Finding Aid for the Pole Family News Collection
1681-1713
MS.1951.021
Finding aid prepared by Teresa Soleau and Lauren Zuchowski
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
2520 Cimarron Street
Los Angeles, CA, 90018
(323) 731-8529
rfenning@humnet.ucla.edu
2013
Title: Pole Family News Collection,
Identifier/Call Number: MS.1951.021
Contributing Institution:
William Andrews Clark Memorial Library
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
3.42 Linear feet
(7 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1681-1713
Abstract: This collection contains manuscript news-letters as well as printed issues of newspapers
The Post-Boy and
The Post-Man with manuscript additions, all addressed to the Pole family of Radbourne, Derbyshire. Written from an agent in London, these
letters and papers contain information on current happenings in London and abroad during the period 1681-1713.
Physical location: Clark Library
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
Copyright has not been assigned to the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA. All requests for permission to publish
or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Clark Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf
of the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, UCLA as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply
permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Pole Family News Collection, MS.1951.021, William Andrews Clark Memorial Library, University of
California, Los Angeles.
Acquisition Information
Purchase, 1951.
This collection was purchased as one set of materials, but was separated into 3 distinct parts (manuscript news letters,
The Post-Boy and
The Post-Man) soon after arriving at the Clark Library. Until work on this finding aid began, these three parts were housed separately
and cataloging records for the printed periodicals did not note that they had been purchased as one discrete collection.
Processing History
Series 1 processed by Teresa Soleau, 2010; Series 2 processed by Lauren Zuchowski, 2012-2013.
Biography
The Pole family dates from the earliest days of the Norman conquest and has had Radbourne, Derbyshire as its seat since the
1400s. Several different members of the family are listed as recipients of these news letters. Most items were addressed to
"Madam Pole," but others are addressed to "German Pole," "Samuel Pole," or "Anne Pole."
German Pole, Esq. (b. 1626) of Radbourne married Ann Newdigate, daughter of Richard Newdigate of Arbury, in 1650. They had
no children and upon German's death in 1683, the estate passed to his cousin Samuel Pole, Esq. (b. 1651). Samuel Pole's wife
was Anne Mundy (d. 1732).
Scope and Content
This collection contains manuscript news-letters and printed newspapers with handwritten additions, which were sent by hired
agents in London to members of the Pole family at their home in Radbourne, Derbyshire. Events recounted in both the manuscript
material and printed newspapers recount events related to trials, weather, natural disasters, marriages, deaths and illnesses,
foreign news (from Ireland and Scotland, Europe, the Americas, Turkey and Morocco), parliamentary decisions and military campaigns.
Most news sheets are addressed to Madam Pole with a few addressed to German Pole, Anne (or Ann) Pole and Samuel Pole. Sometimes
surname is spelled Pool or Poole. All sent to Radbourn (or Radbourne or Radburn or Radburne) near Derby except where indicated.
Most items include wax seal.
The printed periodicals in series 2 are
The Post-Boy (1695-1713) and
The Post-Man (1704-1711), which have attached manuscript news sheets addressed to the Pole family.
New Style dates (with the year starting in January) are given for all materials instead of Old Style dates (with the year
starting at the end of March).
Related Material
Many of the news events covered by this collection are treated in: Luttrell, Narcissus. 1857.
A brief historical relation of state affairs from September 1678 to April 1714. Oxford: the University Press.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series:
- Series 1. Manuscript News Sheets, 1681-1710;
- Series 2. Printed Newspapers with Manuscript Additions, 1695-1713.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Pole family
Pole, Anne Mundy, d. 1732
Pole, Anne Newdigate, 1633-1700
Pole, German, 1626-1683
Pole, Samuel, 1651-1731
Great Britain -- History -- 17th century
Newspapers--England--17th century
Newspapers--England--18th century
Manuscript News-Letters Series 1.
1681-1710
Physical Description:
1.0 Linear feet
(2.5 boxes)
Scope and Contents
Manuscript news sheets sent from London to members of the Pole family, which include reporting on trials, weather, natural
disasters, marriages, deaths and illnesses, foreign news (from Ireland and Scotland, Europe, the Americas, Turkey and Morocco),
parliamentary decisions and military campaigns. For example, letters recount both the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk's divorce
in 1692 and the seige of Cuneo in 1691.
Most news sheets are addressed to Madam Pole with a few addressed to German Pole, Anne (or Ann) Pole and Samuel Pole. Sometimes
surname is spelled Pool or Poole. All sent to Radbourn (or Radbourne or Radburn or Radburne) near Derby except where indicated.
Most items include wax seal.
Box 1, Folder 7
1681
General Physical Description note: 1 item
Scope and Contents note
This item is not dated, but it discusses Titus Oates and other events that suggest a dating around 1681. Unaddressed.
Box 1, Folder 1-6
1682
General Physical Description note: 6 items
Scope and Contents note
Addressed to German Pole Esq. Mainly discuss legal proceedings; not much foreign news. All items are dated.
Box 1, Folder 10-14 & 48
1691
General Physical Description note: 6 items
Scope and Contents note
Addressed to Madam Pole. Items undated; dating taken from Luttrell.
Box 1, Folder 8, 15-47, 83, 87-90, 49-50 & 85
1692
General Physical Description note: 42 items
Scope and Contents note
Box 1, folders 8,15-47; Box 2, folders 1-2,35,37,39-42. Addressed to Madam Pole (except folder 39, Feb. 27 unaddressed). Items
undated; dating taken from Luttrell. Dating for Box 2, folder 35 (Sept. 10) uncertain.
Box 1, Folder 9, 51-82, 84, 86 & 91-108
1693
General Physical Description note: 53 items
Scope and Contents note
Box 1, folder 9; Box 2, folders 3-34,36,38,43-60. Addressed to Madam Pole at Radbourn except Box 1, folder 9 and Box 2, folders
27,33 and 34 (Aug. 22, Sept. 5, 7, and 9) addressed to Madam Pole at Sr. Richard Newdigates at Arbury near Coventry and Box
2, folder 32 addressed to Madam Pole at the house of Francis Mundy Esq at Osbaston near Leicester. Box 2, folder 26 (Aug.
22) unaddressed. Two items (box 2, folder 17 and folder 26, Aug. 1 and 22) dated; dating for others taken from Luttrell.
Box 2, Folder 1-17
1694
General Physical Description note: 17 items
Scope and Contents note
All items dated. Addressed to Madam Pole except folder 3 (Mar. 23) addressed to Madam Anne Pole.
Box 2, Folder 18-85
1695
General Physical Description note: 68 items
Scope and Contents note
All items dated except box 3, folder 58 and 59 ripped at the corner where dating usually occurs; dating taken from Luttrell.
Box 3, folder 18 (Mar. 26) marked 1694 and then written over 1695. Addressed to Madam or Anne Pole (except Box 3, folder 33,
Apr. 20 unaddressed).
Box 2, Folder 86-87
1696
General Physical Description note: 2 items
Scope and Contents note
All items dated. Unaddressed.
Box 2, Folder 88
1699
General Physical Description note: 1 item
Scope and Contents note
Dated. Addressed to Madam Pole.
Box 2, Folder 89-106
1704
General Physical Description note: 18 items
Scope and Contents note
All items dated. Addressed to Samuel Pole, Esq. (except folder 39-45, Nov. 21-Dec. 28, addressed to Madam Pole). Mainly discuss
legal proceedings. Some signed.
Box 2, Folder 107-126
1705
General Physical Description note: 20 items
Scope and Contents note
Box 4, folders 47-59; Box 5, folders 1-7. All items dated. Addressed to Samuel Pole Esq. except box 4, folder 47-51 (Jan.
8-17) and box 5, folder 3 (Mar. 15) unaddressed. Box 5, folder 4 (Sept. 27) is a letter addressed to "most illustrious cousin
& dearest prince" (Samuel Pole?) and signed Joseph. Mainly local and national news, not much foreign news.
Box 3, Folder 1-25
1706
General Physical Description note: 25 items.
Scope and Contents note
All items dated. Addressed to Madam Pole except folder 8-15 (Jan 19-Feb 5?) and folder 29-32 (Mar. 9-Mar. 16) unaddressed.
Some signed.
Box 3, Folder 26-29
1707
General Physical Description note: 4 items
Scope and Contents note
All items dated. Unaddressed.
Box 3, Folder 30-33
1710
General Physical Description note: 4 items
Scope and Contents note
All items dated. Mainly local and national news, not much foreign news. One item addressed to Mrs. Ann Pole; signed.
Newspapers with Manuscript Additions Series 2.
1695-1713
Physical Description:
2.38 Linear feet
(4.5 boxes)
Scope and Contents
Manuscript newspapers primarily addressed to Madam (Anne) Pole at Radbourn near Derby. The surname is sometimes spelled Pool
or Poole. Later editions of
The Post-Man are sometimes unaddressed and do not include a wax seal.
Arrangement This series is arranged in 2 subseries:
- Subseries 1:
The Post-Boy
- Subseries 2:
The Post-Man.
The Post-Boy
Subseries 1.
1695-1713
Box 3, Folder 34
August 22-September 21 1695
Physical Description: 13 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 46-58.
Box 3, Folder 35
September 21-24 1695
Physical Description: 1 item. This item is very fragile and torn in the upper righthand corner.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspaper number 59.
Box 3, Folder 36
September 26-November 7 1695
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 61,63,64,66,69,70,72,75,76,78.
The following dates are missing: September 24-26, September 28-October 1, October 5-8, October 10-15, October 19-22, October
24-29, November 2-5.
Box 3, Folder 37
November 7-December 5 1695
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 79, 81, 82, and 84-90.
The following dates are missing: November 9-12, November 16-19.
Box 3, Folder 38
December 5 1695- January 2 1696
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 91-93,95,97-102.
The following dates are missing: December 12-14, December 17-19.
Box 3, Folder 39
January 2-25 1696
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 103-112.
Box 3, Folder 40
January 25-February 18 1696
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 113-122.
Box 3, Folder 41
February 18-March 31 1696
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 123-128,136,138,139.
The following dates are missing: March 3-19, March 21-24.
Box 3, Folder 42
March 28-April 23 1696
Physical Description: 11 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 140-150.
Box 3, Folder 43
April 23-May 16 1696
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 151-160.
Box 3, Folder 44
May 16-June 9 1696
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 161-170.
Box 3, Folder 45
June 9-July 7 1696
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 171-179,181.
The following dates are missing: June 30-July 2.
Box 3, Folder 46
July 11-October 20 1696
Physical Description: 11 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 185, 218-227. The following dates are missing: July 14-September 26.
Box 3, Folder 47
December 12 1696- January 7 1697
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 251-257, 259-261. The following daes are missing: December 29-31.
Box 4, Folder 1
January 7-April 1 1697
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 262,263,265,267,273,276,292,294,296,297. The following dates are missing: January 12-14, January
16-19, January 21-February 2, February 4-9, February 11-18, March 20-23, March 25-27.
Box 4, Folder 2
April 4-24 1697
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 298-307.
Box 4, Folder 3
April 24-May 18 1697
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 308-317.
Box 4, Folder 4
May 18-June 10 1697
Physical Description: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 318-327.
Box 4, Folder 5
June 10-19 1697
Physical Description: 4 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 328-331.
Box 4, Folder 6
November 21 1710- June 28 1711
Physical Description: 7 items. These issues mark a change in The Post-Boy format. The newspaper becomes longer and two woodblock prints appear in
the upper corner.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 2423,2483,2489,2512,2215,2516,2517. The following dates are missing: November 24 1710- April
9 1711, April 12-April 24, April 26-June 16, June 16-June 23.
Box 4, Folder 7
July 21 1711- July 14 1713
Physical Description: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 2527,2531,2534,2771,2814,2815,2834,2836.
The following dates are missing: July 24-31 1711, August 2-August 7 1711, August 9 1711-February 10 1713, February 13- May
21 1713, May 23-June 16 1713, June 18-July 7 1713, July 9-July 11 1713.
The Post-Man
Subseries 2.
1704-1711
Box 4, Folder 8
June 22-July 7, 1704
General Physical Description note: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1287-1292. There are two numbered as 1288 and three numbered as 1290 but the dates are correct.
Box 4, Folder 9
July 11-29 1704
General Physical Description note: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1293-1300.
Box 4, Folder 10
July 29-August 17 1704
General Physical Description note: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1301-1308.
Box 4, Folder 11
August 17-September 5 1704
General Physical Description note: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1309-1313. There are three numbered as 1309 but the dates remain consistent.
General note
There is one loose manuscript letter addressed to Madame Pole.
Box 4, Folder 12
September 5-23 1704
Physical Description: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1314-1321.
Box 4, Folder 13
September 23-October 12 1704
Physical Description: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1322-1328.There are three numbered as 1323 but the dates remain consistent.
Box 4, Folder 14
October 12-31 1704
Physical Description: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1329-1336.Two are numbered as 1332 but the dates remain consistent.
Box 4, Folder 15
October 31-November 11 1704
Physical Description: 8 items. Some letters are disconnected from their related newspaper.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1337-1341.
Box 4, Folder 16
November 11-23 1704
Physical Description: 8 items. Some letters are disconnected from their related newspaper.
Newspaper Editions
1342-1346
Box 5, Folder 1
November 23-December 5 1704
Physical Description: 9 items. Some letters are disconnected from their related newspaper.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1348-1352.
Box 5, Folder 2
December 5 1704- February 10 1705
Physical Description: 12 items. These newspapers do not contain any manuscript.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1353-1371. There are three numbered as 1366 but dates remain consistent.
Box 5, Folder 3
February 13-March 13 1705
Physical Description: 12 items. These newspapers do not contain any manuscript.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1373-1392. Three are numbered as 1380 but dates remain consistent.
Box 5, Folder 4
March 13-June 21 1705
General Physical Description note: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1383-1385,1406-1408,1416,1417. There are two numbered as 1406 and two numbered as 1416.
The following dates are missing: March 22-May 22, May 31-June 14.
Box 5, Folder 5
June 21-July 14 1705
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1418-1425. Two are numbered as 1418 and two are numbered as 1422 but dates remain consistent.
Box 5, Folder 6
July 14-August 4 1705
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1226-1433. Two are numbered as 1431 and two as 1432 but dates remain consistent.
Box 5, Folder 7
August 9-October 9 1705
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1434,1440-1442,1450-1452. There are two newspapers numbered as 1441, two as 1450, and two as
1452 but dates remain consistent.
The following dates are missing: August 9-21, August 30-September 29.
Box 5, Folder 8
October 9-November 1 1705
General Physical Description note: 10 items. At this point in The Post Man numbering switches from 1452 to 1542 and continues on from 1542 although the dates
remain chronological.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1542-1550.
Box 5, Folder 9
November 1 1705-January 3 1706
General Physical Description note: 11 items. Some manuscript letters are detached from their related newspaper.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1550-1553,1557,1561-1565.
The following dates are missing: November 10-December 15, December 18-22.
Box 5, Folder 10
January 3-31 1706
General Physical Description note: 12 items. Only the first newspaper numbered as 1565 includes a manuscript.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1565-1573.Two are numbered as 1565, two as 1572, two as 1573.
Box 5, Folder 11
January 31-February 23 1706
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1574-1582. Two newspapers are numbered as 1581 but dates remain consistent.
Box 5, Folder 12
February 23-April 11 1706
General Physical Description note: 12 items. Only newspapers numbered 1590 and 1598 include manuscripts.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1583-1590, 1598. Three newspapers are numbered as 1586 and two as 1590.
The following dates are missing: March 21-April 9 1706.
Box 5, Folder 13
May 11-June 11 1706
General Physical Description note: 8 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes Newspapers numbered 1612,1615,1617,1619,1622-1694.
Box 5, Folder 14
September 17-October 26 1706
General Physical Description note: 8 Items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1673-1676,1678,1687-1690. No newspaper numbered as 1675 exists but the dates are consistent.
The following dates are missing: September 24-26, September 28-October 17.
Box 5, Folder 15
October 29-November 23 1706
General Physical Description note: 12 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1692-1700. Two are numbered as 1699 and three as 1700 but dates remain consistent.
Box 5, Folder 16
November 23-December 21 1706
General Physical Description note: 11 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1701 and 1704 as well as many letter and newspaper fragments.
Box 5, Folder 17
February 22-March 11 1707
General Physical Description note: 6 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1740,1742-1745.
The following dates are missing: February 25-27.
Box 6, Folder 1
October 6-29 1709
General Physical Description note: 10 items. Manuscript items unaddressed.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1801-1810.
Mixed materials 7, Folder 1, Box 6, Folder 2
October 29-December 13 1709
General Physical Description note: 12 items.
Oversized Materials
Newspapers numbered 1817-1821 (November 12-24), 1823-1824 (November 26-29), and 1827 (December 6-8) as well as one oversized
manuscript letter (dated December 15 1709) are located in Box 7.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1811-1829.
Box 6, Folder 3
December 13-24 1709
General Physical Description note: 5 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1830-1832, 1834.
The following dates are missing: December 20-22.
Box 6, Folder 4
July 8 1709- April 13 1710
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1858, 1861-1870.
The following dates are missing: July 11 1709-March 21 1710.
Box 6, Folder 5
April 13-29 1710
General Physical Description note: 7 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1871-1877.
Box 6, Folder 6
May 11-June 3 1710
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1883-1892.
Box 6, Folder 7
June 3-July 13 1710
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1892-1897, 1899. Numbering is incorrect and unreliable but dates remain consistent. The following
dates are missing: June 22-July 4.
Box 6, Folder 8
July 13-25 1710
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1890-1893, 1899-1903. Numbering is incorrect and unreliable but dates remain consistent.
The following dates are missing: July 18-20,July 25- August 5.
Box 6, Folder 9
August 19-October 10 1710
General Physical Description note: 10 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1904-1925
The following dates are missing: August 31-September 28.
Box 6, Folder 10
October 10-November 4 1710
General Physical Description note: 11 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1926-1935. Two are numbered as 1935 but dates remain consistent.
Box 6, Folder 11
November 4-25 1710
General Physical Description note: 9 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1936-1940. Three are numbered as 1939.
Unaddressed Manuscripts
Newspapers numbered as 1938-1940 contain unaddressed manuscript letters.
Box 6, Folder 12
November 15-December 14
General Physical Description note: 4 items.
Newspaper Editions
Includes newspapers numbered 1942-1949.
The following dates are missing: November 30-December 5.
Box 6, Folder 13
April 17-19 1711
General Physical Description note: 1 item.
Newspaper Editions
Includes one newspaper numbered 1598 with no attached manuscript letter.