BELOE PAPERS

Papers of the families of Bramston, of Skreens, Essex, Hales, of Bekesbourne, Kent, and Trant, with which the Beloe family was connected by marriage

Papers of Sir John Bramston, the elder (1577-1654), Chief-Justice of the King's Bench, 1615-53:

Certificate of the birth and baptism of Mary, daughter of John Bramston and Bridget his wife, March 1615 (f.1).

Receipt by John Hoskyns (Hoskins) and John Selden [lawyers] for £50 from Serjeant Bramston on behalf of the whole number of Serjeants at the last call towards the library at Westminster erected by the Lord Keeper, 25 October 1623 (f.2).

Letter from William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath, his brother-in-law, 25 February 1635, advising him to purchase lands from Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. John Bradbury will write to him at large on his Irish business (f.4).

Order by Charles I (King of England) to Bramston and to Sir John Finch, Chief-Justice of Common Pleas, to investigate abuses in the office of Clerk of the Market, and to correct similar abuses in corporations and liberties where the officer is not admitted, 10 January 1636. Signed, Charles R (f.6).

Order for the payment of expenses to Bramston and Sir George Crooke [Croke, judge] at the assizes in Bucks., Beds., Hunts., Cambridge, Suffolk, and Norfolk, 9 February 1636 (f.8).

Account of receipts and disbursements by the same at the said assizes, 4 April 1636 (ff.9-10).

Letter from William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath, to Bramston, from Kilroderie, 7 May 1636, advising him on the purchase of a lease from the Bishop of Derry, and describing difficulties in obtaining a place from Sir George Radcliffe. Seal (f.13).

Account of allowances due to Bramston at the assizes, 28 May 1636 (f.15).

Letter from William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath, to Bramston, from Kilroderie, 26 September 1636, discussing the purchase of lands at Harleston (f.16).

Petition for a habeas corpus by George Huntley, clerk, a prisoner in the Fleet, to Bramston and other judges of the King's Bench, describing his deprivation by the Court of High Commission in a dispute with the Archdeacon of Canterbury, subsequent litigation, and his eventual imprisonment, [1636] (f.17).

Order by the Privy Council to Bramston to institute legal proceedings against Robert Jason, 17 January 1638. Seal (f.19).

Letter from Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1640), to Bramston, from Cosha, 2 September 1638, thanking him for assistance in a Star Chamber case against Sir Perse [Piers] Crosby, and offering his services. Not in Letters and dispatches (f.21).

Examination before Bramston of William Rowley, of Clavering, Essex, yeoman, charged with stealing £235 from his father John Rowley and his brother Francis Rowley at Brent Pelham, Herts., 12 November 1638. Signed by Bramston and William Rowley (ff.23-24v).

Letter from William Wells to Bramston, [1638], concerning a disputed election at Cambridge. Latin (f.25).

Letter from Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford (1640), to the same, from Fairwood Park, 12 April 1639, protesting his innocence of charges by Sir Piers Crosby to be heard in the Star Chamber next term. Not in Letters and dispatches (f.27).

Letter from Sir John Bankes, Attorney-General, to the same, from Grays Inn, 24 June 1639, concerning instructions by the Privy Council for the settlement of a dispute with the City of London about unspecified returns (f.29).

Receipt by Henry Pykarell, of Cringleford, Norfolk, gent., to Bramston for £1,220 for property at Thurlow and elsewhere in Suffolk, 7 September 1639. Endorsed as settled on M[ary] B[ramston] and Alice le Hunt (f.31).

Order by the Privy Council to the Justices of Assize in Norfolk for the examination of Thomas Parker, gent., son and ensign of Captain Thomas Parker, for accepting money for releasing trained men from the king's late service, 8 November 1639 (f.33).

Letter from Sir Francis Windebank (politician) to Bramston, 5 December 1639, requiring him to consult the judges whether the refusal by a minister to administer communion to those who refuse to come up to the chancel rails by the communion table is a statutable offence (f.35).

Answer by Bramston to articles of impeachment in the House of Commons, [1640] (ff.37-49).

Articles of attainder of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford, and the opinion of the judges that he was guilty of treason, 5 May 1641. Signed by John Browne, Clerk of the Parliament (ff.50-51v).

Letter from William Brabazon, 1st Earl of Meath, to Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Bramston, from Kilroderie, 27 June 1641, concerning his son's financial difficulties in England, his own losses 'by extreame violence', and a suit against him in the Star Chamber (f.52).

Receipt by Peter Levermer for £140 received from Bramston for property at Thurlow, Suffolk, 31 August 1641 (f.54).

Printed certificate for Bramston of his exemption from new imposts on four tuns of wine for his household, 31 January 1642. Signed by Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester; William Fiennes, 1st Viscount Saye and Sele; Edward Barrett, Lord Barrett of Newburgh; John Colepeper, 1st Baron Colepeper (1644) (f.55).

Extracts from Journals of the House of Commons:

17 October 1642: certification of writ of ease for Bramston discharging him from the office of Chief-Justice.

20 December 1642: resolution that the king appoint Bramston Chief-Justice.

18 March 1647: resolution that Bramston be a commissioner of the great seal, with totals of the votes cast.

26 October 1644: resolution that Bramston be consulted on the trial of Maguire and MacMahon (ff.56-57v).

Order of the Lords in Parliament to troops commanded by the Earl of Essex, J.P.s, Deputy-Lieutenants, Committees of the Parliament, Sheriffs, Constables, and other subjects of the king, for protection of the judges, giving them free passage in any part of the kingdom under the command of Parliament, 5 April 1643. Signed by John Browne, Clerk of the Parliament (f.58r-v).

A second copy (f.60r-v).

Notification to Bramston of his assessment for £1,500 under an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament for assessment of the twentieth part, 9 October 1644 (f.62).

Order of the Lords in Parliament that Bramston be consulted by the House of Commons and counsel appointed for the trial of Connor Maguire, 2nd Baron of Enniskillen, and Hugh Oge MacMahon, 26 October 1644. Signed by John Browne, Clerk of the Parliament (f.63).

A copy (f.64).

Order of the Committee of the Lords and Commons for advance of money and other necessaries for the army that Bramston, being an assistant to the House of Lords, be remitted the assessment of £1,500, being the twentieth part of his estate, until both Houses of Parliament declare their opinion, 1 November 1644 (f.65).

Summons to Bramston and others to give evidence at the trial of Maguire and MacMahon, 4 November 1644. Signed by John Browne, Clerk of the Parliament (f.67).

A copy (f.69).

Letter from John Wilde to Bramston, 9 January 1645, stating that he is commanded by the Committee of Lords and Commons to prepare charges against Archbishop William Laud, of Canterbury, to be heard on Tuesday next in the House of Lords, and requiring the judges to appear before the Committee on Friday or Saturday or sooner in the Lord Keeper's lodgings adjoining the Lower House to be examined on certain questions arising (f.70).

Summons for Bramston to attend a committee of the House of Lords, 6 October 1645 (copy) (f.72).

Notice to Bramston of his assessment for £300 towards a loan authorised by Parliament, 10 December 1645 (f.74).

Letter from John Savage to Bramston, from London, 1 June 1647, concerning the financial straits of William Brabazon, Earl of Meath. A postscript mentions that Bramston is to be restored to his former honour. Seal (f.75).

Order of the Lords in Parliament that Bramston, one of the king's Serjeants at Law, attend the House as an assistant, 1 August 1647. Signed by John Browne, Clerk of the Parliament (f.77).

Letter (f.79) from Sir Henry Speller to Bramston, 6 February 1649, enclosing an account of a series of libels against him by Edmond Felton (ff.79-82).

Dismissal by the Committee for Petitions of a petition by Henry More, merchant, against Bramston and Sir Thomas Mallet, 6 October 1653 (f.83).

Letter from William Warde to Bramston, no date [17th century], giving excuses for not waiting on him (f.85).

Notice to Bramston of his assessment for £500 for the fifth and twentieth part of his estate to be paid at the White Horse in Great Baddow, Essex, no date (f.87).

Papers of Sir John Bramston, the younger (1611-1700), 1635-97:

Letter from Mundeford Bramston to his brother John Bramston the younger, from Trinity Hall, Cambridge, 28 March 1635, denying that he was engaged to marry his cousin Susana Blunt, and hoping to be reconciled with his father who disapproved of the match (f.88).

Receipt by Thomas Peirson for £11.11s.0d. received from Bramston for legal expenses, 6 December 1659 (f.90).

Letter from Sir John Duncombe and Thomas Chicheley, Kt. (1670), Commissioners of the Ordnance, to Sir Edward Turner, Speaker of the House of Commons, and to Bramston and the rest of the commission for the Royal Aid of Essex, from the Ordnance Office, 12 June 1666, urging the immediate payment of the aid and the collection of arrears for prosecution of the war against the Dutch (f.91).

Letter from J.[Heron] to Bramston, from Cressy, 30 September 1666, about the payment of sums awarded by Bramston (f.93).

Statement by William Goldesbrough, Clerk of the Parliament, on Bramston's attendance at Parliament between 7 May and 2 June 1663, 19 June 1672 (f.94).

Instructions by James, Duke of York, Lord High Admiral [later James II, King of England], to Bramston, Vice-Admiral of Essex, for the impressment of 200 seamen, 7 April 1673 (f.96r-v).

Statement by William Saffeld, of Danbury, Essex, yeoman, that at the election at Maldon of burgesses for Parliament he intended to vote for Bramston but, being in drink, was persuaded by an Anabaptist named George Brooke to vote for Honywood in consideration of twenty shillings and a suit of clothes, 23 May 1679 (f.98).

Letter from Christopher Monck, 2nd Duke of Albemarle, to Bramston, from Newhall, 24 August 1679, arranging to meet him at Maldon. Seal (f.99).

Letter from J. Abdy to the same, 15 October 1697, about the purchase of maps; family news (f.101).

Miscellaneous papers, 1637-70:

Confession by Francis Briggs, Curate of Barnham Broom, that at the instigation of the devil he killed Rebecca Hunt, 30 July 1637 (f.103).

Letter from Richard Gamon, Rector of Barford, to -, 1 August 1637, giving an account of the repentance and execution of Francis Briggs. Endorsed, 'Briggs was a clergyman and a preacher and as I remember had ye cord with which he strangled her in his pocket when he preached the day he did ye fact' (f.104).

Inventory of the goods and chattels of William Bramston, brother of Sir John Bramston the elder, of Margaretting, Essex, 24 September 1638 (ff.105-6).

Appointment by committee of Parliament of commissioners in Essex to raise funds authorised by Ordinance of both Houses on 16 October 1643 'for the speedy bringeinge of our Brethren of Scotland into this Realme', 23 February 1644 (copy) (f.107).

Receipt for £4.14s.8d. received from Francis Bramston, brother of Sir John Bramston the elder, for the burial of Miss Mary Lenord in the Temple church, London, 10 May 1661 (f.109).

Letter from William Wather to Sir Francis [Bramston], from Colsterworth (Lincs.), 21 February 1670, urging him to enforce the Act for the prevention of unlawful meetings (f.111).

Papers of Anthony Bramston (1640-1723), [1699]-1715:

Letter from Thomas Browne, Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge, to Anthony Bramston, [December 1699], about expenses of the latter's son John Bramston at St.John's College (incomplete) (f.113).

Letter from George Hickes, Nonjuror, to the same, 15 January 1706, stating that he has had another copy of his book bound and requests directions for sending it. Expresses his gratitude and obligation (f.115).

Letter from James Lumley to the same, from Westminster, 10 March 1713, acknowledging his protection and mentioning his father's debts (f.117).

Letter from the same to the same, from Christ Church, Oxford, 1 June 1714, mentioning a method of study given to him by Dr. Robert Freind on leaving Westminster; his tutor Mr. Gregory a great favourite of the Dean. Proposes to master Latin authors 'and not to be wholly ignorant of ye Greek' (f.119).

Letter from the same to the same, from London, 11 March 1715, on various matters of business (f.121).

Papers of Thomas Bramston (1691-1765), 1735-53:

Receipt by Elizabeth Fielder for domestic expenditure, July 1735 (f.123).

Account of election expenses (Essex), 26 May 1741 (f.124).

Account of income and domestic expenditure, no date Income for the year totals £1,750 (f.125).

Paper in the hand of Thomas Berney Bramston stating 'The within paper was sent to me then at Oxford by my father in the year 1752 or 1753'. Perhaps refers to the previous item (f.126).

Funeral inscription of Thomas and Elizabeth Bramston (f.127).

Papers of Thomas Berney Bramston (1733-1813), 1768-1811:

Note on the death of Stephen Gardiner, lawyer, his father-in-law, 27 September 1768 (f.128).

Notes on his father and grandfather, 1722-34 (f.129r-v).

Note on the death of T.B. Bramston, 4 April 1813, and extract from his epitaph (ff.131-2).

Papers of Thomas Gardiner Bramston (1770-1831), 1818:

Letter from John Bramston [Dean of Winchester (1872)] to his father Thomas Gardiner Bramston, from Winchester, 8 May 1818, informing him of the rebellion at Winchester College (f.133).

Letter from the same to the same, 12 May 1818, stating the causes of the rebellion: Gabell did not give the Commoners a remedy, deprived prefects of privileges, and encroached on liberties of the Commoners. Does not justify the rebellion but sympathises with the rebels, fifteen of whom were expelled (f.134).

Letter from Henry Sissmore to the same, from Winchester, 13 May 1818, giving an account of the rebellion (f.136).

Papers of the family of Hales, of Bekesbourne, Kent:

Letter from Sir Charles Pym, 2nd Bart., of Brymore, Somerset, to his sister Mary, from Rome, 10 January no year [17th century], stating that he has been in Rome for a month; the ambassador had an audience with the Pope yesterday (f.139).

Note that Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Bart., was saved from drowning by his son, 28 May 1719 (f.140).

Warrant from Sir Thomas Hales, 2nd Bart., to the gamekeeper of Dover warren, 1 October 1746 (f.141).

Letter from Stephen Hales, physiologist and inventor, to Sir Thomas Hales, 3rd Bart., from Teddington, 2 August 1748, concerning the settlement of a suit in Chancery; the Speaker has recovered; has sent to the Admiralty important proposals for preserving the timbers of ships laid up in peace time by the use of ventilators (f.142).

Letter from the same to the same, from Teddington, 25 August 1755, describing an experiment to remove the ill-taste of milk from a cow fed on cabbage leaves by blowing air. Gives an account by John Ellis, 'a very ingenious and inquisitive naturalist', of the common powder blue used to give whiteness to washed linen (f.144).

Letter from the same to the same, from Teddington, 2 September 1755, stating that Lord Shaftesbury has given a favourable account of the use of ventilators on a large man of war, and is supported by Mr. Slade of Deptford, Surveyor of the Navy (f.147).

Letter from James Wolfe, soldier, [to the same], from camp near Blandford, 8 September 1756, concerning a commission in the Guards for 'my friend Phil' (f.148).

Letter from Mark Hildesley, Bishop of Sodor and Man, to the same, from Bishop's Court, Isle of Man, 16 June 1761, expressing regret at the death of his old friend Stephen Hales (f.150).

Funeral inscription of Evert George Coussmaker, 6 April 1763. His widow Mary married Sir Thomas Pym Hales, 4th Bart. (f.152).

Funeral inscription of Mary, widow of Sir Thomas Pym Hales, 4th Bart., who died 15 May 1803 (f.153).

Monumental inscription for Sir Thomas Pym Hales, 4th Bart., who died 18 March 1773 (f.154).

Summary of an inquisition post mortem on Sir James Hales, judge, who drowned himself in 1554 (f.155).

Letter signed 'Miles' addressed 'to Charles B- Esq late candidate for the Borough of S-', from Dover, c.1780, protesting that Mr. B. paraded the streets at the last election with the flag of the American rebels (f.156).

Tradesman's card of William Blick, of the Dun Cow Inn and Posting House, Dunchurch, Warks., with a list of towns and inns on the London to Holyhead and Coventry to Liverpool mail coach roads, 18th century (f.158r-v).

Papers of the soldier 'Sir' Nicholas Trant (1769-1839), Brigadier-General in the Portuguese army during the Peninsular War, 1800-37:

Letter from John Stuart, soldier, G.C.B. (1815), c.1800, with instructions for settlement of a dispute (f.159).

Letter from Lieut.-General Sir Charles Stuart, 29 September 1800, advising Trant not to delay proceeding to Minorca (f.160).

Letter from Trant to -, 22 July 1808, describing the retreat of Portuguese militia (f.162).

Letter from Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1814), 1 August 1808. Dispatches, 1838, IV, 56 (f.165).

Letter from the same, 3 August 1808. Dispatches, IV, 60-1 (f.166).

Letter from the same, 6 August 1808. Dispatches, IV, 63-4 (f.168).

Letter from the same, 13 August 1808. Dispatches, IV, 87-8 (f.170).

Letter from the same, 14 August 1808. Dispatches, IV, 88-90 (f.172).

Instructions by the same for Trant, [1808] (f.175r-v).

Letter from Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, [14 October 1808], about the purchase of mules (f.177).

Letter from General Charles William Stewart, Adjutant-General to Wellington, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry (1822), 13 February [1809], hoping Trant will not be further delayed in an English port since General Beresford is to be placed in command of Portuguese troops and leaves Plymouth to-night (f.178).

Letter from Sir Stapleton Cotton, 6th Bart., and (1827) 1st Viscount Combermere, from Coimbra, 29 [April 1809], describing his movements and reporting the arrival of reinforcements at Lisbon (f.180).

Replies by Wellington to questions from Trant about payments to French prisoners, and a Spanish detachment of troops, [May 1809] (f.182).

Letter from Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, 2 May 1809, commenting on news in Spain and Europe (fragment) (f.185).

Letter from Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1814), 3 May 1809. Dispatches, IV, 297-8 (f.186).

Instructions by the same for Trant, [14 May 1809]. Dispatches, IV, 336 (f.188r-v).

Letter from Major-General Henry Fane, G.C.B. (1825), from Coimbra, 26 April 1810, reporting an unsuccessful attempt to obtain some favour from 'the Marshal' (f.189).

Letter from Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington (1814), 13 May 1810. Dispatches, VI, 107-8 (f.191).

Letter from Lord Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1852), 2 December 1811, enclosing (f.193) a letter from Robert Banks Jenkinson, 2nd Earl of Liverpool, to Viscount Wellington, from Downing Street, 3 June 1810, stating, in reply to Wellington's earnest wish, that Trant retain his post on the general staff in England while continuing his employment in Portugal (f.192).

Letter from Major-General Thomas Picton, G.C.B. (1815), to Despard Croasdaile, from Torres Vedras, 20 November 1810, describing an engagement with Masséna (f.194).

Letter from Major-General William Carr Beresford, Viscount Beresford (1823), from Lisbon, 4 January 1813, concerning the trial of a soldier and delays in bringing all but serious crimes to trial (f.196).

Letter from Wellington, from London, 9 May 1818, declining to apply to the King of Portugal on Trant's behalf as it would be a slight to Beresford (f.198).

Letter from Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge (1846), from Wilderness Park, 29 December 1826, stating that he doubts the Duke of Wellington will interfere in some Portuguese appointment for Trant (f.200).

Letter from Lord Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1852), from Horse Guards, 6 March 1827, concerning Trant's financial affairs (f.202).

Letter from Robert Southey, poet, from Keswick, 27 January no year, concerning his history of the Peninsular War; mentions his family and settlement in Keswick (f.203).

Letter from Sir George Murray, Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, from Dublin, 13 July 1827, thanking him for a copy of Thomas Trant's Two years in Ava (f.205).

Letter from John Fane, Lord Burghersh, 11th Earl of Westmorland (1841), from Florence, 16 February 1829, explaining a passage in his military memoirs (incomplete) (f.206).

Letter from William Francis Patrick Napier, soldier and author, K.C.B. (1848), 28 February 1829, commenting on some materials for his History of the Peninsular war (f.208).

Letter from Lord Fitzroy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan (1852), from Witley, 26 July 1829, referring to a remark by Lord Londonderry about Trant's operations against Masséna, and giving an account of how he was himself wounded (f.210).

Letter from Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, from Walmer Castle, 29 August 1830, disputing Trant's claim to half-pay or other allowance. A note by Trant on his pay in the Peninsular and eventual pension granted in 1834 (f.212).

Letter from Sir Francis Burdett (politician), from Bath, 12 September 1832, offering assistance to Sir Charles Burdett, a soldier (f.214).

Letter from John Gurwood, editor of Wellington's Dispatches, from London, 3 November 1836, accepting papers for publication in the Dispatches (f.216).

Letter from (General) Sir Edward Paget, general, London, 25 May 1837, regretting his inability to assert claim to prize-money for officers who served in the Burmese war [of 1824-5] (f.217).

Fragment of military orders, no date (f.219r-v).

Verses by William Scoresby, Vicar of Bradford (1839), addressed to 'Sir' Nicholas Trant's daughter Miss Clarissa Trant [19th century] (f.220).

Verses by William Robert Spencer to Mrs. Hans Sotheby, from Paris, 1828 (f.221).

<p>See also MS 3391.</p>