Catalogue description STRACHIE FAMILY OF SUTTON COURT, PENSFORD, NR. BRISTOL

The documents. The manuscripts, which consist of documents created by and for John Strachey, with a few additions made by other members of the family, were examined by the County Archivist between 1947 and 1949, and a catalogue was completed in October, 1949. They vary, as far as physical make-up is concerned, from volumes to small slips of paper, and were discovered in an extremely rough arrangement, possibly first undertaken by Sir Edward Strachey in 1867, (Most of the papers were found wrapped in copies of "The Times", the earliest of which are dated 1867, and the latest, 1902.) and since disturbed. A note was made of the original order in which the documents were found, and from the transfer tables included in this catalogue, it could be reconstructed.

In the present arrangement, documents relating to local history precede those dealing with matters more generally historical, but it might be argued that the particular interest must have arisen from a wide historical background and, consequently, a reversed order would have been the more logical. However, the records themselves show that both studies were carried into detail, and were pursued over the same lengthy period. John Strachey was a scientist-historian of very wide interests, developing from his hereditary background, which could not be forced into water-tight compartments; and it is in the very nature of things that a one-dimensional list cannot faithfully reflect them. It is also in the nature of things we should place first that which related to Somerset.

The historian and his age. John Strachey (1671-17-3) of Sutton Court, Fellow of the Royal Society, is known to us from the more accessible printed authorities (Dict.Nat.Biography, and Burke's Peerage.) as a distinguished geologist and antiquary, the only son of the John Strachey who was John Locke's friend, and descendant of the Essex Strachies. From his own writings we can experience something of the vicissitudes undergone in the making of the first large-scale map of the County, and of the considerable activity at the beginning of the beginning of the eighteenth century in the collection of local historical material, involving not only himself - but others, like Thomas Palmer, Thomas Carew, John Oldmixon and George Harbin. Something, too, can be learned of Strachey's interest in Scottish affairs, particularly the overlordship of Edward I, in the history of the County of Hereford, and in the preservation of the public records, which latter resulted in the publication of an Index [No.DD\SH/204].

Strachey's Map, 1736. c/1165 but the description following is printed in "A Descriptive List of the Printed Maps of Somerset-shire, 1575-1914" by T.Chubb, p.35:

"Somersetshire survey'd and protracted by Mr.Strachy. [Scale about ½ inch to the mile. London, 1736]. 37" x 29".

First map of Somersetshire on a large scale. Shows towns, villages, hamlets, forests, downs, beacons, hills, hundreds, woods, churches, chapels, gentlemen's seats, noted inns, farms, parks, lodges, ruins of monasteries, ancient fortifications, glassworks, brass mills, coal pits, lead mines, windmills, battle-fields, rivers, bridges, main roads, and cross roads.

Top left-hand corner, plan of the city of Wells, with "Arms of the Deanery" and "Seal of the City". On the right, the arms of "Axbridge a Royal Borough Temp. Athelstan King". Bottom left-hand corner, plan of "Bath", olim Aquae Solis", with "Arms of Bath", and "Arms of the See". On the right, arms of Phil.Chandos, Tho.Bourcheir, J.Granvill, Earls of Bath. Adjoining these are "Common Notes". To the right, arms of Hen.Daubigney, Jo. Egerton, Earls of Bridgwater, and helow, the continuation of the notes used on the map. To the right again, an advertisement, in eight lines, of a work on Somersetshire. Top right-hand corner, a list, in four columns, of the County divisions. On the left, in an oblong panel, the title. Below, a coat of arms, probably of the County of Somerset. Bottom right-hand corner, a plan of "Yvelchester". To the left, eight coats of arms of the Dukes and Earls of Somerset.

The border is formed by a thick line with a double innerr line marked off into degrees and minutes of latitude and longitude.

In the top border "Minutes of time from London" is shown by Roman numerals x-xv".

Sir Edward Strachey stated in 1867 (Proc.Som.Arch.Soc.,i,p.2.) that he had met with no copy but his own; but one exists in the Braikenridge Collection of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society.

"Somersetshire Illustrated" (the projected history). According to a footnote made by John Strachey on a letter from Thomas Carew [No.DD\SH/97] "what laid the first occasion for this [history] was a 'MSS.large' [deleted and "3 Large" substituted] collections of old Mr.Jones ye grandfather of ye present Mr.Jones of Stowey, wch.was sent to me near 40 ys.since...." [In all probability he refers to Richard Jones of Stowey, esq.,whose mural monument in Chew Magna Church is described by Collinson]. Richard had six sons, including a Samuel. (Collinson's History,ii.98.) The second son of Samuel Jones of Ramsbury (co.Wilts.), esq., was a William, who married Elizabeth (d.1743), daughter of John Strachey, and a mural monument to them and their son Richard, in Stowey Church, is also described by Collinson. (Ibid. ii.lll.)

General. In his presidential address to the nineteenth Annual General Meeting (1867) of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Sir Edward Strachey, bart., gave a brief mention of the work of his ancestor (Proc.Som.Arch.Soc.,xiv,i,p.2.) and at the same time, read a paper on Sutton Court and Chew Magna, which includes as appendices transcripts of the proposals for the History [No.DD\SH/110], of an extract relating to Chew, and of the Articles of Agreement to prevent the unnecessary charge of sheriffs [No.DD\SH/360] (Ibid. ii.pp.82-102.).

The Sixth Report (1877) of the Historical MSS. Commission includes a description of the manuscripts in the possession of Sir Edward Strachey, bart.,and the papers of John Strachey form the first section.

INTRODUCTION

FAMILY TREE

A. PAPERS OF SIR HENRY STRACHEY, 1ST BART.

OFFICIAL: Correspondence Returned to India Office

B. PAPERS OF RICHARD CHARLES STRACHEY 44/5-8

PERSONAL: Appointments

Correspondence (Domestic)

Diaries

C. PAPERS OF LADY STRACHEY, WIFE OF 3RD BART. 44/9/-46/12

PERSONAL: Correspondence (Domestic)

Miscellaneous

D. PAPERS OF LADY STRACHIE, WIFE OF 1ST BARON 46/13 - 47/22

HOUSEHOLD: Inventories

FAMILY HISTORY: Biographical

PERSONAL: Accounts

Correspondence (Domestic)

MISCELLANEOUS

E. PAPERS OF JOHN BRAHAM AND FAMILY 47/23 - 56/189

MUNIMENTS OF TITLE: Deeds

Wills

ESTATE: Accounts

Apprenticeship Papers

Catalogues and Inventories

Correspondence

HOUSEHOLD: Accounts

PERSONAL: Accounts

Correspondence (Domestic):

(i) Mr. & Mrs. John Braham

(ii) John Hamilton Braham

(iii) Augustus Frederick Braham

(iv) Charles Bampfylde Braham

(v) Ward Soane Braham

(vi) Bolton Family

Correspondence (Family Business)

Diaries

Passports

PROFESSIONAL: Accounts

Contracts

Correspondence

Legal

MISCELLANEOUS

F. PAPERS OF 7TH EARL WALDEGRAVE 56/190 - 57/123

ESTATE: Correspondence

PERSONAL: Accounts

Correspondence (Domestic)

Correspondence (Family Business)

Correspondence (Military)

MISCELLANEOUS

G. PAPERS OF FRANCES, COUNTESS WALDEGRAVE 57/214-60/321

MUNIMENTS OF TITLE: Deeds

Wills

ESTATE: Accounts

Correspondence

HOUSEHOLD: Correspondence

PERSONAL: Accounts

Certificates

Correspondence (Domestic):

(i) Family

(ii) Friends and Connexions

(iii) Condolences and Congratulations

Correspondence (Family Business)

Correspondence (Charities & Societies)

MISCELLANEOUS

H. PAPERS OF CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, 1ST BARON CARLINGFORD 60/322-64/367

OFFICIAL: Correspondence

Memoranda

MUNIMENTS OF TITLE: Wills

ESTATE: Accounts

Correspondence

HOUSEHOLD: Accounts

FAMILY HISTORY

PERSONAL: Accounts

Correspondence (Domestic)

Diaries

POLITICAL

MISCELLANEOUS

INDEX OF PERSONS

Box 65 - Various items- Summary List

60 Bengal Circuit Trials

61-64 Kirkpatrick (Indian) papers

65 Kirkpatrick and Louis

66,67/1-18 Wilkieson papers

67/19-30 Various Stracheys

68-71 Edw. Strachey, 3rd bart.

72,73 Literary, etc., papers

74/1-8 Braham and Frances, Countess Waldegrave

74/9-29 Frances, Countess W. and G.G.V.Haroourt

75 Frances, Countess W. and Lord Carlingford

76 Constance Strachey, later Lady Strachie

77/1-10 Somerset County and Parish Business

77/11-79/8 Deeds and cognate documents (Sutton Court, Elm, Buckland, Stream in Weare, Chew Magna, Wedmore, Mark, Edgarley in Glastonbury, Woolley gunpowder mills, outcounty.

79/9-80/3 Mainly personal estate, testamentary, household.

80/4-19 Mainly personal estate financial administration

80/20-81/3 Mainly general estate administration

81/4, 5 Miscellanea

81/6-13 Frances, Countess Waldegrave and Lord Carlingford

81/14-19 Miscellanea

60 - 65 and part of 67 sold to the India office by one depositor, 1987.

Notes on the editing of the Catalogue.

I. Catalogue generally.

1. Wherever a document is noted in its catalogue entry as "Undated" without further qualification, it can be assumed that it was prepared in the general period of the early 18th cent. when the main part of the notes was compiled.

2. Wherever a document is obviously written by John Strachey, the note "In J.S. hand" is added to the catalogue entry.

II. Correspondence in Map and History sections.

1. The letters are arranged in alphabetical order, according to the writer's name. [Except for No. DD\SH/82, which is written by John Strachey himself].

2. The name of the writer is given as it is signed on the letters themselves, i.e. "Ja: Wickham", "Fr. Squire", etc. Any variations in the signature are noted.

3. The arrangement of the letters within each section of writers is thus:-

(a) Where a letter does not contain an endorsement of the recipient's name, it is assumed (probably correctly) that the letter was addressed to John Strachey, and is shown thus: "[to J.S.]". (Example No.DD\SH/5).

(b) Where a letter contains the name and address of John Strachey, no mention of J.S. is made in the entry. (Example No.DD\SH/1).

(c) Where a letter does not contain the writer's signature [through torn condition, etc. of the document], and is only identifiable by the writing, this fact is indicated by the insertion of the writer's name in square brackets, thus: "[from...]". (Example No.DD\SH/13).

[(a) (b) and (c) are intermixed in chronological order under writer's name].

(d) Letters addressed to persons other than John Strachey are placed in chronological order at end of each section. (Example: No.DD\SH/34).

STRACHEY'S MAP, 1736.

1/1-82 Correspondence relating to the making and modification of the map.

1/83-86 Printed proposals for obtaining subscribers.

1/87-89 Sketch map and parts of the printed map showing alterations.

1/90-91 Field-books.

1/92-95 General notes.

"SOMERSETSHIRE ILLUSTRATED" (PROPOSED PUBLICATION OF A COUNTY HISTORY).

1/96-106 Correspondence.

1/107-2/114 The MS., History and Proposals.

2/115-121 Somerset History generally (collected notes).

2/122-127 Local Roman Inscriptions and Monuments (notes and drawings).

3/128-140 Somerset Place-names and areas (lists and historical notes).

3/141-144 Public Records and Records not in local custody affecting Somerset (extracts).

LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION.

3/145-150 Other people's writings, engravings, etc.

3/151-157 Original documents affecting County, and single areas.

GENEALOGICAL - COUNTY AND GENERAL.

3/158-4/185 Notes on various families.

4/186-191 Correspondence relating to Percival family.

PUBLIC RECORDS AND RECORDS NOT IN LOCAL CUSTODY.

4/192 Custody and arrangement of Public Records (notes and lists).

Herefordshire History (notes and extracts).

Scottish Affairs (transcripts and extracts from Scotch Rolls, Patent rolls, etc.).

General History (transcripts and extracts from Parliament Rolls).

General History (transcripts and extracts from Coram Rege rolls).

General History (transcripts and extracts from Patent Rolls and Close Rolls).

General History (transcripts and extracts from Miscellaneous records).

MISCELLANEOUS HISTORICAL NOTES ON GENERAL HISTORY.

GENERAL HISTORY COLLECTION.

NOTES AND WRITINGS NOT GENERALLY HISTORICAL.

STRACHEY FAMILY (PERSONAL).

Property, etc.

Business.

Public and Local Office.

Collected Correspondence.

DOCUMENTS CONCERNING ARRANGEMENT OF COLLECTION.

Edward Lear Letters 1855-1873, see T\PH\du

C/202

C/1165

C/1189

C/2480

C/2512

S/2551

Note on Contents of Boxes 44-64

The papers were deposited with the National Register of Archives in 1960 for sorting and listing. Arrangements were made to deposit these documents - as well as all those remaining at Sutton Court - in the Somerset County Record Office at Taunton. Those listed by the National Register derive from the following sources:-

(1) Sir Henry Strachey, 1st Baronet (1736-1810), private secretary to Lord Clive.

(2) Richard Charles Strachey (1781-1847), son of Sir Henry Strachey.

(3) Lady Strachey (d.1883), second wife of 3rd Baronet.

(4) Lady Strachey (1855-1936), wife of 4th Baronet and 1st Baron.

(5) John Braham (c.1774-1856), the singer - grandfather of Lady Strachie - and his family.

(6) Frances, Countess Waldegrave (1821-79), daughter of John Braham.

(7) George Edward, 7th Earl Waldegrave (1816-45), second husband of Lady Waldegrave.

(8) Chichester Fortescue, Lord Carlingford (1823-98), fourth husband of Lady Waldegrave.

Of these, (1) and (2) were among the manuscripts described in 1877 in the Appendix to the 6th Report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission (pp. 395-407). (3) to (8) were inherited by Lady Strachie (4), at a later date, though in any case, as recent personal correspondence, they would have been outside the H.M.C. terms of reference. They have not been listed before. Their range is considerable, taking in not only Lady Waldegrave's career as a political hostess and Chichester Fortescue's as a Minister of the Crown, but also John Braham's singing engagements and his experience of theatrical management. Some account of these papers will appear in the Bulletin of the National Register of Archives number 12.

• Strachey family, Barons Strachie, of Somerset
• Somerset

Brief Biographies (referring mainly to correspondence on map and history).

[Note: The references below are in no sense complete, and are given only as a starting point for students interested. For John Oldmixon [mentioned in No.DD\SH/99], see the Dictionary of National Biography, and for others among the correspondents, see the "Proposals" [Nos.DD\SH/83-85, and DD\SH/110] ].

John BAMPFYLDE. [Catalogue No.DD\SH/96].

Of Hestercombe, M.P.; 2nd son of Hugh B. and bro.of Sir Coplestone Warwick B.,3rd bart.,of Poltimore; married (1718) Margt. Warre (surviving child and heiress of Sir Francis W.,2nd bart.,of Hestercombe, by his 2nd wife, Margaret, younger sister of George Harbin).

[Som.and Dorset Notes and Queries, XXV, p.149].

Thomas CAREW. [Catalogue Nos. DD\SH/97,98].

Of Crowcombe and Carew Castle; M.P.for Minehead; b.1702, d.1766; eldest son of Thos.C.of Crowcombe, who married Jane, dau.of John Sanford of Nynehead.

[Burke's Landed Gentry, 1914, under "Trollope"].

[Note: According to "Somerset Parishes", edited by A.L. Humphreys, Lot 304 of a Sotheby's Sale, 6 May 1903, comprised Carew's Collections for a History of Somersetshire. The marked catalogue is in the British Museum, and the buyer was Henry Gray, said to be a bookseller at Acton, who died about 1926. (Letter to the Somerset Record Office, dated 16th Oct.1946)].

Jepp CLARKE. [Catalogue Nos. DD\SH/5-8].

Of Chipley, esq.; son of Edward C. and Mary, dau. of Samuel Jepp; Will made 19 May, 1741, and proved 13 June, 1741.

[Brown's Somerset Wills, iii, 34, 35].

[Note: The above reference (p. 34) gives Mary Jepp as dau. of Saml. Jepp and Eliz. Buckland. The following pedigree, (extracted from document catalogued as No. DD\SH/176) which gives the connection with the Strachey family, would perhaps be more correct.

William DODD. [Catalogue Nos. DD\SH/13-36].

Rector of Charlton Mackrell; instituted 1731.

[Weaver's Somerset Incumbents].

A mural monument exists in Charlton Mackrell Church to "the late Rev. Mr. William Dodd, M.A., rector of this place, and the sole patron of the church, vicar of Northover, and prebendary of Cudworth and Knowl". He died in 1760, aged 69. The monument is also to his wife "Mrs. Jane Dodd, daughter of John Strachey, of Sutton-Court in this county esq., and wife to the abovesaid Rev. Mr. Dodd, who [Jane] died Sept. 1732, aged 39".

[Collinson, iii. p. 194].

Thomas FORD. [Catalogue Nos. DD\SH/41-46, DD\SH/102].

A Thomas Ford was Vicar of Banwell, having been instituted 3 Feb. 1712.

[Weaver's Somerset Incumbents].

Rev. George HARBIN. [Mentioned in catalogue No. DD\SH/96].

Non-juror and antiquarian; b.c. 1666 and d. 1744; became chaplain at Longleat in 1698, and later librarian, remaining there at least until the death of the 1st Lord Weymouth in 1713. Latter part of his life appears to have been spent mainly in London.

[Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries, XXV, p. 149].

Thomas PALMER. [Catalogue No. DD\SH/103].

Of Fairfield, Stogursey, esq., eldest son of Nathaniel P. (died 1717) by Frances, dau. of Sir W. Wyndham of Orchard Wyndham, bart.

[Collinson, I, p. 255].

[Note: Collinson (according to the Dict. Nat. Biog.), appears to have largely used and indeed to have appropriated bodily from the Palmer MSS. for his History of Somerset. In a report of the manuscripts of Sir Alexander Acland-Hood, bart., at St. Audries, co. Somerset (Hist. MSS. Report VI, Appendix, p. 346) the Palmer MSS. are briefly described, beginning "A large folio. - Introduction to an intended History of Somersetshire, by the late Thomas Palmer, of Fairfield, Esq. The intention of this book is to treat of the antiquities of Somersetshire &c."].

John (PERCEVAL) Earl of Egmont. [Catalogue Nos. DD\SH/104, DD\SH/105, DD\SH/186-191].

Only son and heir of John P. (created Earl of Egmont 1733, d. 1749); b. Feb. 1710/11 at West-minster; styled Viscount Perceval 1733-48; M. P. for Dingle 1731-48, for Westminster 1741-47, for Weobley 1747-54, and for Bridgwater 1754-62; F. S. A. in Sep. 1736.

[The Complete Peerage, Vicary Gibbs and Doubleday].

Elias REBOTIER. [Catalogue Nos. DD\SH/66-70, DD\SH/106].

Fourth son of Charles R.; b.in 1678 at St. John de Gardonnenque, France. Protestant; came to England first in 1701, and left for Barbados; returned in 1702. According to his own statement "a friend of mine made me acquainted with a west country gentleman, whose name was John Strachey, a Justice of the Peace for the county of Somerset....he made me [an offer] of £20 a year, his table, and a horse whenever I should be willing to go abroad. Some time before Christmas I went into the country [from London] with him, and came to Sutton Court.....". Tutor to Strachey's children; took priest's orders, 1707; became Secretary to Geo. Hooper, Bishop of Bath and Wells, who gave him the Rectory of"Chellwood,"1709; married first Mrs. Margaret Bisse of Dinder, 1713, and secondly Mrs. Eliz. Chorley, 1728.

[Proc. Som. Arch. Soc. XL. pp. 91-112, The Auto-biography of the Rev. Elias Rebotier, Rector of Axbridge, Somerset].

Instituted Rector of Chelwood, 1709, and of Axbridge, 1719.

[Weaver's Somerset Incumbents].

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