Bacon Frank collection

The collection was acquired from two different sources and falls into two distinct sections, i.e. the family, and the historical and antiquarian material, mainly relating to the Talbot Earls of Shrewsbury, which formed part of the antiquarian collection of Richard Frank (d.1762) and which consists largely of the manuscript works of Dr. Nathaniel Johnston. These were purchased from Sotheby's sale in 1942, by the Libraries Committee. Richard Frank was succeeded by his nephew, Bacon Frank, whose mother was of the Norfolk family of Bacon. A number of Bacon deeds relating to places in Norfolk and Suffolk are among the family muniments. Records including:

Manorial records:

Campsall: Inquisitions, verdicts, byelaws, jury lists, free rents, 1614-1796 (18 bundles); case papers, re profits of manor: Frank v. inhabitants, 1632; claim that Askern is in the manor of Campsall, 1655-1657; (with Fenwick): rental of free rents, 1766-1796 (1 bundle).

Monkhill: Court roll, 1533-1542.

Pollington: Articles of enquiry, 1602.

Selby Abbey: Account rolls, 1459; rent vouchers, 1643-1725 (1 bundle).

Sheffield: Compotus roll, 1479-1480 (part of the antiquarian collection).

Tanshelf: Rent vouchers, 1715-26 (5 items).

Trumfleet: Court rolls (copy), 1582-1743, survey charge, presentments, instructions re call book, 1743-1744 (8 items).

Bourtes (Norfolk): Court roll, 1685-1695.

Parish records:

Pontefract: Poor rate assessments, overseers' accounts, 1664-1673 (7 bundles).

Land tax assessments, 1693-1730 (1 bundle).

Rules and orders for founding Charity school, 1711.

Fenwick: Constables', poor rate and land tax assessments, overseers' accounts, 1712.

Enclosure award (copy), 1780.

Tanshelf: Constables' and highway assessments, 1739.

Title deeds:

Estates of Robert Frank: Knottingley, 1385, 1601-1707 (7); Pontefract, 1527-1686 (91); Seacroft, 1231-1390, 1578-1718 (97); Selby, 1653-1730 (17); Snaith (rectory and tithes), 1609 (2); S. Kirkby (including rectory and tithes), 1613-1694 (27); Tanshelf and Carlton, 1477-1731 (113); Ousefleet, 1615-1668 (7); Whitgift, 1738-1741 (4); Wistow (church and tithes), 1632-1687 (16).

Estates of Richard Frank: Ackworth, 1757-1759 (10); Campsall, 1578-1836 (130); Fenwick, 1481-1601, 1840-1872 (32); Methley, 1683 (5); Moss, 1619-1741 (7); Norton, 1602-1780 (36).

Estates of the Bacons: Grundesburgh (Suffolk), 12th-15th cents. (35); Starston, Redenhall, Needham, Harleston, Pulliam St. Mary (Norfolk), 15th-18th century (82); Hardwick, Stratton (Norfolk), 1568-1705 (44).

Family legal papers

Legal papers: Ashton v. Yarburgh and Frank re settlements of estate made by Richard Frank, 1664-1667; Frank v. Standish, re claims under will of Mrs. Margaret Frank, 1766-77; and others. (4 boxes).

Estate papers

Cash account books of Richard and Bacon Frank 1725-1751; executor's accounts 1761-1776.

Rentals for Darrington 1723-1747 (Hoare and Savile estates).

Farm day book 1767-1769.

Rentals: Carbuk, Flete and Fenwick, 1616; Campsall, 1627 (with Askern and Fenwick, 1762-1763, 1863); Carlton, 1748-1757; Thrybergh; Bourtes (Norfolk), 1660. Index of tenures, 1759.

Foreign Trade: Accounts of Matthew Ashton (afterwards Frank), Hamburg cloth merchant, relating to business 1681-1693.

Surveys and Valuations: Knottingley, 1549; Seacroft, 18th century, 1803; Campsall, 1627.

Accounts: Estate and household, 1782; statements of income, 1749-1760.

Timber: Valuations: Moss, 1741, Fenwick, 1733-1737; sale of wood Fenwick, 1766.

Personal and public affairs

Pontefract elections: poll book, 1714-1715; papers in disputed election, 1714; papers in case of rioting, 1768 (8 items).

Appointments: Robert and Richard Frank as Recorders of Pontefract, 1711, 1735.

Robert Frank's charges to jury at Quarter Sessions, 1719-1739 (1 bundle).

Commission of Sewers, Level of Hatfield Chase: correspondence and papers, 1804-1805 (1 bundle).

Aire and Calder Navigation: petition and correspondence, 1725-1726, 1772-1773 (2 bundles).

Certificates of oath of allegiance to House of Hanover, 1723.

Commissions to John Hoare, Lord Carpenter's Regiment of Dragoons; and papers, 1710-1749 (4 bundles).

Correspondence of the Franks, mainly legal and estate business, 1757-1807; also to Richard Frank about Dr. Nathaniel Johnston's MSS., 1721-1756. (11 bundles in all).

The Antiquarian Collection

Original letters: correspondence of the Talbot Earls of Shrewsbury and their servants, 1549-1617, kept by Dr. Johnston after he had placed the more important letters in the Heralds' College (296 letters).

Histories of the Lovetots, Furnivals and Vernons, and of the Talbot Earls of Shrewsbury, especially the 5th, 6th and 7th Earls, the last of whom died 1617, in nine manuscript volumes, with further volumes containing drafts and copies. A few original documents are contained in each.

Volume of pedigrees, etc. of the Furnivals, Vernons and Talbots.

Johnston's genealogical notes: Foljambe of Aldwark.

Johnston's topographical notes: Tickhill and Strafforth, transcripts of Dodworth.

Richard Frank's genealogical and topographical notes.

Addenda: Correspondence: c1300 letters, some of Richard Frank's including several relating to York co. and Pointefract elections 1734 (1716-1760), and many of Bacon Frank's (1756-1805). The latter are from family in Norwich, brother Rev Richard Frank, rector of Alderton, Suffolk (some relate to building rectory) and include Yorkshire correspondents Richard Wilson, Cooke family, John Carr of York, W Perfect (nurseryman), Lord Darlington, T Wyvill, T Yarborough (some concern Campsall house and gardens).