The volume is arranged chronologically with a few undated MSS. at the end and fly-leaves...

The volume is arranged chronologically with a few undated MSS. at the end and fly-leaves were placed to distinguish the periods 1600-1700, 1701-1710, 1711-1720, 1721-1730, 1731-1749, 1750-1811, and 'undated'. This arrangement has been retained in the catalogue and brief introductory notes are given before each group of papers.

The following is a brief calendar of the contents of this large volume, each paper has been noted however briefly, to No.78. The remainder of the volume has been numbered up to item 353.

1. 16 June 1600.

Acknowledgement of debt of £183. 1s. 9½d. by Thos. Butler to Henry Archer, both of Grays Inn.

Wtn. Thos. Whitey, Hearsie Normanvile.

2. 26 Oct. 1601.

Receipt for 20s. paid by Henry Archer and w. Anne to Thos. Sherles in discharge of a legacy left by Giles Crowche (f. of Anne Archer) to Eliz. Larke (formerly maidservant to Crowche, now w. of Sherles).

Wtn. Thos. Whitey.

3. 3 June 1602.

Receipt for £20 paid by Henry Archer and w.Ann to Joseph Mace, a legacy left by Giles Crowche.

Wtn. Mychael Sysson, Wm. Crowche, Robt. Dodson, Lancelett Holmes, Hearsie Normanvile.

4. n.d. [c.1625]

Letter from Edw. Archer to the Rev. Mr. Butler concerning a neighbour Mrs. Robinson 'who is left with 6 poore children', soliciting his help.

5. 10 April 1617.

Agreement for tenancy for 25 yrs.

Rich. Archer of New Inn (co. Midd.) gent., to Anne (wid. of Henry Archer of Theydon Garnon, co. Essex, esq.)

Messuage in Theydon Mount [no details].

[Recites agreement 25 Feb. 1612/13 for 50 yrs. between Rich. and Henry Archer, and subsequent death of Henry.]

6. 31 Oct. 1634.

Copy (contemporary) of Order in Court of Wards and Liveries that upon hearing Mr. Bishe and reading the affidavit of Geo. Parker, the body and lands of Robt. Eyre, esq., shall be passed to Barnard Wells gent. with the agreement of John Dormer, esq.

7. 30 April 1635.

Opinion of counsel (Robt. Rich) in a law suit Wm. Salter kt. and w. versus Thos. Smyth gent.

[Relates to the Will of Sir Wm. Smythe kt. (f. of the defdt.) of Hill Hall, Theydon Mount, Essex.]

8. 11 June 1637.

Bond in £100.

Thos. Pasemore and Humphrey Beckley, both yeo. of Bray.

Lady Close (3a.), as close (2a.) abutting on the King' Common there at New Lodge on N., all in Winkfield.

9. Oct. 1638.

Brief for opinion of counsel regarding the validity of a lease made during the minority of Geo. Coult (s. of Sir Henry Coult) by his mother and Geo. Kingswell to John Hellam; queried by a subsequent lessee John Broukes.

10. 20 Sept. 1648.

Assignment of lease for residue of term of 60 yrs.

Thos. Myles of Bradfield, yeo., to s. Wm.

8 plots of arable land called Overgrownds (24a.) with cottages lately built in occ. of Reade Myles (f. of Thos.) lying together 'all within one eather' ('Eather' a curious word which may be the same as 'ether' given by Lowsley, Glossary of Berkshire Words, as meaning hawthorn interwoven to form a hedge. In this case the meaning would presumably be 8 plots of land enclosed as one area by a quick-set hedge.), between the common on W. and N.W., the Bourne on E., land of Hugh Smith on S. and land in tenure of Thos. Headach on W., all in Southend, Bradfield.

[Recites: Lease dated 1 June 1624, betw. Reade Myles and Thos. Myles.]

[Slightly mutilated.]

11. 27 Jan. 1650/1.

Conveyance (Feoffment) for £15.

Barthl. Mountague of Winkfield gent. to Simon Beckley of Bray, gent.

Close of pasture called Longacre (1a.), abutting on land of Wm. Smith on N., land of Earl of Kelly on S., land of Thos. Hathorne on W., and land of Thos. Pasmore on E., in Bray.

[Endorsed with livery of seizin.]

12. 20 July 1655.

Bond in £800.

Thos. Husey of Hungerford Park, esq., to Rich. Jhones of Welford, esq.

[Recites debt of Thos. Husey and Thos. Fawles of New Sarum (co. Wilts.) to Frs. Tillney of Rotherweek (co. Hants.)]

[Armorial seal.]

13. 23 Nov. 1655.

Bond in £800.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/12.]

[Recites debt of Husey and Fawles (as in D/EX 32/12) to Anne Minn of Woodcott in Epsom (co. Surrey).

14. 20 Nov. 1655.

Bond in £2,000.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/12.]

[Recites debt Husey and Fawles (as in D/EX 32/12) to Kath. Pitt of Stratfield Saye (co. Hants.), spr.]

[Armorial seal.]

15. 27 April 1657.

Bond in £900.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/12.]

[Recites debt of Husey and Geo. Pitt of Stratfield Saye, esq., to Joshua Sprigg of Westminster, gent.]

16. 27 April 1657.

Bond in £600.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/12.]

[Recites debt of Husey and Pitt (as in D/EX 32/15) to Henry Hickford of London, merchant.]

17. 1649-1657.

Fragment (1 leaf) from account book giving 8 receipts to John Archer of Theydon Garnon (co. Essex) esq., for monies paid as rent for his lands at Theydon Garnon held of the manors of Gaines Parke, Garnish Hall and Hemnalls.

[Most of the payments are to Robt. Abdy.]

18. 9 July, 1661.

Letter from [?] Barton to an unnamed man, reciting that Barton has lent him money with the agreement of a Mr. Harwood, but that the recipient has defaulted in payment by a week thereby putting Barton to great inconvenience.

19. 17 Sept. 1662.

Receipt from Wm. Archer to John Archer, sergeant-at-law, for £1.13. 9d. being the 'three monthes assessment for lands (including Malters Farm and Ramsfeilds) and stock on the same. [No other details.]

20. 2 Feb. 1675/6.

Acknowledgement by way of receipt from Alice Wright to her father Wm. Wright, alderman of Oxford for £36.13. 4d. being two legacies left to her by her grandfather, Alderman Wright and her aunt Mary Wright.

[Endorsed in different hand: "Mrs. Harris receipt of a legacy".]

21. 26 Sept. 1679, proved 4 Mar. 1679/80.

Copy probate of Will of Major Dunch of Pusey.

Devises to w. Margt:

Lands called Sheephousefield with the 'woodie ground' (125a.) in Longworth; Leonard's tithes arising from the Town Field of Charney; pasture formerly part of Southwick alias Westwick with the way through the manor of Bassis and Weekes in Goosey; all lands recently purchased of Whiteing and Best.

Devises to bro.-in-law Hon. Thos. Wharton and friend Humph. Gunter of Radcot (co. Oxon) in trust for raising allowances for younger children:

Manors of Townehill, Shanblehurst and Allington and lands in Romsey, Southampton and the Isle of Wight (co. Hants.) [no further details].

Personal bequests to w. Margt.; two daus. [un-named] and unborn child.

Reserves sale of leasehold premises depending on sale of adjacent freehold.]

Executrix: w. Margt. Overseers: Thos. Wharton and Humph. Gunter.

Wtn: Rich. Holloway, Thos. Mortimer, Robt. Clarke, Wm. Almont.

[Abstract of Will in different hand added in 1. hand margin.]

22. 14 Feb. 1681/2.

Letter from Wm. [?]Player regarding a law suit involving a Mr. Meredith and relating to the unlicensed killing of a deer. [Name of recipient of letter omitted; no place names.]

23. 20 April 1682.

Copy of Will of John Finch of Feens in White Waltham, esq.

Devises to w. Sarah:

Manor and farm of Feens, land called Upper Ground and Berry Norcott lately purchased, all in White Waltham; meadow (24a.) in Cookham; 2 closes of arable in occ. of Rich. Hatch, Frs. Williams and Thos. Hatch, in Purley.

Devises to dau. Dorothy:

Great house in Church Street and 2 small tenements near it in occ. of Mr. Bounds and Mr. Hurdman, 3a. land in occ. of [-] Peele, marsh called Podds Elmes in occ. of Mr. Holbert, 1a. of Podds Elmes in occ. of [-] Rodgers; all in West Ham Burnells (co. Essex).

Devises to w. Sarah:

Two houses and land at Dunstable (co. Beds.), houses and garden in Coleman St., London to be sold to discharge debts. Three messuages in 'Nildred Poultrey', London, in trust for the educating of any son yet to be born.

Personal bequests to w. Sarah; daus.[Mrs.] Sawyer, Eliz., Dorothy, Joanna; s.-in-law Mr. Sawyer; Uncle Edw. Leigh, esq.; Aunt Cresswell; cousins John Leigh of the Inner Temple, esq.; Margt. Cresswell; all menial servants; Wm. Parsnidge workman about the house; poor of White Waltham, Cookham, Hurley.

Arranges for guardianship and education of children.

Executrix: w. Sarah. Overseer: Sir Robt. Southwell.

[Certificate that the Will was read, published and declared at the Greyhound in Maidenhead 'being a day appointed for the private Sessions of the peace' 21st April 1682. Wtn: Sam Howland, Wm. Sherry, Geo. Gray, Vincent Pawling.]

24. 26 Sept. 1682.

Agreement.

John Archer of High Hall [? Theydon Garnon, co. Essex] to John Howe of Nettlested (?co. Surrey), yeo.

Liberty to use the barnes and hayhouse at High Hall until Christmas 1682, and tenancy of Summer Lands.

[Covenants to pay Archer 8s. an acre rent and to pay for the tillage out of the arrears of rent; for every acre short of 20½acres to pay 8s., 4s. for each acres of (?)clean earth and 2s. for each acre of grazing earth; no damage to be done to premises.]

[Sign. of John How; witn. Tho. Brooke, Edw. Vere.]

25. 1683.

'My antiente Rent Role of Wardlowe' [endorsed: 'Wardlowe Cottages'.]

[Very rough list of tenants giving names, nature of property and sometimes rent. Separates 'old and new accounts of houses'.] [The property involved is uncertain but it may be Wardlow, co. Derby.]

26. 18 June 1655.

Letter written from London by Joseph Wood, addressed to an unknown person referred to as 'an all seeing Judg'; concerns the distraint of Wood's trunk on suspicion of containing papers belonging to the addressee of use in some legal business. [Refers to 'my comeing away from Hader', and his staying 'at Sir Thomas Smith's in Chancery Lane'.]

27. 1680-1686

Rent account 'beginning Midsomer 80 Ending Michaelmas 85'

[with endorsement 1686].

[Gives details of debts and payments of 10 tenants but estate nowhere referred to; endorsement mentions Mr. Archer.] (2pp.)

28. 1685.

'What I layd out within the account of the year and halfe ended Michaelmas 85'.

[Brief accounts of building works at High Hall, Cold Hall and Garards; includes references to masons, 'dawbing', purchase of 'deales', etc.]

29. 15 March 1686/7.

Letter written from Ipswich by Thos. Brook [one of the tenants in D/EX 32/27] to 'Thos. Poole at Leather Guildery over against Waterland End in Fishstreet'.

Concerns the rent accounts of the estate (unspecified); refers to Mr. Archer.]

30. 26 June 1695.

Letter from London to unnamed lady concerning the reasons for the writers failure to wait upon her and Mrs. Archer, and the ladies proposed visit to London.

[Slightly mutilated, name of writer missing.]

31. 20 Mar. 1695/6.

Letter from London by James Groundman to John Newton, esq., notifying him of an appointment the following day with a Duke [unspecified] at the house of the 'late Lord Chief Baron Mountague'.

32. 'Midsummer' 1699.

Letter from Enfield (co. Middx.) by John Gray concerning the sending of a coach to (?Mr. Archer's house) 'for Sir Walter Wrottesley's children' on 4th July. 'See Pray lett them all bee made ready to take Coach the next morning to goe for Sir Harry Gough's house at Perry Hall if there bee not roome in the Coach for the Maide, pray hire a horse for her to ride along with the Coach'...

33. 20 June 1700.

Acquittance for £21.

Edw. Dalby of Reading, gent., to Wm. Wright and w. Dorothy.

[Recites Will of John Finch of Feens (see D/EX 32/23) and sale of Dunstable (co. Beds.) property to raise legacies. Daus. (as in D/EX 32/23) now married include Eliz. w. of Frs. Cherry, esq., Sarah w. of Wm. Yorke, esq., Joanna w. of Edw. Dalby; Dorothy w. of Wm. Wright.]

[Armorial seal.]

34. 4 Dec. 1703.

'Bills from Mr. Rogers upon the Auditt acct.' [Lists 14 accounts giving name of debtor and person who collected the money.]

35. c.1705.

Abstract of title reciting 23 deeds, 1639-1705.

Manors of Compton alias Compton Beauchamp and of Knitington alias Knighton.

[Brief for opinion of Counsel as to the title of Mr. Richards to one third of these manors.]

36. 17 Oct. 1705.

Articles of agreement for tenancy for 9 yrs. at an annual rent of £80.

John Archer, esq., 'in Berkshire' and Robt. Garwood of Gransford (co. Suffolk).

Farm wherein Garwood lives with lands, etc., in Blakenham (co. Suffolk.)

[Garwood covenants not to 'Commit Any strip, nor wast'; 'not to make strip nor waste nor to drive Any of the Lands beyond the usuall Custum of the Contry giveing It but for Crops And A summer Land'; not to lop or cut down trees.]

37. 4 Aug. 1706

Letter written from Welford by John Sherwood (? to John Archer) concerning a 'man taken att Griffen Dores att Wickham upon suspition of being a Rober' [of considerable interest].

38. 6 Aug. 1706.

Letter from Saml. Moore to John Archer, esq., at Coopersale near Epping (co. Essex) [of little significance but refers to his meeting 'Worthles Woodward of Poplar at Woodford', to the raising of the seige of Tournai and the sailing of the fleet].

39. 14 Dec. 1706

Letter from John Elston to Wm. Archer via Sam. Moore 'at the sine of ye goate against Exeter Change in y Strands'. [Concerns monies to be raised on properties in the Soke of Grantham.]

40. 11 Apr. 1707.

Letter from John Poole (? to Wm. Archer). [Concerns collection of monies due from tenants and other estate matters.]

41. 5 May 1707.

[As D/EX 32/40, also refers to sending of beer, loaves and a pigeon.]

42. 3 June 1707.

[As D/EX 32/40.]

43. 10 June 1707.

[As D/EX 32/40.]

44. [Date missing] c.1707.

[As D/EX 32/40, mutilated.]

45. 11 July 1707.

[As D/EX 32/40, mutilated.]

46. c.1707.

Abstract of title to a messuage and land in Willington (? co. Derby) [recites 14 deeds, very briefly, 1607-1707.] (1f.)

47. 18 Nov. 1707.

Letter from John Poole to ?Wm. Archer concerning their visit to London and the goods sent by him to him, by carrier.

48. 4 Dec. 1707.

Letter from Jos. Basing to Wm. Archer at Ormond St., London. [A letter of apology for some misdeed, unspecified, pleads that the writer 'being Anctient' should be allowed to present himself to Archer on his return to Welford and not be required to travel to London.]

[49-57 Very rough rentals and accounts, all in same hand.]

49. [n.d.] c.1707.

"Rentall of Berks."

50. [n.d.] c.1707.

"A Rentall of Lincolnshire"

51. 1707.

"Rentall of Conesby, Lincolne".

52. [n.d.] c.1707.

"Personall Estate of ye late J. Archer Esqr. from arrears in Essex and Suffolk at ye time of his death".

53. [n.d.] c.1707.

'Arrears in Lincolnshire from severall Tenants in Great Paunton at Mich. 1706 and before'.

54. [n.d.] c.1707.

"Arrears at Conesby at ye death of J.A. Esq." [Better executed than other accounts, consists of (i) 'arrears for Ladyday 1706', (2) 'more for Mich. 1706', and (3) on reverse: 'An abstract of old arrears...1694 and before'.

55. 1706.

"Personall Estate of John Archer Esq., consisting in mon left in hand, debts owing him and goods not specifically devised at the time of his death being Novem: 7: 1706".

56. 1707.

"Disbursements at Coopersale, Raydon and Suffolke".

57. 1707.

"Account of Disbursments out of ye Berkshire estate to Lady Day 1707".

58. 9 Jan. 1707/8.

Letter from Auth. Buxton to Mr. Geo. Burton at Wm. Archer, Esq., in Norman Street near Red Loyon Feilds, London. [Concerns the proposed sale of timber "aboute High Loe" by Wm. Archer.]

59. 16 Mar. 1707/8.

Letter from Wm. Whithorne to Wm. Archer. [Very illiterate letter concerning husbandry at Welford.]

60. 26 Mar. 1708.

Letter from Jn. Sherwood to Wm. Archer. [Concerns the seizure of a heriot following the death of a tenant.]

61. 7 Apr. 1708.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/60; in form of a weekly report on the Welford estate - refers to William (? Whithorne), see D/EX 32/59 who 'hath not time to Write (withall a Dull Penn Man) but very diligent in his business".]

62. 13 Apr. 1708.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/60; concerns the holding of manor courts, also refers to stock of poultry and to sending goods to London by "Flying Coach".]

63. 15 May 1708.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/60; refers to various estate matters including the sale of part of the "Bemdy" [Bempde] estate at Beenham.]

64. 30 Aug. 1708.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/60; concerns stock and general farm affairs.]

65. 27[?] 1708. (In binding this document part of the date was obliterated.)

Letter from John Poole to [?]Wm. Archer, concerning sale of "Pond meads".

66. 15 Apr. 1709.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/60; mainly concerns cutting timber.]

67. 19 Apr. 1709.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/60; states that he has received no letter since 9th and refers to like matters as 66.]

68. 24 June 1709.

[Parties as in D/EX 32/60; refers to postal methods, copyholds and tithes.]

69. 2 Aug. 1709.

Letters from G. Butler to "Wm. Archer Esqr. att Cooper-sale near Eppin in Essex by way of London"; mainly relates to the desire of the parson to build a barn and also to tithe.

70. 1709.

"The Geeft if Henry Archer, Esqr. To be given on Whit-sun to the poore of Thaydon Garnon in Essex". [Lists 38 recipients including 'The 4 almes wemin' the sums given varying from 6d. to 2s.]

71. 21 March 1709/10.

Letter from Josh. Burton of Aynho to bro. Mr. Burton and Wm. Archer at Coopersale (co. Essex), regarding the birth of a son and the arrangements for the christening.

72. 12 May 1711.

Letter from Jos.Taylor at Tattershall (co.Lincs.) to William Archer regarding estate affairs at Conisby [Coningsby].

73. 14 June 1711.

Abstract of title to 24 acres marsh in Brading (Isle of Wight). [Recites 16 deeds, 1610-1710].

74. 13 Sept. 1711.

'Heads of agreement betwixt Wm.Archer and Wm. Ilett for Homes Farm' [inc.covenants for supply of faggotts and planting of willows].

75. 8 Nov. 1711.

Letter and receipt from Jos. Chaplin of London to Wm.Archer at Welford regarding the purchase of wine.

76. 1712/1713.

Copy birth certificate that Thos.s.of John and Ann Rogers of Theydon (co.Essex) was born 10 Jan. 1691/1692.

77. 25 Jan. 1711/1712.

Receipt from W.Jessop to Wm.Archer for £10 being the year's interest on £200.

78. 15 Mar. 1711/1712.

Letter from Robt.King of Epping to Wm.Archer, Esq. at "Mrs.Browkers near the lower end of Devonshire Street by Red Lyon Square in Holbourne" regarding the land held by one, Graves, in custody (?as a bankrupt).

The many archives of the Archer-Houblon family of Hallingbury (co. Essex) and Welford (co. Berks.) were dispersed some years ago. Ultimately part came into the hands of the British Records Association who passed them to the various counties concerned, notably Essex and Berks. in 1938. The Berkshire documents, consisting of deeds and estate papers only, thus received are catalogued under D/EA1 A very miscellaneous group of papers had come into the hands of A.E.O. Slocock, Esq. of Newbury many years earlier and these, with a number of other Berks. MSS., were guarded and bound by him into the volume under review and labelled 'Correspondence 1600-1730'. In 1925 Mr. Slocock presented his large collection of Berks. MSS., maps and printed sources to the Reading Borough Library, but subsequently reclaimed this volume and presented it to Major Archer-Houblon from whom it has been received. It thus forms part of a considerable and miscellaneous Berkshire collection as well as containing many papers relating to the Archer family.