Hanbury (Kelmarsh) c.1200-1860, 1582 docs., refs. BH(K) & H(K)
John Hanbury, a London merchant purchased Kelmarsh, the manor of the Osbornes, in 1618. The family faced bankruptcy in the 1670s through the second John Hanbury's extravagances but their fortunes were revived by his son Thomas as a barrister. William Hanbury (d.1768), Thomas's son, rebuilt the house to a design by James Gibbs in 1728. He was a member of the Society of Antiquaries and was involved in getting Bridges' History of Northamptonshire published. In 1736 he married the niece and eventual heiress of the 2nd Viscount Bateman of Shobdon. The Batemans had extensive London interests and property. His son, another William (d.1807), inherited the Bateman estate in 1802. The third William Hanbury was created Lord Bateman in 1837 and was M.P. for Northampton. The 2nd Lord Bateman sold Kelmarsh in 1865 and moved to Shobdon in Herefordshire.
Gentry family with estates in Kelmarsh, Arthingworth, Watford, London and Essex. Late 12th/13th century charters for Kelmarsh. Kelmarsh churchwardens accounts 1492/93. Accounts for Hanburys as sheriff in 1621/2 and 1665/6. Personal letters to family 1757-1846 including on Grand Tour 1770/71 and private account book 1824-1837. Designs for Kelmarsh rectory by Jeffrey Wyatt 1815. Western family papers including Essex deeds and rentals for Burnham and Southminster, How Hall, Rivenhall and Pool Marsh. Papers on Dice Quay, London including contract for rebuilding 1786, 18th century plans and rentals. Bateman family papers including Essex deeds for Nazeing and fishing rights at Waltham Holy Cross. London deeds and papers for Bucklesbury and Poultry, St. Laurence Poulteney Lane, St. Martin's Lane, St. Olav's Hart Street, Shoreditch and Soho. Building agreements and leases mainly for Shoreditch and Soho including contract for Soho Square and Monmouth House 1682 and building lease for York House 1672/3. Papers on the prosecution of Kettering bakers 1757. Agreement on sharing prizes taken at sea 1780. Craven estate deeds for Winwick.
(Papers on the settlements and financial affairs of the 2nd Lord Bateman and his family 1851-1935 are catalogued under ZB 150).
(William Hanbury's 18th century garden record book is in the Northants. Libraries collection in the Record Office V7283 as is correspondence with Rev. Thomas Tooly 1739-47 V7290).
(Designs by James Gibbs for the mansion remain at Kelmarsh)
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Harpur (Burton Latimer) c.1560-1926, 1318 docs., ref. H(BL)
The Harpurs were mercers from Rugby and later Nuneaton. Joseph Harpur (d.1777) acquired an estate at Chilverscoton (Warwickshire) and his son, also Joseph (d.1827) inherited further estates at Burton Latimer and Isham from his cousin John Harpur (d.1800) after a long dispute over succession. John Harpur was the son of John Harpur of Market Harborough, another mercer, whose trustees had bought the manor of Burton Latimer in 1764. Harpur himself bought Isham in 1779. The family seems to have had a reclusive streak, Latimer Harpur (d.1872) spent most of his time in bed and the house became dilapidated. Later the hall was let, to the Villiers and to the de Crespignys. In 1917 the Harpurs returned and remain in residence.
Deeds and papers for estates in Burton Latimer, Isham and Watford, Rugby, Nuneaton and Chilverscoton (Warwickshire) and Market Harborough, Barwell, Gilmorton and Husbands Bosworth (Leicestershire). Burton Latimer court rolls 1699-1828. Business records of Joseph Harpur of Nuneaton as a mercer in the 1730s. Papers of the Harpurs of Coton Hall, Chilverscoton, late 18th/19th century including farming accounts, accounts of Joseph Harpur at Oxford 1790/91, personal papers and correspondence including letters on emigration 1863, elections at Nuneaton 1850s. Personal account and note books of John Harpur of Burton Latimer 1774-1800 and of his trustee 1752-1762, 1768-1772. Legal papers on succession to the Burton Latimer estate.
Harris (Wootton) 1486-1797 ref ZB 76
John Harris (d.1799), a horse dealer, acquired Wootton manor in the 1760s. The family already had an estate having married a Wootton heiress in 1686. His son William bought the newly built Wootton Hall from Clark Hillyard in 1792. The family remained at Wootton until 1943 but the mansion was demolished in 1911.
Mainly Wootton deeds but some family deeds.
Harrison (Evenley) 1807-1910, 80 docs., refs ZA 5188-5256 & P 6174-6186
The Rev. John Butler Harrison, a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, was vicar of Evenley from 1832 until his death in 1871. His eldest son of the same name, a Fellow of New College, Oxford and later an assistant master at Winchester College, was his curate, later becoming rector of Paulerspury in 1878. The younger Rev. Harrison was diocesan inspector of schools for Leicestershire 1872-1878.
Mainly diaries: Of the Rev. J.B. Harrison the elder 1814, 1815, 1820-1850, 1854-1855, 1859, journal of his tour in France and Switzerland 1818, accounts at Oxford 1807-09, and of the Rev. J.B. Harrison the younger 1854-1910, journal of tour to Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Greece, Italy 1882. Mrs Harrison's diaries 1885 & 1887, a few photographs including servant group.
Harvey Thursby (Abington) 1624-1921, 539 docs., refs. HT(A) & T(A)
William Thursby, a London lawyer, bought Abington manor from Sir John Bernard in 1669. The Bernards had lived there since the 15th century. In 1736 the estate passed to a great nephew John Harvey who took the name Thursby. The family ran into financial difficulties and the estate was broken up in the first half of the 19th century, Abington and Billing becoming part of the Overstone estate. Later Thursbys remained in Abington as rectors. The mansion at Abington, called Abington Abbey although it never was a monastic house, became a private asylum and later a museum. The surrounding park land became a public park for Northampton which by the start of the 20th century had grown out to the edge of the estate.
Gentry family with estates in Abington, Little Billing and Weston Favell. Mainly deeds and related papers. Estate and household account book 1798-1838 with servants' wages. Correspondence about the sale of estates 1840. Diaries of the Rev. Frederic Thursby 1842-69 and 19th century papers on church and rectory. Naval papers of Frederic S. Thursby (d.1838) and letters from Frederic Thursby, a soldier in South Africa and Egypt 1874-1886.
(There are legal papers, including on the sale of the estate, and some bills under the references NPL 2444- NPL 2543.)
Hawley (Gayton) - Archives in Lincolnshire Record Office
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Heath (Collyweston) 1624-1683, 182 docs., ref. NPL 1337-1465 & uncatalogued.
Correspondence of Sir Robert Heath, Attorney General (d.1649) and his sons Sir Edward and Sir John. Sir Robert's family came from Kent but in 1631 he purchased Collyweston, an early 16th century palace given to Henry VII's mother the Countess of Richmond. Sir Robert was impeached for High Treason by The Commons in 1643 and fled to France where he died. His estates were confiscated and Collyweston was sold in 1650. Sir Edward Heath married Lucy Croke the heiress of Cottesmore but they left an only daughter who married Sir Thomas Fanshawe. His younger brother Sir John also left an only daughter who married Lord Willoughby de Broke.
Interesting Civil War and Commonwealth references by a Royalist family based at Collyweston and Cottesmore (Rutland). Letters about the marriage settlement of Lucy Croke (she was 13), on the sequestration and recovery of estates and on debts owed by the Heaths. Letters on estate matters, freedom from Forest jurisdiction, inclosure and demolition of Collyweston palace. Letters from Bishop Peter Gunning 1660s.
Henley (Watford ) 1613-1965, 39 boxes, ref. Henley
Morton Eden (d.1830), the youngest son of a baronet from County Durham, was created Lord Henley in 1799 after a distinguished diplomatic career. He was minister to Bavaria 1776, Copenhagen 1779-1782, Dresden 1782-1791, Berlin 1791-1793 and Vienna 1793-1799 and also served in Madrid. He married a daughter and heiress of the 2nd Earl of Northington. The 1st Earl (d.1772) had been Lord Chancellor 1761-1766. The 2nd Lord Henley purchased Watford Court in 1836, the seat of the Clerkes and before them of the Burnabys. The 3rd Lord (d.1898) was M.P. for Northampton 1859-1874. The 6th Lord was Chairman of the County Council. Watford Court was demolished in 1975.
Archives of the Lords Henley with estates in Watford and Long Buckby. Mid 18th century correspondence, political and legal papers of the 1st Earl of Northington. Correspondence and diplomatic papers of the 1st Lord Henley and his accounts 1790-1825. Private accounts of the 3rd Lord Henley 1850-1898. Lady Henley's diary of a French tour 1913 and her private accounts. Northants. County Council papers 1928-1959 and papers on theatrical interests, 20th century. 19th century estate accounts and rentals.
(See also Ormonde of Kilkenny collection)
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Herbert (Whittlebury) 1667-1793, 1565 docs., ref. ZB 311
The collection is only summarily catalogued.
Thomas Herbert (d.1712) began his career in service to Ambrose Bennet on Jamaica. He returned to England in 1673 and became a Woodward of Whittlewood and Salcey Forests and an agent to the Duke of Grafton. His son Thomas succeeded him in these offices whilst his other son Edmund (d.1769) went to London to make his fortune in accountancy and through investments. He managed a lottery and was deputy paymaster of the Royal Marines. Later he bought an estate in Whittlebury.
Family and business correspondence. Papers on Jamaican estates, 1660s/70s and journal of Herbert's voyage to England.
(Microfilm copies of the papers are available. Some correspondence was printed in Northamptonshire Notes and Queries.)
(Further papers are in the Henry Huntington Library in California.)
Heycock (Pytchley) 1610 – 1976, 5 boxes, ref H(Py) (uncatalogued)
The Rev. Charles Heycock, a younger son of a Leicestershire family, inherited his cousin Henry Hensman's estate in Pytchley in 1854.
Archives of the Hensmans and Heycocks of Pytchley. Mainly deeds for Pytchley and Knipton (Leicestershire).
(Further Hensman deeds and papers, including farm accounts 1801 – 1850 are catalogued as ZA 2098 – ZA 2158)
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Hichens (Guilsborough) 1610-1863, 190 docs., ref. H(G)
The Rev. Thomas Sikes (d.1834), the son of a London banker, purchased the Guilsborough vicarage in 1792. It passed in succession to his two nephews the Rev. John David Watson and the Rev. Thomas Sikes Hichens (d.1916).
Mainly deeds for properties in Guilsborough and Salisbury Court, London
Hitchcock (Hinton) 1623-1876, 167 docs., ref. H(H)
The Hitchcocks were farmers in Hinton. By the 1870s George Hitchcock was living in Hinton House and calling himself 'esquire'.
Mainly deeds for properties in Byfield, Hinton, Charwelton and Pattishall.
(Mrs Hitchcock's mid 19th century recipe book has the reference ZB 828)
Hosier (Wicken) 1639-1812, 157 docs., ref. H(W)
Charles Hosier, a London goldsmith, purchased Wicken from the Spencer family in 1716. It passed to his granddaughter Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Prowse, a noted amateur architect. In 1810 Wicken Park was inherited by Sir John Mordaunt, a Warwickshire baronet. In 1877 it was sold to Lord Penrhyn.
Deeds and court rolls for Wicken.
(Mrs Prowse's accounts 1768-1795 are amongst the Wicken parish archives.)
Holthouse (Hellidon) 1595-1950, 633 docs., ref. HOLT
Carsten Holthouse emigrated from Germany and set up business in London as a sugar refiner. His son of the same name continued in this line. He had 5 sons, Carsten, a surgeon, Henry James, a lawyer, Charles Scrafton, who became vicar of Hellidon and Edward and Thomas who both emigrated to Australia. Edwin Hermus Holthouse, the second son of Carsten, also became a surgeon and was an eye specialist.
Estates in Hellidon, Little Peatling (Leicestershire) and Seven Dials in London. 19th/20th century family correspondence including very interesting letters from Mrs Heaney a governess during the French Revolution 1789-1814, letters from the Holthouse brothers in Australia and New Zealand 1839-1891 and letters from the architect William Butterfield. Genealogical papers.
This catalogue is available on the National Access to Archives website, see related links below.
Howard Vyse (Boughton) 1574-1944, 14 boxes, ref. Howard Vyse
Richard William Howard Vyse inherited Boughton Hall from his grandmother Lady Lucy Howard in 1795. He was a noted Egyptologist and traveller. His grandmother was a sister of the 2nd Earl of Strafford and daughter of the 1st Earl who had bought Boughton in 1717 as his base in the Midlands. The Earl's principal seat was Wentworth Castle in Yorkshire. The Howard Vyses remained at Boughton until 1927.
Mainly deeds for Boughton and Pitsford. 16th century legal papers on Moulton Park warren. Plans for alterations to Hall by Luke Kirshaw 1809.
(The Strafford papers are in the British Library.)
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