Correspondence

The series of correspondence is divided into two sections. The first consists of bundles of loose letters. The second sections consists of letter books and modern copies of letters.

The correspondence mainly relates to three members of the Mellish family. The correspondence of Edward Mellish (d 1703) includes letters from various family members including Sarah Mathews, Tobiah Harvey, Daniel and Martha Baker and John Gardner, and relates to business, family and estate matters.

The correspondence of Joseph Mellish (d 1733) includes papers relating to his time at Cambridge and to the navigation of the River Dun.

The correspondence of Charles Mellish (d 1797) includes letters from General Henry Clinton and others involved in the American War of Independence.

A final group of letters relate to William Cecil and Anne Chambers. Further letters concerning this branch of the family are to be found in the series of estate papers (Me E) whilst further correspondence, much of it closely related to that described here, is to be found in a subsequent accrual catalogued as Me 2.

The letter books Me C 33-38 include items relating to Samuel Mellish (d 1707) and to William Mellish Chambers on tour in the 1830s. A travel journal relating to the same tour is listed at Me J 8.