A GUIDE TO FAMILY AND ESTATE ARCHIVES IN THE ...

A guide to family and estate archives held at the Northamptonshire Record Office
Baker to Bullivant

Baker (Oundle) 1715-1925, 128 docs., ref. Bk(O)
1955/30
The Bakers were farmers at Barnwell and later at Oundle Lodge.
Deeds for the Bird family of Oundle 19thC., for St. Neots (Huntingdonshire) 1715-1854, papers
of the late William Peake of Barnwell, early 19thC.. Miscellaneous papers of the Bakers from
1815.

Bartlett (Whitfield) 1708-1962, 221 docs., ref. JB
1972/173
Farmers with properties in Brackley and Whitfield.
Mainly mid/late l9thC. correspondence and accounts of James Bartlett

Bateman (Guilsborough) 1542-1877, 359 docs., ref. B(G)
1958/33
William Bateman purchased the manor from the Clerkes in 1669. Edmund, his son, was
Northampton town attorney and sold it in 1710. His third son John (d.1760) continued the line
at Guilsborough, at Guilsborough House. Mary, his granddaughter (d.1822) married the Rev.
Joshua Wigley. Their daughter Mary married a cousin the Rev. John Buckby. The husbands
both adopted the surname Bateman. Their son J.W. Bateman (d.1892) was Secretary to the
Duchy of Cornwall.
Mainly deeds for Guilsborough, Thomby, Ravensthorpe and Kibworth Beauchamp
(Leicestershire). Agreement for regulation of open fields in Ravensthorpe 1725. No personal
papers.

Bateman Hanbury - see Hanbury

Blencowe (Marston St. Lawrence) 1629 – 1848, 5 boxes, uncatalogued
Thomas Blencowe acquired the manor of Marston St. Lawrence in 1540. Sir John Blencowe
(d. 1726) was a noted judge but died insane. A younger son William (d. 1712) was
cryptographer to the government, a role his grandfather Dr. John Wallis had also enjoyed. In
1777 the estate went to Samuel Jackson who added the name Blencowe. Marston House was
sold in 1939.
Marston St. Lawrence and Greatworth deeds, bills and receipts 1802 – 1805.
Some records were destroyed when Marston House burned down in 1920.

(Transcripts of Blencowe documents from various other sources have the reference ZB
1185/1-4 and are listed in ‘The Blencowe Families: The Descendants of the Blencowe
Families of Cumbria and Northamptonshire’ edited by J.W. Blencowe.)

Bonham (Northampton) 1913-1925 ZB 556/19-44 & 132
William ‘Harry’ Bonham (d.1911) was a boot manufacturer who married Alice Price. Mrs
Bonham’s sister and her husband emigrated to the U.S.A. in 1884. Their sons saw active
service in the First World War.
Correspondence, postcards and photographs, letters from William and Annette Corby in Texas
1884-1895, letters from Arthur Bonham on active service in France 1915-1916 and from
another son en route from Australia and in Gallipoli and France 1914-1916

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A guide to family and estate archives held at the Northamptonshire Record Office
Baker to Bullivant

Booth of Glendon - see Gompertz

Bosworth (Highgate House) 1660-1929, 777 docs., ref. B(HH)
1991/320
The correspondence and personal papers of Thomas Wright Bosworth (d.1856) and his
family. Bosworth farmed at Creaton. The Rev. Thomas Jones (d.1845) lodged with them as
the local clergyman. Jones was a nationally influential evangelical in the Church of England
and helped found the first Bible Societies. Bosworth's sister married the Rev. John Owen of
Thrussington (Leicestershire) and there is extensive correspondence from his two daughters
Selina and Matilda. T.W. Bosworth's son Thomas Jones Bosworth moved to Leicestershire.
His son Thomas Owen Bosworth was a notable geologist but little relates to him in the archive.

Especially interesting correspondence of a family in the 19th Century. Travel journal,
Lancashire and Scotland 1835, inventory [1833]. Diaries of Mrs Annie Bosworth 1877-1909
and journal about her sons as babies. Papers of Col. Arthur Bosworth of the West Indian
Regiment 1870s-1898. Papers of the Rev. Thomas Jones 1774-1840 including diaries 1784-
86 & 1796-99, 1811 census of Spratton and autobiographical notes. Letters on the
management of the Teeton Hall estate for Mrs Langton 1877-1885. Papers relating to the
Abbott family of Barby, Daventry and London 1828-1841 and to the Pearsons of Aldersgate
St., City of London 1779-1840.
This catalogue is available on the National Archives 'A2A' website.

Botfield (Norton) 1621-1902, 11 boxes, ref. BNH, uncatalogued
1960/59
Thomas Botfield, a Shropshire industrialist, bought Norton Hall in 1800. It had belonged to the
Bretons since 1624 and before them to a junior branch of the Knightleys of Fawsley. Beriah
Botfield (d.1863) left the estate to his widow for life and then to Lord Alexander Thynne, a
younger son of the Marquess of Bath. Mrs Botfield remarried Alfred Seymour. The 6th
Marquess of Bath sold the house in 1947 and it was blown up in 1952.
Mainly deeds for properties in Norton, Long Buckby, Kilsby, Welton and Watford. Botfield
family deeds and wills.

(There are further Botfield papers at Longleat House)

Bouverie (Delapre) c.1500-1926, 1515 docs., ref. B(D)
Feb.1945, 1960/13, 1965/100, 1966/85, 1975/64
Edward Bouverie, a brother of the Earl of Radnor, bought Delapre in 1764. The estate had
belonged to the Tate family since 1548 and was originally a medieval nunnery. He had
already inherited the estates in Hardingstone and London of Bartholomew Clarke, a wine
merchant, through his mother. Bouverie was part of the fashionable Whig set in London and a
friend of Sheridan. He was M.P. for Salisbury 1761-1771 and for Northampton 1790-1810.
His son Everard William was a General and the Duke of Wellington's A.D.C. The last
Bouverie, Mary, died in 1943. The house, later erroneously called Delapre Abbey, was the
home of the Northamptonshire Record Office between 1958 and 1991. It is now divided up
into flats.

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A guide to family and estate archives held at the Northamptonshire Record Office
Baker to Bullivant

Deeds for estates in Northampton, Hardingstone, Hunsbury, the Houghtons and quays and
property in the City of London. Plans and papers for new farm buildings 1769, 1806-1810.
Mid 18thC. plans for Hardingstone mansion and garden. Hardingstone inclosure papers and
colour panoramic view of the town of Northampton from the south 1843.
Sadly there are few personal papers.
Rentals and estate/farm accounts 1919-1971, an estate map [1925] and cattle pedigrees
1930s/40s are in an uncatalogued deposit

(Papers of Miss Mary Bouverie are also catalogued under ZB 199 and include a scrap book
and an inventory of Delapre 1915.)

Brassey (Apethorpe) 1348-1959, (court rolls ref. LB)
Estate 1968/265, 2009/165
Leonard Brassey bought Apethorpe Hall from the Earl of Westmorland in 1904. He was the
nephew of Earl Brassey and the grandson of Thomas Brassey who had made an enormous
fortune as a railway contractor. Brassey was M.P. for North Northamptonshire 1910-1918 and
for Peterborough 1918-1929.
He became Lord Brassey in 1938. Apethorpe became a school in 1947 and after standing
empty for some time was taken into the care of English Heritage in 2004.
20thC. estate records including rentals and estate accounts, out letter books 1904-1909,
1920/21, house servants’ wages 1903-1912, game books 1907-1941, letters from Sir Leonard
about estate and Hall, 1920s, 1930s. 20thC. Apethorpe parish and cricket club records.
Preston Hall (Kent) estate letter book and stud records 1902-1906.
Manor court rolls principally for Easton Maudit 1348-1583 and Silverstone 1642-1756 and
court books
for Apethorpe, Wood Newton, Nassington and Yarwell 1745-1925.

(Apethorpe library catalogue 1911, ZB 791)

Brooke (Great Oakley) c.1175-1945, 251 vols. 14 boxes, ref. B(O)
Mar.1945, Sep.1946, 1968/252
The Brookes are perhaps the most ancient family in Northamptonshire still living on their
ancestral estate. William Brooke purchased a manor in Great Oakley in 1472. Thomas
Brooke is believed to have begun building Great Oakley Hall in 1555. After the death of
Wheeler Brooke (d.1762) the estates descended to Mary Supple whose husband took the
name Brooke. Their son Richard De Capell Brooke was made a Baronet in 1803. Sir Arthur,
the 2nd Baronet was a famous traveller and author. Sir Arthur, the 5th Baronet (d.1944) was
leader of Northamptonshire County Council and was created Lord Brooke of Oakley. His
brother Sir Edward was the last Baronet and in 1968 the estate again passed through the
female line.

Baronets with estates at Great Oakley, Pipewell, Gayton, Finedon, Cottingham, Middleton,
Great Bowden and Market Harborough (Leicestershire), Brington (Huntingdonshire), Chelvey
(Somerset) St. Martin Ludgate and Berners St., London and Aghadoe and Killeagh (Co.
Cork).
An interesting collection of personal and estate papers and correspondence ranging from the
17th to the early 20th century but not catalogued in detail. Extensive family correspondence in

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A guide to family and estate archives held at the Northamptonshire Record Office
Baker to Bullivant

the Brooke of Woodford deposit, particularly for the period 1800-1840. Interesting and
extensive material on Irish estates 18th/19thC. Household, estate and private accounts
including servants’ wages note books 1796-1807, 1830-1884, valet’s account book 1850-
1852. Rentals 1631-1657, 1726-1858

Rockingham Forest papers, papers on 18thC. militia including regimental orders 1778, 1780
and accounts 1793-1799. Sheriff’s account 1575/6 and papers 1616/17. Papers and accounts
on late 16thC. subsidy and early 17thC. purveyance collection, subsidy accounts (various
hundreds) 1621, 1628.

20thC. County Council papers and papers on the National Unionist Association.
Inventory of 1658, book lists of 1615 and 1763. Travel journals, Gloucestershire and
Worcestershire 1703, Belgium, Paris and Italy 1750-52, Ireland c.1770, Wales late 18thC.,
Malta, Italy and France 1811-13 by the Hon. Catherine Watson, Norway 1820s. Volumes of
poetry, plays and recipes, culinary and medical. Letters from William De Capell Brooke at
Brasenose College, Oxford 1819-1822 and on his engagement 1829. Papers on 1820
Norwegian tour and on Travellers’ Club. Papers on campaign against prostitution 1838.
Charles De Capell Brooke's diaries 1865-1922.

Late l7thC. Easter books. The Rev. Zaccheus Isham's diary 1694-1704 and accounts, his
memo and account book whilst on tour with Sir Thomas Isham in France and Italy 1676-9.
Papers of the Worge family including those of General Richard Worge, governor of Senegal
1760s and the Hull family including letters from John Pooley, Bishop of Cloyne 1700-1702.
Maunsell family deeds and wills. Diary of Mrs Sophia Millhouse 1859. A nurseryman’s printed
catalogue of 1764.

Great Oakley parish registers; some parish and school records and some 19th/20thC. estate
and farm records remain in an uncatalogued portion (Great Oakley farm estate).

(There are further Brooke papers in the Lamb and Holmes solicitors archive)

Brudenell (Deene) c.1200-1931, 585 vols. c.214 boxes, ref. BRU
1954/27, 1955/61, 1955/68, 1956/64, 1957/52, ASR 1959/95, 1961/13
Sir Robert Brudenell, a judge who became Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in 1521,
acquired the lease of Deene in 1514. His son Sir Thomas was a notable lawyer and
antiquary. Thomas Brudenell, who succeeded in 1606 married Mary, a daughter of Sir
Thomas Tresham, a committed Catholic. He was a royalist and suffered badly in the Civil War.
Deene was sacked and later he was imprisoned. He gave Charles I financial support in his
last year and Charles II rewarded him with the Earldom of Cardigan in 1661. The 3rd Earl
gave up Roman Catholicism in 1708. George, the 4th Earl married Mary the heiress of the
2nd Duke of Montagu and was created Duke of Montagu himself in 1766. He was a prominent
courtier, governor to the Prince of Wales and Prince Frederick 1776-1780 and then Master of
the Horse from 1781. Montagu and his brothers were all close to the Royal Family and
George III threatened to abdicate if he was deprived of office. His younger brother Thomas
was made Earl of Ailesbury in 1776. The Montagus' only son died young so the Brudenell
estates and Cardigan title passed to the Duke's brother. The Montagu estates went to their
daughter Elizabeth who married the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. The 5th Earl was

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A guide to family and estate archives held at the Northamptonshire Record Office
Baker to Bullivant

also close to George III and was his Master of the Robes. James, the 7th Earl of Cardigan led
the infamous Charge of the Light Brigade in 1854. He lived adulterously with his future
second wife for many years and his mistress Adeline de Horsey was socially isolated,
particularly after Cardigan's death in 1868. On Lady Cardigan's death in 1915 the estates
passed to Ernest Brudenell Bruce, a grandson of the 3rd Marquess of Ailesbury. Deene Park
is now occupied by his nephew.
(Joan Wake wrote a definitive family history 'The Brudenells of Deene' in 1953.)

Archives of the Earls of Cardigan with estates in Deene, Deenethorpe, Stanion, Corby,
Bulwick, Glapthorn, Tansor, the Weldons, Southwick, Benefield, Cotterstock and Little
Oakley, Slawston, Glooston, Cranoe and Stonton Wyville (Leicestershire), Hougham and
Marston (Lincolnshire), Ayston and Wardley (Rutland) and Hornby (Lancashire). A large
estate in West Riding was acquired by marriage into the Savile family, at Howley, East and
West Ardsley (or Woodchurch), Headingley, Kirkstall, Bramley, Farnley, Gildersome, New
Park and Wakefield.

Charters for Deene, Glapthorn, Stanion, Gamlingay (Cambridgeshire), and Waresley
(Huntingdonshire). Marston (Lincolnshire) court rolls from 1404 – 1627, Glapthorn court rolls
1522-1629. Papers on the Brudenall v. Bussey Star Chamber case 1590’s. Papers on
sequestration in the 1650s and recusancy. Household accounts 1633-1636 (o. i. 15.)
Inclosure agreement for Deenethorpe 1637. Yorkshire estate maps by Joseph Dickinson
1711 and William Sikes 1735, interesting estate correspondence 1725-1732, Northants. and
Yorkshire. estate accounts and rentals 1737-1920, survey 1871, detailed mid 19thC. estate
and household accounts. Household accounts 1906-1913, home farm, garden and shooting
wages 1912-1919. Cottage and allotment rental with maps 1908 (ASR 62-65). Yorkshire
estate survey 1792-98, account for collieries 1787-91 and early 19thC. plans of collieries.
Steward's letter books 1856-1914. Papers on 7th Earl's yachting and military career, his
correspondence 1863-1866, legal papers on Calthorpe case 1863 (uncatalogued), letters to
the editor of the Naval & Military Gazette 1834-1860 (section Z) are also uncatalogued.
Papers re. the Tresham family finances and Catholic persecutions. Survey of Owston Priory,
(Leicestershire) 1536.
Montagu estate accounts for Lancashire 1709-1743 (ASR 126).
Estate accounts of Thomas Dummer (d. 1781) of Cranbury Park (Hampshire) 1765-1775 (Bru.
ASR 122 & 130), rentals 1734-1781 (ASR 143 & 114). Accounts of Mrs Elizabeth Dummer of
Cranbury 1736-1765 (ASR 103) and of Thomas Dummer 1768-1781 (ASR 121 & 113). Mrs
Dummer had a life estate in Cranbury and she remarried in 1790 the famous artist Sir
Nathaniel Dance-Holland. Sir Nathaniel’s private accounts 1783-1793, 1803-1812 (ASR 109
& 111). [Some accounts were originally wrongly identified in the catalogue.]
Note: Certain catalogued items have been withdrawn by the family

(Steward’s accounts of 1657 – 1680 are available on microfilm, ref. M 201. Photostat of 1633-
37 estate survey and altas by Henry Paxton.)

(Correspondence and accounts of the 4th Earl appears in the Montagu collection.)
(YZ 1481-1521 – Testamentary papers re. 5th Earl including his accounts as Keeper of Privy
Purse 1804-1811, will and accounts re funeral 1811, servants’ salaries and allowances 1811,
marriage settlement 1760, wife’s will 1762, his bank book, executors’ accounts.)

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A guide to family and estate archives held at the Northamptonshire Record Office
Baker to Bullivant

(Lady Cardigan's letters to the Rev. Sylvester 1873-1903 are catalogued under ZA 9974-
9993.)
(The correspondence between the Deene steward Daniel Eaton and the 3rd Earl has been
published by the Northamptonshire Record Society as volume 24, edited by Joan Wake and
D.C. Webster, 1971.)
Buccleuch - see Montagu
Bullivant (Marston Trussell) 1579-1988, 377 docs., ref. B(MT)
1967/171, 1968/37
An artificial collection made by the late Cecil Bullivant of deeds and papers concerning the
Bullivant family and their connections.
The Rev. John Bullivant, the son of the vicar of Guilsborough, purchased the rectory of
Marston Trussell in 1779. He married Jane Turville whose mother was the sister of the last
Norwich baronet of Brampton Ash. His son Henry succeeded as rector in 1792. On his death
in 1842 the Rev. William Law acquired the living. Bullivant's son Henry Everard (d.1899) was
vicar of Lubenham, Leicestershire. Cecil Bullivant was his grandson and a notable novelist.
Deeds for estates in Marston Trussell, Hollowell, Sibbertoft, Thorpe Lubenham and Lubenham
(Leicestershire) belonging to the Barwell, Ewins and Bennett families. Norwich family of
Brampton Ash accounts 1720-1738. Protestation return for Marston Trussell 1641. Personal
papers of the Bullivants including a journal of a cruise to the West Indies 1934. Genealogical
collection for the Bullivants and their connections: Turvile, Norwich, Everard, Bigod, Adams,
Maynard and Rushout. Masham grant of arms 1583, Rushout armorial pedigrees 1650s.
(Further Barwell Ewins Bennett records are in the Marston Trussell parish archives. They
include Barwell Ewins Bennett’s journal 1827, lists of portraits 1875 & 1884, inventory 1920,
deeds, agreement re. livestock in common fields 1742 and genealogical papers.)

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