Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- John Packes newsletters to Thomas Wood
- Dates:
- 1642-1695
- Creators:
- Packes, John
- Abstract:
- The John Packes Newsletters to Thomas Wood are a collection of letters written by John Packes, who was the business partner and London agent to Thomas Wood, concerning the East India Company and other business matters, dated from 1642 to 1695>.
- Extent:
- 4.8 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
- Language:
- English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. John Packes newsletters to Thomas Wood, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The papers consist of four boxes of newsletters written by John Packes to Edward Wood and later to Thomas Wood, with the majority of the letters addressed to the latter. The letters and documents are arranged chronologically and concern Wood's business dealings with the East India Company, as well as the prices of food, wine, medicine and miscellaneous utensils and provisions. The letters include information from the middle of the seventeenth century to the end of the seventeenth century. There are also a few documents and letters from other authors than John Pack scattered throughout the collection.
Please note: Many of the letters are un-addressed. While most of the letters are most likely written to Thomas Wood, several of them are entitled, "To Sir" and labeled accordingly
- Biographical / historical:
-
Thomas Wood (1641-1723), son of Edward Wood (c. 1604-1667), was a grocer in Littleton, now Surrey, England and a committee member of the East India Company.
John Packes was the London agent and business partner to Edward Wood, and later Thomas Wood when he took up the family seat and continued investing in the East India Company after his father's death in 1667. It appears that John Packes resided in Thomas Wood's house in the Bear Key precinct of Tower Ward, off Thames Street in London. He managed and administrated Wood's investments while also keeping him supplied with a constant stream of merchandise, provisions and food and sent it down the Thames by a Bargeman named John Loton.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased from Samuel Gedge Ltd., June 2012.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Prices -- Great Britain -- History -- 17th century
Commercial products -- England -- London -- History -- 17th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 17th century - Names:
- East India Company
Loton, John
Wood, Edward, approximately 1604-1667
Wood, Thomas, 1641-1723 - Places:
- England -- Social life and customs -- 17th century
London (England) -- Commerce -- History -- 17th century
Surrey (England) -- History -- 17th century
About this collection guide
- Date Encoded:
- This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-05-19 16:22:53 -0700 .
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
The collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please contact the Reader Services Department.
- Terms of access:
-
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, obtaining necessary permission rests with the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. John Packes newsletters to Thomas Wood, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191