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British Library of Political and Economic Science

Bedford Household Accounts


IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0097 COLL MISC 0147

Held at: British Library of Political and Economic Science

Title: Bedford Household Accounts

Date(s): 1660-1760

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 14 boxes

Name of creator(s): Russell | family | Dukes of Bedford

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Russell family, Dukes of Bedford: The Russell family first appeared prominently in the reign of Henry VIII. John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford, c1486-1555, was Lord High Steward and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal under Henry VIII and Edward VI. He was created 1st Earl of Bedford in 1550, and had a part in arranging the marriage of Mary I to Philip II of Spain. He died possessing lands, which have remained in the family until the 20th century; these now include Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire and large parts of Bloomsbury in London. His son, Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, c 1527-1585, was an Privy Councillor under Elizabeth I and President of the Council of Wales. Francis Russell, 4th Earl of Bedford, 1593-1641, was an opponent of Charles I in the House of Lords. William Russell, 5th Earl and 1st Duke of Bedford, 1613-1700, fought first for Parliament and then for the king in the Civil War. In 1694, when his sons attainder was reversed, the 5th earl was made Duke of Bedford. John Russell, 4th Duke of Bedford, 1710-1771, served in the cabinets of Henry Pelham, 4th Duke of Newcastle, 1696-1754, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, 1713-1792, and George Grenville, 1712-1770. He was the leader of a faction of Whig politicians, known as the Bedford Group.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Bills, receipts and business letters handled by the agents of the Dukes of Bedford. Usually each bill bears the signature of the then Duke and / or his agent sanctioning payment to be made, as well as the signature of the recipient of the money or the recipient's agent. The remaining manuscripts are records of money coming in to the Bedford estates or business letters or market reports from accredited agents of the Dukes of Bedford. The collection has been arranged in subject sections. Each section is in chronological order.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: English

System of arrangement:

14 boxes

Conditions governing access:

OPEN

Conditions governing reproduction:

APPLY TO ARCHIVIST

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids:

Printed handlist available

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Output from CAIRS using template 14 and checked by hand on May 8, 2002

Date(s) of descriptions: May 8, 2002


INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Aristocracy | Social structure
Financial administration | Finance
Households | Family

Personal names
Russell | family | Dukes of Bedford

Corporate names

Places