Catalogue description GRAHAM-CLARKE (HESTERCOMBE) MSS.

This collection forms the third deposit of Hestercombe MSS to reach the Somerset Record Office. Previous deposits have come from:

(1) [ref. DD/AS 1 - 5], who bought the reversionary interest in the estate in 1823 and who sold it upon the death of the life tenant, Miss E.M.T. Warre, in 1872 to Lord Portman

and

(2) papers, correspondence, etc., mainly of the 18th century sent to the Somerset Archaeological Society in 1884 by Reginald Warre [see Pedigree A] through A. Maynard and subsequently deposited with the Society's records [ref. DD/SAS FA41 - 159]

The present deposit and Pedigree illustrates his relationship, through his grandmother, Emma Jane Eagles, with the Tyndale (Warre) family. A letter found with the collection [DD/GC 107 below] written probably in 1896 explains how these documents came to Frocester, although the Eagles family never inherited Hestercombe:

'I am sorry to say Lord Portman does not care to have the deeds. What are we to do with them?

It has struck me that Cousin Emma might like to have them as they have so many Hestercombe relics and there would be plenty of room at Frocester for them ....'

The collection, naturally, consists largely of deeds, leases and estate records of Hestercombe, with the addition of the 17th century acquisitions in West Monkton, Creech St Michael and Middlezoy. According to Collinson the manors of West Monkton and Middlezoy were purchased by Thomas Warre, second son of Richard, but, although the actual deeds of purchase of these properties are not preserved in this collection, associated documents seem to indicate that his father, Richard, purchased West Monkton from Humphrey Quicke in 1616 and Middlezoy from Peter Van Loer in c.1617. Middlezoy was sold to Richard Meade in 1815. The property in Creech came to the Warre family upon the marriage of Anne, daughter of Robert Cuffe, and Sir Francis Warre; the manorial lordship did not pass under this settlement.

There is a small amount of correspondence, notably a group of letters from Christopher Anstey to Coplestone Warre Bampfylde (DD/GC 103) and some trust deeds and accounts, which illustrate a less well-known side of the latter's activities.

The remainder of the collection consists of deeds and other documents relating not only to the estates but also the business activities of related families, principally the families of two Bristol merchants, Farell and Jones.

From letters in DD/AS it appears that they had some expectation of this, for the conveyance of the reversion had never been publicized and among those who knew there was an impression that Miss Warre had repurchased it.

PROPERTY TENURE AND PERSONAL ESTATE

1-18 Main Somerset properties (Hestercombe Estate, West Monkton, Middlezoy and Creech St Michael)

19-26 Other Somerset properties involving associated or related families

27, 28 Cheshire properties (Booth and Tyndale)

29, 30 Devon and Dorset properties (Warre and Bampfylde)

31-45 Bristol properties (Farell, Jones and Bearpacker)

46-50 Gloucestershire properties (Farell, Jones and Bearpacker)

51 Herefordshire properties (Merrick)

52, 53 Wiltshire properties (Jones and Bearpacker)

54-60 Leases of Somerset properties

61-70 Personal estate, trust matters, wills (Warre, Bampfylde and Tyndale)

71-75 Personal estate, wills, business activities (Farell and Jones)

76, 77 Personal estate (Merrick and Bearpacker)

MANORIAL AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION

Surveys, maps, etc.

78-81, 86 West Monkton

82-86 Middlezoy

87-91 Creech St Michael

92 Ruishton

93 Weston-under-Penyard

94-96 Miscellaneous estate papers

HOUSEHOLD AND PERSONAL INTERESTS

97, 98 Hestercombe household, inventories and accounts

99-102 Commissions and appointments (Warre, Tyndale and Bampfylde)

103-105 Correspondence (Warre, Tyndale and Bampfylde)

106-108 Miscellaneous papers

See also DD/PR

C/1133

• Warre family of Hestercombe, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Somerset
• Cheddon Fitzpaine, Somerset
• Middlezoy, Somerset
• West Monkton, Somerset