Muniments of the Earls of Essex, the Capell Family; title deeds of properties in...

The presence of the papers relating to James Donnithorne and his family is not explained. James Donnithorne, who was born in 1773 and who was of the ancient Cornish family of that name, served from 1793 to 1837 in the Bengal Civil Service, finishing as judge and Governor of the Mint. From 1838 he was residing in Australia and was a partner in a sheep station at Carlsruhe, Victoria. He inherited an estate in Herefordshire from his uncle of the same name as himself. He died in England in 1852. Two claims to fame by members of his family are that his wife Sarah Ellen was daughter of Captain Bampton R N, the Pacific navigator and discoverer of the islands that bear his name and secondly that his daughter Eliza Emily is said to have been the prototype of Miss Havisham in Dickens' Great Expectations

<p>In addition the Malden Collection in volume 4c and numbered M1 - 310, contains a number of earlier documents - particularly mediaeval title deeds - relating to the Capell estates. Owing to the exiguity of information given in volumes 4a and 4b it has not been possible to make full cross-references between them and this inventory. Where it has proved possible cross-reference has been made</p>

[Accession 1305]

Deposited 1971

An earlier deposit, transferred to the County Muniment Room from the County Museum, St Albans, relates to much the same estates as are represented by the documents in this present collection. Certain documents relating to properties outside Hertfordshire were later transferred to other repositories, in particular, as such transfers affect this present collection, to Hereford City Library. The earlier deposit is briefly calendared in volumes 4a and 4b [Refs: 6226-10653]