PAGET LETTERS

DE1274

PAGET LETTERS

1638-1905

The Pagets originated near Barwell and Ibstock. Though successful farmers, being associates of Robert Bakewell, the family began to prosper when Thomas Paget (1778-1862) turned to banking and politics. The family moved to Humberstone Hall and then to Lubenham, where they had acquired the manor in 1843.

There are five deposits that make up this collection. This particular deposit mainly consists of autographs, letters, cuttings and ephemera connected with famous politicians and social figures.

Introduction

DE1274/1

DE1274/2

DE1274/3-56

The principal items in this collection are two scrapbooks of autographs containing letters, envelopes, signatures, cuttings from biographical dictionaries and portraits of various kinds. One volume contains autographs of famous statesmen and historical figures; the other is devoted principally to artists, writers, actors etc. and to famous soldiers and sailors. Among the letters are examples from such political figures as O'Connell, Wilberforce, Cobden, Hume, Peel and Russell. There are also a number of letters written to Viscount Stratford de Redcliffe when he was ambassador at Constantinople during the Crimean War.

There are also a number of loose letters in the collection. Most of these are of the same sort as those in the volumes, but there are also eleven letters of the earlier eighteenth century, between members of the Tylson family of Chester, (nos. 46 - 56).

These autographs were apparently collected by Elizabeth, wife of John Paget (married 1839; he died 1898). This couple moved in artistic circles, and many of the letters from artists were actually written to them. Elizabeth's father was William Rathbone (1787 - 1868) a Liverpool philanthropist of merchant stock whose son became an M.P., and letters to the Rathbone family from another sizeable proportion of the collection.

Thomas Guy Paget, son of John and Elizabeth and heir to his childless uncle Thomas, married in 1873 Frances E. Nugent Vaughan, daughter of Frances, Viscountess Forbes, who supplied further letters. Others were acquired from friends, and it would seem that some were bought.

The index of names covers only the actual letters, not the envelopes or signatures. Names not easily legible have been omitted. References to the Paget family have not been included, but at the end of the index is a note of all letters to the Pagets dealing with political matters.

<span class="wrapper"><p>There is also a separate deposit consisting of estate, political and legal papers (DE365) and a collection of political records (DE5770). Additional family papers can be found in deposit DE4795.</p> <p>Finally there is also an unlisted deposit (DE1783) which is not open to public access.</p></span>

English

421 files

Letters and papers of the Paget family deposited on indefinite loan by R.T.Paget Esq. Q.C., M.P.