Leigh family papers

Finding aid prepared by Gayle M. Richardson.
Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2191
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
© 2015
The Huntington Library. All rights reserved.


Descriptive Summary

Title: Leigh family papers
Dates: 1686/87-1866
Collection Number: mssHM 81608-81660
Creator: Leigh (Family : Adlestrop, England)
Extent: 53 items, plus the album
Repository: The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens Manuscripts Department
The Huntington Library
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2203
Fax: (626) 449-5720
Email: manuscripts@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
Abstract: The Leigh family papers is a collection of letters, poems and manuscripts of six generations of the Leigh family of Adlestrop mainly concerning family matters and the society in which they lived.
Language of Material: The records are in English.

Administration Information

Access

Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, please go to following web site  .

Publication Rights

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, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Leigh family papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Acquisition Information

Purchased by the Library Collectors' Council from Karen Thomson, Rare Books, Catalogue No. 102, January 10, 2015.

Biographical Note

The Leigh family, descended from Sir Thomas Leigh, Lord Mayor of London for Queen Elizabeth I, were a long-established family in Adlestrop in Gloucestershire. They were connected by marriage to many other wealthy families in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, including the Dukes of Chandos and the Austens. The Leighs of Adlestrop were Jane Austen’s maternal relatives.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically. It is housed in two boxes.

Scope and Content

The papers consist of the following:
Box 1: Correspondence and Manuscripts are arranged chronologically. The collection consists of letters, poems and other manuscripts written by various members of the Leigh family and other people in their circle. The letters are mainly concerned with the intimate, mundane, playful and tragic aspects of family life from the early modern period until the middle of the 19th century. There is also a small number of poems, written by or copied out by family members, a Hymn, a speech, and a travel account.
Please note: there is no material in this collection by Jane Austen nor is she a subject of any of this material. But, the Leigh Family Papers will allow researchers to develop enhanced understanding of her family and kin networks, gendered relationships, literature, and English sociability.
Box 2: Album. The 19th century volume is titled in gild on the spine, "Original Family Papers &c. Vol. 1. MSS." Letters and other material purchased by the Library Collectors’ Council have been removed from the volume by the Huntington Library Conservation Department. An unknown number of letters were removed from the volume prior to the Huntington Library purchase.
The entire collection has been digitized. Please visit the Huntington Digital Library  to view the material:

Related material in the Huntington Library includes:

  • Stowe papers, 1175-1919: Brydges family papers

Note

Cataloger's Notes
1. The decision was made to remove and conserve all material in the album. This work was done before the material was cataloged; but some evidence of original mountings (old glue, stubs, etc.) remain on the letters and manuscripts.
2. A large number of the letters and manuscripts retain the autograph ink notes written by Frederick Leigh Colvile, 1819-1886 (FLC); these notes were not noted on the folder or in the Finding Aid.

Indexing Terms

Personal Names

Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 -- Family -- Sources
Austen-Leigh, James Edward, 1798-1874
Barton, Henry, 1717 or 1718-1790
Brydges, Henry, 1676?-1728
Chandos, James Brydges, Baron, 1642-1714
Colvile, Frederick Leigh, 1819-1886
Cooper, Edward, 1770-1835
D'Oyly, Diana Rochfort, Lady, -1803
D’Oyly, John Hadley, Sir, 1754-1818
Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818
Hoskyns, Mary Leigh, Lady, 1699-1735
Leigh, Caroline Brydges, Lady, 1730-1804
Leigh, Charles, 1700-1766
Leigh, Edward, 1708-1737
Leigh, Elizabeth Craven, approximately 1651-1687
Leigh, Elizabeth, 1735-1816
Leigh (Family : Adlestrop, England) -- Archives
Leigh, James Henry, 1765-1823
Leigh, James, 1724-1774
Leigh, Joanna Pury, 1625?-1689
Leigh, Julia Twisleton, 1771-1843
Leigh, Mary Lord, approximately1695-1756
Leigh, Mary Leigh, 1731-1797
Leigh, Mary, 1728-1768
Leigh, Theophilus, approximately 1643-1725
Leigh, Theophilus, 1693-1785
Leigh, Thomas, 1734-1813
Leigh, Tryphena, 1678-1744
Leigh, William, 1691-1757
Leigh of Stoneleigh, Edward Leigh, Baron, 1742-1786
Leigh of Stoneleigh, Thomas Leigh, Baron, 1713-1749
Parr, Samuel, 1744-1825
Rowe, Elizabeth Singer, 1674-1737
Trapp, Joseph, 1679-1747
Turner, Edward, Sir, 1719-1766
Warburton, William, 1698-1779
Willes, John, Sir, 1685-1761
Wentworth, Thomas, 1693?-1747
Wight, Cassandra Leigh, 1695-1778

Subjects

Childbirth -- Great Britain -- History -- 17th century
Childbirth -- Great Britain -- History -- 18th century
Earthquakes -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Families -- Great Britain -- History -- 17th century
Families -- Great Britain -- History -- 18th century
Families -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th century
Smallpox -- Great Britain -- History -- 18th century

Geographic Areas

Bath (England) -- History -- 17th century
Bath (England) -- History -- 18th century
England -- Social life and customs -- 17th century
England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century

Genre

Drawings -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 17th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Letters (correspondence) -- Great Britain -- 19th century
Manuscripts -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Manuscripts -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Poems -- Great Britain -- 18th century
Poems -- Great Britain -- 19th century


Box 1

Correspondence, Manuscripts & Poems  (HM 81608-81660)  1686/87-1866

 

 HM 81608  Leigh, Elizabeth Craven, approximately 1651-1687. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, approximately 1643-1725 (1686/87, Mar. 12)

Red wax seal, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81609  Leigh, Elizabeth Craven, approximately 1651-1687. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, approximately 1643-1725 (1687, June 11)

Black wax seal; cover sheet, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81610  Leigh, Joanna Pury, 1625?-1689. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, approximately 1643-1725 (1688, June 23)

Oxford, England. Red wax seal, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81611  [Chandos, James Brydges, Baron, 1642-1714]. Watercolor drawing of [Embroidered Portefeuille envelope] [approximately 1700?]

On verso: description of William Colvile Esq. of Newton's signature, previously removed; with watercolor crown illustration, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81612  Leigh, Theophilus, approximately 1643-1725. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1716, June 21)

With some repair, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81613  Leigh, Tryphena, 1678-1744. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 ([1720/21]?, Feb. 28)

Barnsley, England, (4 p.). Subject: illness, smallpox
 

 HM 81614  Wight, Cassandra Leigh, 1695-1778. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 [approximately 1721?]

Red wax seal, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81615  Hoskyns, Mary Leigh, Lady, 1699-1735. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1725, May 12)

Harwood, Herefordshire, England. Black wax seal, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81616  Brydges, Henry, 1676?-1728. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1725, Sep. 16)

St. James's Street, London, England. Red wax seal, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81617  Wight, Cassandra Leigh, 1695-1778. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 ([1725/26]?, Mar. 19)

Villars Street, London, England. Red wax seal; misdated "1712" in another hand, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81618  Leigh, Mary Lord, approximately 1695. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 ([1732]?, May 11)

Red wax seal; cover sheet, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81619  Wentworth, Thomas, 1693?-1747. Letter to [Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785] (1732, Dec. 28)

London, England. Red wax seal; cover sheet repaired, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81620  Leigh, Edward, 1708-1737. Letter to [Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785] (1736, June 12)

Brussels, Belgium. Heavily repaired, (4 p.)
 

 HM 81621  Leigh, Theophilus, 1693-1785. Letter to Mary Leigh Leigh, 1731-1797 (1737, June 12)

Balliol College, Oxford, England. Red wax seal; addressed to "Molly," (2 p.)
 

 HM 81622  Turner, Edward, Sir, 1719-1766. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1739, May 5)

Sunbury, England, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81623  Trapp, Joseph, 1679-1747. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1739, Aug. 22)

Harlington, England. Red wax seal; letter repaired, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81624  Turner, Edward, Sir, 1719-1766. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1740, May 3)

London, England. Red wax seal, (2 p.). Cataloger's Note: autograph note on verso "Upon the death of Doct. Leigh first little Cassandra"
 

 HM 81625  Leigh, Theophilus, 1693-1785. Letter to [Charles Leigh, 1700-1766] (1740, May 7)

Balliol College, Oxford, England, (3 p.). Includes the note: "Copy of Part of my letter to my Br. Charles in Answer to one from Him to my Br. At Adlestrop"
 

 HM 81626  Leigh, Charles, 1700-1766. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1740, May 12)

Ross. Red wax seal; final page repaired, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81627  Warburton, William, 1698-1779. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1741, May 12)

Newark upon Trent, England, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81628  Leigh, William, 1691-1757. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1743/44, Jan. 15)

Adlestrop, Glos., England, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81629  Leigh, William, 1691-1757. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1743/44, Jan. 28)

Adlestrop, Glos., England, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81630  Leigh of Stoneleigh, Thomas Leigh, Baron, 1713-1749. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1744, Apr. 10)

Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwicks., England. Red wax seal; cover sheet, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81631  Leigh, William, 1691-1757. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1745, Oct. 26)

Adlestrop, Glos., England, (1 p.). Subject: smallpox
 

 HM 81632  Leigh, William, 1691-1757. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1745, Nov. 20)

Adlestrop, Glos., England, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81633  Leigh, William, 1691-1757. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1747, June 8)

Adlestrop, Glos., England. Black wax seal; cover sheet repaired, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81634  Leigh, Thomas, 1734-1813. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1748, Sep. 3)

Evesham, England. Final page repaired, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81635  Leigh, James, 1724-1774. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1749/50, Mar. 12)

Cavendish Square, London, England, (3 p.). Subject: Earthquakes -- England -- 18th century
 

 HM 81636  Turner, Edward, Sir, 1719-1766. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1752, Mar. 31)

London, England, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81637  Banbury, William, Sir. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1755, Mar. 26)

Upper Grosvenor Street, London, England. Red wax seal; with partial cover sheet, (2 p.)
 

 HM 81638  Leigh, Thomas, 1734-1813. Epithalamium / Sung by the Muses / on the Marriage of James Leigh…to…Lady Caroline Brydges...: [poem] (1755)

(4 p.)
 

 HM 81639  Leigh, Mary, 1728-1768. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1760, Mar. 6)

Cavendish Square, London, England, (5 p.)
 

 HM 81640  Turner, Edward, Sir, 1719-1766. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1762, June 17)

Bath, England, (4 p.)
 

 HM 81641  Turner, Edward, Sir, 1719-1766. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1763, July 28)

Adlestrop, Glos., England, (4 p.). With: annotations in another hand, including a long note on the verso of the final page concerning Sir Edward.
 

 HM 81642  Leigh of Stoneleigh, Edward Leigh, Baron, 1742-1786. Letter to Theophilus Leigh, 1693-1785 (1764, Apr. 18)

Grosvenor Street, London, England. Red wax seal; cover sheet repaired, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81643  [Leigh, Mary, 1728-1768]. A Hymn Taken from the 148th Psalm [before 1768]

(6 p.)
 

 HM 81644  Leigh, Theophilus, 1693-1785. Letter to Thomas Leigh, 1734-1813 (1774, June 17)

Balliol College, Oxford, England. Black wax seal, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81645  Leigh, Theophilus, 1693-1785. Letter to Lady Caroline Brydges Leigh, 1730-1804 (1779, Feb. 1)

Balliol College, Oxford, England. Some repair, with portion of final page torn away, (1 p.)
 

 HM 81646  [Barton, Henry, 1717 or 1718-1790]. Letter to Thomas Leigh, 1734-1813 (1785, Sep. 24)

Merton College, Oxford, England, (1 p.). Signed: "A. Nonymus."
 

 HM 81647  Willes, John, Sir, 1685-1761. On Lady Saye & Sele & Lady Hawke going to Court / Lady S: & S: in Blue & Gold Lady H: in Mourning. by the same: [poem] [approximately 1785?]

(1 p.). Copied out by Julia Twisleton Leigh, 1771-1843.
 

 HM 81648  Willes, John, Sir, 1685-1761. On Miss Turner (now Lady Saye & Sele), by John Willes Esq ---: [poem] [approximately 1785?]

(1 p.). Copied out by Julia Twisleton Leigh, 1771-1843.
 

 HM 81649  [Leigh, Elizabeth, 1735-1816]. [Account of a Tour to Malvern, & up the Wye, Herefordshire] (1797, Aug. 7-21)

(4 p.)
 

 HM 81650  [Leigh, Elizabeth, 1735-1816]. "My Dear little Neice, dont wish to be eighy..." [poem] ([1797-1798]?)

(1 p.). With autograph note on verso, written by Julia Leigh. This poem written for Julia Leigh Colvile (d. 1871), daughter of James Henry Leigh and Julia Twisleton Leigh.
 

 HM 81651  [Rowe, Elizabeth Singer, 1674-1737]. Soliloquy: [poem] [approximately 1800?]

(2 p.). Copied out by Elizabeth Leigh, 1735-1816.
 

 HM 81652  Leigh, Thomas, 1734-1813 and Leigh, Elizabeth, 1735-1816. Letter to James Henry Leigh, 1765-1823 and Julia Twisleton Leigh, 1771-1843 (1802, July 13)

Keswick, England, (3 p.)
 

 HM 81653  Hastings, Warren, 1732-1818. Letter to Thomas Leigh, 1734-1813 [1806, July 31]

Red wax seal; cover sheet repaired, (4 p.). Also enclosed: Hastings' draft of an epitaph for Lady D'Oyly (4 p.). Subject: Lady Diana Rochfort D'Oyly, d. 1803, Sir John Hadley D'Oyly, 1754-1818.
 

 HM 81654  Parr, Samuel, 1747-1825. Letter to James Henry Leigh, 1765-1823 (1816, Mar. 21)

(2 p.)
 

 HM 81655  Parr, Samuel, 1747-1825. Letter to James Henry Leigh, 1765-1823 (1819, Jan. 23)

Hatton, England. Red wax seal, (3 p.). Letter is in another hand and only signed by Parr.
 

 HM 81656  [Leigh, James Henry, 1765-1823]. Prologue [to Chrononhotonthologos] [1821]

(3 p.)
 

 HM 81657  Leigh, James Henry, 1765-1823. "It has been generally the opinion of many of the ablest supporters of Christianity that Sunday was designed by the Creator as a day of relaxation...:" [speech?] [approximately 1821]

(8 p.)
 

 HM 81658  Cooper, Edward, 1770-1835. Letter to Julia Twisleton Leigh, 1771-1843 (1823, Nov. 20)

Hamstall Ridware, Staffs., England. Black wax seal; with autograph note in an unknown hand, (5 p.). Subject: Leigh, James Henry, 1765-1823.
 

 HM 81659  Austen-Leigh, James Edward, 1798-1874. Letter to [Frederick Leigh Colvile, 1819-1886] (1866, Nov. 10)

Bray Vicarage, Maidenhead, England, (4 p.)
 

 HM 81660  Austen-Leigh, James Edward, 1798-1874. Letter to [Frederick Leigh Colvile, 1819-1886] (1866, Nov. 24)

Bray Vicarage, Maidenhead, England, (2 p.)
Box 2

19th century Album [material removed]

 

   Album. Titled in gild on the spine, "Original Family Papers &c. Vol. 1. MSS" [19th century]

All letters and other material have been removed from the volume by the Huntington Library Conservation Department.