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Radcliffe Family Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
The collection contains correspondence, legal documents, and business accounts pertaining to the Radcliffe family of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, and their mercantile trade with the Ottoman Empire (Galata and Aleppo), but consists primarily of business letters from Galata and Aleppo, written in the first half of the 18th century. Also includes miscellaneous papers for the Radcliffe, Clarke, and Evelyn families.
Purchased from Christopher Edwards in 2002 (2003-28).
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
This collection was processed by Teresa T. Basler in 2002. Finding aid written by Teresa T. Basler in 2002.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Subject
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Teresa T. Basler
- Finding Aid Date
- 2002
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Consists of correspondence related to the Ottoman Empire and England, as well as miscellaneous correspondence.
The subseries on the Ottoman Empire consists of correspondence concerning trade with the Ottoman Empire. The series includes letters to members of the Radcliffe family written in the first half of the 18th century by various relatives, friends, and business associates. A substantial number of letters are addressed to Sir Ralph Radcliffe, 1703-38, and to Messrs. Edward and Arthur Radcliffe, 1737-57. Includes 27 letters from Galata (near Istanbul) and 11 from Aleppo (modern Syria). Topics concern imports and exports, trading conditions, and European affairs. References are made to the Ottoman Empire and Russia. Mercantile firms mentioned in Galata include Polhill, Barker and Morse, and B. & G. Barker. This subseries is organized by geographic location and then by date.
The subseries on England includes general correspondence between Radcliffe family members of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Letters relate to current affairs in Hitchin, London, and elsewhere, including news of domestic, social, business, and local electoral matters.
Finally, the subseries of miscellaneous correspondence contains correspondence from Isaac Bulsingh in London to Ralph Radcliffe concerning business matters. The letters include references to Aleppo (Syria), Ireland, Jamaica, Gibraltar, Cadiz (Spain), and Holland. Includes an incomplete anonymous letter to John Radcliffe, probably written from America in 1775-6, mentioning the death of Dr. Warren (presumably Joseph Warren, killed at The Battle of Bunker Hill 1775) and the fact that the British troops were safely in Boston. Also includes a letter from Rome dated 1760 and addressed to Dr. Charlton by Peter Stephens
This series is arranged into three subseries: Ottoman Empire, England, and Miscellaneous.
Physical Description1 box
This subseries contains correspondence concerning trade with the Ottoman Empire. The series includes letters to members of the Radcliffe family written in the first half of the 18th century by various relatives, friends, and business associates. A substantial number of letters are addressed to Sir Ralph Radcliffe, 1703-38, and to Messrs. Edward and Arthur Radcliffe, 1737-57. Includes 27 letters from Galata (near Istanbul) and 11 from Aleppo (modern Syria). Topics concern imports and exports, trading conditions, and European affairs. References are made to the Ottoman Empire and Russia. Mercantile firms mentioned in Galata include Polhill, Barker and Morse, and B. & G. Barker. This subseries is organized by geographic location and then by date.
Arranged by geographic location, then chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This subseries includes general correspondence between Radcliffe family members of Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Letters relate to current affairs in Hitchin, London, and elsewhere, including news of domestic, social, business, and local electoral matters. This subseries is organized chronologically.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This subseries contains correspondence from Isaac Bulsingh in London to Ralph Radcliffe at Hitchin concerning business matters. The letters include references to Aleppo (Syria), Ireland, Jamaica, Gibraltar, Cadiz (Spain), and Holland. Includes an incomplete anonymous letter to John Radcliffe, probably written from America in 1775-6, mentioning the death of Dr. Warren (presumably Joseph Warren, killed at The Battle of Bunker Hill 1775) and the fact that the British troops were safely in Boston. Also includes a letter from Rome dated 1760 and addressed to Dr. Charlton by Peter Stephens. This subseries is organized by topic.
Organized by topic.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This series consists of financial documents kept by members of the Radcliffe family. Documents include a tax assessment dated 1712; an expense book of the Husbandry at Hitchin, dated 1742-43, a commonplace book and day book, and some culinary recipes and medical prescriptions. This series is organized chronologically.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This series includes family estate indentures (1592-1657), several of which concern the estate of John Evelyn (1620-1706) of Deptford, Kent, including 3 separate lists of tenants on lands in Surrey and Kent. Also included are two military commissions for Charles Clarke (husband of Evelyn Draper), one signed by Queen Anne (1708) and another by George II (1754); a group of drawings by Susanna Evelyn (later Draper), John Evelyn's daughter, and by her daughter Evelyn Draper (later Clarke); a large sheaf of dispositions made in the early 1660s against Sir Purbeck Temple (d. 1694) of Surrey, accusing him of corruption as a magistrate in allowing ale houses to function as bawdy houses; and a few printed pamphlets and maps. This series is organized by family and then chronologically.
Arranged by family, then chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder