutes; financial accounts and photographs.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Tottenham, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage, confirmations and church services; and preachers' books.

Records of the parish of the Holy Trinity, Stroud Green, including baptism registers 1881-1967, marriage registers 1881-1971, and banns of marriage registers 1881-1984; church service registers; correspondence of the incumbent; material relating to the Union of the parishes of Holy Trinity and Saint Luke's; correspondence relating to benefice land; material relating to the church buildings including faculties and citations, the parsonage house and the church hall; Parochial Church Council minutes; financial accounts; material relating to church groups; copies of parish magazines from 1885; a series of photographs of the church and its people, and a series of historical material which includes lists of church personnel for both Holy Trinity and Saint Luke's church, and a scrap book of newspaper cuttings about DR. Linklater given to the church by his wife in 1929.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Southall, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriage, confirmations, funerals and church services; preachers' books; Vestry and Parochial Church Council meeting minutes; financial accounts; minutes and accounts of parish societies; and parish magazines.

Register of baptisms, marriages and burials for Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Saint-Servan, France.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Bishop's Bridge Road, Paddington, including registers of baptisms and marriages; preacher's books; registers of church services; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; financial records; parish magazines; press cuttings; papers relating to the parish schools; and faculties for alterations to the church building.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Northwood, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials, banns of marriage, confirmations and church services; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; Finance Committee minutes; financial accounts; papers relating to the construction and maintenance of church buildings and fittings, including plans and faculties; papers relating to church charities, clubs and societies; papers relating to Northwood School and papers relating to parish boundaries.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Trinity Church Square, Newington, including registers of baptisms, marriages and burials; registers of church services; parish magazines; financial accounts; minutes and other papers of the Trustees for Executing Act for 'building two new churches in St Mary Newington'; annual reports of the Southwark Female Society; and minutes of the Parochial Church Council.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity Minories, Haydon Square, City of London. The records of Holy Trinity Minories consist almost exclusively of parish registers (baptisms, marriages, burials and banns) with some poor rate assessment rolls; it is not known whether any other records survive.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Morgan Street, Mile End Old Town, including registers of baptisms, marriages and banns; registers of church services and minutes of the Parochial Church Council.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Marylebone Road, including registers of baptisms, banns, marriages and burials; financial accounts; papers relating to poor relief; legal documents relating to parish property and parish magazines.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Latimer Road, Kensington, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns of marriages, confirmations, and church services; staff records; sequestration records; faculties and citations; inventories and insurance policies.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Carlisle Lane, Lambeth, including Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; church services registers; registers of baptisms; registers of marriages; and financial accounts.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Kingsway, including registers of baptisms, marriages, preachers and church services; Vestry meeting minutes; Parochial Church Council meeting minutes; financial accounts and papers regarding income and the benefice; papers relating to the church building, including faculties and plans, and papers relating to other buildings in the area which affected the church; papers regarding parish reorganisations including maps; papers regarding church societies; appeals for funds; correspondence; licences and papers regarding staff.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Kilburn, comprising registers of baptisms, marriages and confirmations.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Cloudesley Square, Islington, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials and confirmations; Church services registers; records relating to staff; papers relating to parish boundaries and pastoral reorganisation; papers relating to the benefice; papers regarding the maintenance of the Church fabric and the Parish hall; financial records; Vestry and Parochial Church Council minutes; papers relating to Holy Trinity School; and parish magazines.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Bletchley Street, Hoxton, including registers of baptisms, marriages, and banns; registers of church services and preachers; notices books; orders of service; financial accounts; Parochial Church Council minutes; parish magazines; news sheets and newsletters; photographs; papers of the parish school and the Sunday School; and papers of other church societies.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Hounslow, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials, banns of marriage, services and confirmation; minutes of the Parochial Church Council; Vestry meeting minutes; and School Committee minute book.

Also The 800 Years Story of The Priory and Church of the Holy Trinity, Hounslow, by G Eglington Bate, Helen Evans and Brian Grumbridge, 2010.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Clarence Way, Haverstock Hill, including registers of baptisms, marriages and banns; registers of church services; photographs; correspondence and faculties relating to the church fabric; minutes of the Parochial Church Council and other committees; annual reports and accounts; financial records; papers relating to the parish school; and parish magazines.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Hampstead, including registers of baptisms, marriages, and banns of marriage; financial records; Parochial Church Council minute books and correspondence; church service registers; curates' licences and related papers; papers relating to parish boundaries; papers relating to glebe lands; records of the Churchwardens; papers relating to the maintenance of church buildings including the vicarage and parochial rooms; minutes, legal documents and correspondence relating to Trinity National School; papers of the Overseas Club; parish newsletters and annual reports.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Grays Inn Road, Holborn, including registers of baptisms; registers of marriages; registers of burials; register of confirmations; and newspaper cuttings.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Gough Square, City of London, including parish registers (baptisms, marriages, banns), 1842-1906; vestry minutes, 1845-98 and churchwardens' accounts, 1870-1907.

Records of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Funchal, Portugal, including transcripts of baptisms, marriages and burials.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Finchley, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials and banns of marriage; registers of church services; indexes to graves in the churchyard; papers relating to the refurbishment and modification of the church building; Parochial Church Council minutes and correspondence; cash books and other financial records; booklets on the history of the church and parish and press cuttings.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Dalston, including registers of baptisms, marriages and banns; registers of church services; papers and maps regarding parish boundary changes; legal documents and faculties for church buildings; Easter Vestry and Parochial Church Council meeting minutes; minutes of the Sunday Lunch Club.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Clapham Common North Side, Clapham, including registers of baptisms, marriages, banns and burials; church services registers; Trustees minutes; Vestry minutes; annual parochial reports; papers relating to the construction of the church; financial and administrative papers; papers relating to tithes; records of the parish schools; parish magazines; curates' licences; papers relating to parish boundaries; papers of the Parochial Church Council.

Papers relating to the workhouse; settlement examinations; poor rate assessments; financial accounts of the Churchwardens, Overseers of the Poor and Highways Surveyors; and other papers relating to poor relief.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Chelsea, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials and banns of marriage; parish magazines; year books; histories of the church; papers of parish charities; preachers' book; curates' licences; papers relating to parish boundaries including plans; papers relating to the maintenance of the church buildings and fittings, including plans; financial records; Vestry minutes and Parochial Church Council minutes.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Brompton, including registers of baptisms, marriages, burials, confirmations and banns; registers of church services; papers relating to parish boundaries including plans; papers relating to the maintenance of the church and churchyard, including faculties; financial records; papers relating to the parish school; printed items including pamphlets, scrapbooks, annual letters, annual reports, and parish magazines; photograph of church interior; Parochial Church Council minute books and other administrative papers.

Records of the parish of Holy Trinity, Blackheath Hill, including registers of baptisms and marriages; registers of church services and preachers; papers relating to church buildings including plans of the Vestry Hall; orders relating to parish boundaries; financial accounts; Vestry meeting minutes; correspondence and reports; papers relating to the parish school; and parish magazines, posters and histories. Also papers relating to Emmanuel Mission Church.