M.R. Boulton J. Watt & Co. Papers of William and Charlotte Matthews

The records are extremely miscellaneous, but there are examples from many areas of the Matthews’ business, including insurance papers, bonds and other legal documents, papers regarding a bankruptcy, and records from William Matthews’ shipping concern. Time did not permit investigation of all the records, so the following is not a complete description of the scope and content of these records.

Taylor & Matthews Globe Yard Concern, Balance Book, 1783-1791.
This book records balances owed to Taylor & Matthews Globe Yard Concern, a shipping business which William Matthews was involved in. The money is mainly owed for shipping and ships’ stores. The book is inscribed ‘William Matthews Esq.’ on the first page.

Receipt and list of James Millar’s estate and debtors, 1790, 1793.
The receipt, dated 6 March 1793 is marked ‘We whose names are hereto subscribed do acknowledge to have received of Mr. William Matthews one of the Assignees of James Millar against whom a Com[mission?] of Bankrupt hath been awarded. Issued the 1st dividend of 4/ in the £ on our respective sums proved opposite our names.’ It is kept with a ‘List of debts proved against James Millar’ dated 16 June 1790, which gives the name, the address and sum owed.

John Marlar’s bonds in the York Buildings Co. water works, 1777-1782.
Papers relating to bonds in the York Buildings Company, a London water works company. John Marlar held bonds in the firm, which he received from one Richard Scarr. When Scarr died further bonds were found among his papers and passed to Marlar by his son John. Marlar was then involved in the adjudication on the bonds.

Balances Book, 1779-1789.
What this book is recording is unclear, but sums are noted as being received from or owed to individuals, ships and businesses, including Boulton & Watt, Logan Henderson, and ‘Insurance for Z. W. [Zaccheus Walker] and self.’

The records are arranged in no particular order, being extremely miscellaneous in nature and there being little time for detailed investigation of these records during the Archives of Soho Project.

More detailed information on each series is given in the Description field, while reference numbers and covering dates of the actual records, and a list of the old reference numbers will be found in the pdf of the full series list attached. Item level lists are available in the searchroom of Birmingham Archives and Heritage.

There are no restrictions on access to or use of the Papers of William and Charlotte Matthews. However fragile items or those in a poor state of repair may not be served at the discretion of the Duty Archivist. Two items, the small ledgers of accounts of Charles Vere and William Matthews, have been badly damaged by water and may not be served.

The records listed here are various papers of the London bankers William and Charlotte Matthews. William Matthews was Matthew Boulton?s London banker, and he also represented the majority of the Soho firms. When he died in 1792, his business was carried on by his widow Charlotte. On Mrs Matthews? death in 1802 the banking house was continued by the new firm of M. and R. Boulton, J. and G. Watt, and Company. Two-thirds of this concern were held by Matthew Boulton and his son, and the remaining third by James Watt Jr. and Gregory Watt in equal shares. The new firm appointed Mrs. Matthews? two clerks, John Woodward and John Mosley, to act as agents for them in London. The new firm was established in Mrs. Matthews? offices at 13 London Street, and various of her and her husband?s papers became mixed in with the banking house?s own records.