IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 LMA/4553
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: MENDES DA COSTA AND SKILLMAN FAMILIES
Date(s): 1699-192-
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 0.15 linear metres.
Name of creator(s): Mendes da Costa | family | of London
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Emanuel Mendes da Costa was born 25 May 1717 in London to John, alias Abraham, and Johanna Mendes da Costa. A Sephardic Jewish merchant and public notary operating in the City of London, he engaged in the trade of goods including books and geologic specimens. He was interested in the study of natural science and served as Clerk to the Royal Society of London.
Emanuel Mendes da Costa's siblings included brothers Jacob, alias Philip, David (who was involved in the supply of bread to British troops in Flanders) and sister Sarah (married to Abraham Fernandes Nuņes).
Other family members included Abraham, alias John, Mendes da Costa, who refers to his brother Jacob the 3rd, (died 3 March 1752) in his will, and Moses, alias Philip, father to Abraham and grandfather to Emanuel, Philip, David and Sarah.
Emanuel was married to Elizabeth Skillman. Members of the Skillman family were living in Hendon during the 18th and 19th centuries as evident from the admission of Richard Skillman (recorded 5 May 1761) and Elizabeth Mendes da Costa, formerly Skillman, (1767). Elizabeth also figures in the apprenticeship of William Skillman, nephew of John Skillman, serving a carpenter in Hendon (1799).
In the 19th century, descendants included Emanuel Mendes da Costa Skillman (died 1903, aged 76), married to Caroline (died 1906, aged 73). They had a daughter, Amelia Jane Skillman, born at 1 Landseer Road, Upper Holloway in December 1871. Emanuel Skillman, a carpenter by profession, resided later at 54 Kingsdown Road. He and Caroline eventually resided at 7 Cromartie Road, Islington at their time of death and were buried at Islington Cemetery.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of the Mendes da Costa family, including contracts, wills, certificates, extracts, letters, invoices, certificates, and one drawing document for Emanuel Mendes da Costa and his family. Of note are documents settling the accounts from Emanuel's brother David's involvement in the sale and distribution of bread and other provisions to British troops during King George's War in Flanders, 1743. The bulk of his business-related papers show many accounts in arrears.
Several family members were known by two given names, both a Jewish and a Christian alias. Names are recorded in this catalogue as described in the documents.
Also letters, contracts, burial records, and photographs documenting the life of the Skillman family, including their life involving Hendon Manor in North London.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: French and Latin.
System of arrangement:
The records are arranged as follows: LMA/4553/01 EMANUEL MENDES DA COSTA; LMA/4553/02 SKILLMAN FAMILY.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records conta.ining personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright to this collection rests with the City of London.
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
British Records Association reference: BRA/1239.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Gifted to the archive in July 1963.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
See also records of Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation (LMA/4521).
Records relating to Emanuel Mendes da Costa can be found elsewhere (source: National Register of Archives):
c1748-67: correspondence and papers (c 60 items), Derby Local Studies Library, see Bridson, Natural history MS resources 1980
1737-87: correspondence, commonplace book and papers, British Library, Manuscript Collections Add MSS 9389, 28534-44, 29867-68; Eg MS 2381
Catalogue of fossils and notary business, Royal College of Surgeons of England see HMC MS papers of British scientists 1600-1940, 1982
Papers, Royal Society see HMC MS papers of British scientists 1600-1940, 1982
1735: notebook relating to fossils in England, Natural History Museum see Accessions to repositories 1985
1749-76: correspondence and papers (19 items), Cambridge University: Fitzwilliam Museum see HMC MS papers of British scientists 1600-1940, 1982
1752-74: correspondence with Michael Lort and Samuel Pegge, Society of Antiquaries of London MSS 447/2-3, see PJ Willetts, Manuscripts in the Society of Antiquaries of London (2000)
1752-80: correspondence with Thomas Pennant, Warwickshire County Record Office CR 2017/TP408, NRA 23685
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note:
Date(s) of descriptions: Records prepared May to September 2011.