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Catalogue description Nicholas Papers
This record is held by Manchester University: University of Manchester Library
| Reference: | NP |
|---|---|
| Title: | Nicholas Papers |
| Description: |
Records forming part of the archives of the Nicholas family of West Horsley, Surrey. They relate chiefly to Sir Edward Nicholas, to his sons John and Edward, and to the Nicholas estates in West Horsley, Surrey, and Gillingham, Dorset. There are letters to Sir Edward Nicholas as Secretary of State, 1643-44; account books of Edward Nicholas esq. as Treasurer and General Receiver, 1694-1715; important manorial court rolls for West Horsley, 1385-1709; manorial court records for Gillingham, including a court book, survey, rental, perambulation and accounts, 1469-1725; and other documents relating to property in West Horsley and Gillingham, including deeds of conveyance, mortgages, leases and accounts. |
| Date: | 14th-18th centuries |
| Related material: |
Associated material: Some of the family and personal papers of the Nicholas family are held by the British Library, Manuscript Collections (reference : Eng Ch 417-26, 486-503 Add MSS 37816-23, 41202, 44925-6, Eng MSS 2533-62). |
| Held by: | Manchester University: University of Manchester Library, not available at The National Archives |
| Language: | eng en |
| Creator: |
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| Physical description: | 0.37 cu.m |
| Immediate source of acquisition: |
The collection was purchased at auction by the John Rylands Library in 1919. |
| Custodial history: |
Accession numbers can be found in 'Archival History' at file level. |
| Publication note: |
Citation record: See Correspondence of Sir Edward Nicholas, Secretary of State, ed. by F Warner, 4 vols., (Camden Society N.S. 40, 50, 57, 3rd series xxxi 1886-1920). |
| Unpublished finding aids: |
Finding aids: published handlist, Robert Fawtier, Handlist of Charters, Deeds, and Similar Documents in the Possession of the John Rylands Library, vol. 1 (Manchester, 1925). |
| Administrative / biographical background: |
The Nicholas family have been associated with West Horsley, Surrey for several centuries. The family originated at Winterbourne Earls, Wiltshire. The best known member of the family was Sir Edward Nicholas (1593-1669), Secretary of State to Charles I and Charles II. He was a significant figure in royalist politics during and after the Civil War. Nicholas was born at Winterbourne Earls. He studied at Oxford and the Middle Temple, before serving in secretarial roles to a number of public figures including Sir John Dacombe, Edmund, Lord Zouch and George, Duke of Buckingham. In 1626 he became clerk of the council in extraordinary, and sat as MP for Dover from 1627-1628. Gradually moving closer to the centre of power during Charles I's Personal Rule, he became a clerk of the council in ordinary in 1635. In November 1641 he was made one of the King's secretaries of state, and retained this post until the execution of Charles I. Following the defeat of royalists in the Civil War he was exiled to France, and later was one of the politicians who advised Prince Charles during his exile. Following the restoration of the monarchy in 1660 he was re-appointed as secretary of state, serving in this post until ill-health forced him to retire in 1662. He spent his final years at his estate at West Horsley, Surrey, which he purchased from Carew Raleigh in 1665. His brother, Matthew (1594-1661) served as dean of St Paul's from 1660-1661. Edward Nicholas's son, Sir John Nicholas (1623-1704), served as clerk to the Privy Council, and his grandson, Edward Nicholas (d.1726) was treasurer to Queen Mary. In 1749, William Nicholas, Sir Edward's youngest grandson died without heirs, and the estate passed to Henry Weston of Ockham. |
| Link to NRA Record: |
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