PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND MILITARY OFFICES AND COMMISSIONS HELD BY THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY OF LOSELEY PARK: RECORDS

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 176 LM/SECTIONB
  • Dates of Creation
      (1258) - 1888
  • Language of Material
      English
  • Physical Description
      1079 items

Scope and Content

This section contains records relating to public offices and commissions, both in central and local government, held by the Mores and More Molyneux and related families (the Hendley and Gresham families who married into the Mores); to private offices including Sir George More's office of treasurer and receiver general to Henry Prince of Wales (d.1612); and the army, militia and naval commissions held by members of the family.

The following is a detailed summary of the contents:

LM/SECTIONB/1 SECTION B.1: PAPERS RELATING TO PUBLIC OFFICES AND COMMISSIONS HELD BY THE MORE AND MORE MOLYNEUX FAMILY (1258)-1763
National or central government offices are listed first, in chronological order of acquisition by the family. The offices represented and dates of the surviving records are as follows: King's Remembrancer and Chamberlain of the Exchequer, 1453-1629; Judge of the King's Bench, 1529-30; Treasurer and Receiver-General to Henry, Prince of Wales, c.1457-1613; Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, 1611-1626; Lieutenant of the Tower of London, 1613-1618; commissioner to collect royal debts, 1611-1633. Thereafter are listed records of offices within local government as follows: Sheriff of Surrey, Sussex and Kent, 1532-1687; Muster Commissioner and Deputy Lieutenant, 1522-1759; Justice of the Peace, 1462-1763; commissions to investigate property disputes and arbitrate, 1546-1697; Vice-Admiral of Sussex, 1382-1591; commissioner to collect subsidies, forced loans, benevolences and other taxation, and the lottery of 1568/9, (1334)-1671; Ulnager of Cloth for Surrey and Sussex, c.1505-1610; commissioner to survey chantry lands in Surrey and Sussex, 1546-1548; commissioner for church goods, 1549-1553; commissioner to seek out recusants, Jesuits and seminary priests, 1575-1613; commissioner for Causes Ecclesiastical, 1577-1591; special commissions, 1557-1628; Verderer of Windsor Forest and other forest offices, 1312-1619; commissioner for sewers, 1565-1568; Deputy Master of the Swans for Surrey, 1572-1593; steward of royal manor of Witley, (1259)-1588. Papers relating to a particular office which cannot be associated with a member of the More family have still been listed under that office in chronological sequence. This particularly applies to a small number of 14th and 15th century documents. Some papers in the sections for the offices of Sheriff and taxation commissioner relate to the Hendley family of Kent and Sussex and to James Gresham, both related to the Mores through marriage. Surviving records of national and local offices held by Sir Thomas Cawarden are listed with the remainder of his papers in section E.4.

LM/SECTIONB/1/1 B.1.1: KING'S REMEMBRANCER AND EXCHEQUER OFFICE PAPERS 1513-1608
Christopher More was serving as a Clerk in the Exchequer by 1505 and by 1526 was a secondary in the lord treasurer's remembrancer's office. In 1542 he was appointed King's remembrancer and held the office until his death. His son, Sir William More was appointed chamberlain of the Exchequer in 1591 (see LM/333, section A.5.15, containing copy of his appointment and oath) and Sir George More appears to have inherited that office. The attribution of some of these papers as deriving from the Mores' Exchequer offices is tentative.

LM/SECTIONB/1/2 B.1.2: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF JUDGE OF THE KING'S BENCH 1529-1530
Sir John More (?1453-1530), the father of Sir Thomas More, Lord Chancellor, married Sir Christopher More's sister Alice. He appears to have been a Judge of the King's Bench from 1526 until his death in late 1530.

LM/SECTIONB/1/3 B.1.3: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF TREASURER AND RECEIVER GENERAL TO HENRY PRINCE OF WALES c.1457-1741
Sir George More was appointed treasurer and receiver general to Henry Prince of Wales (1594-1612), eldest son of King James I, in Dec 1610 and held the offices until Prince Henry's death in Nov 1612. The patent appointing Sir George More Treasurer to Henry Prince of Wales (LM/1661) bears a perfect impression of the Prince's Great Seal which may be unique; neither the Public Record Office, the British Museum, the Bodleian, Cambridge University Library, nor the Society of Antiquaries possesses an example. For an account of the revenue, expenses and jewels of Prince Henry published by William Bray in Archaeologia, see LM/1654, section F.28.3.8; Bray also published an account of William Smeth, paymaster of the Prince's buildings: for copy, see G85/41/1 pp892-9. See also LM/1331/20, section C, LM/COR/4/32 and Z/407 sec.3.1.2 for further papers.

LM/SECTIONB/1/4 B.1.4: PAPERS RELATING TO THE CHANCELLORSHIP OF THE ORDER OF THE GARTER 1611-1626
Sir George More was chancellor of the Order of the Garter from 1611 to 1630. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; for further papers in the Folger Shakespeare Library see Z/407 sec.3.1.4; for documents relating to the patent to collect the King's debts, granted to Sir George More on his surrender of the chancellorship in 1630, see below, section B.1.6.

LM/SECTIONB/1/5 B.1.5: PAPERS RELATING TO THE LIEUTENANCY OF THE TOWER OF LONDON 1613-1618
Sir George More was Lieutenant of the Tower of London from 1615 to 1618. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; further papers are held by the Folger Shakespeare Library (see Z/407 sec.3.1.3) For transcripts of letters to More from King James I concerning the imprisonment of Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, see G K Hyland, A Century of Persecution (London, 1920).

LM/SECTIONB/1/6 B.1.6: PAPERS RELATING TO COMMISSION TO COLLECT ROYAL DEBTS 1611-1633
In 1630, on his surrender of the chancellorship of the Order of the Garter, Sir George More was granted a patent to collect the King's debts. See also L.b.690-691 for a petition and queries relating to the commission (Z/407 sec.3.2.4).

LM/SECTIONB/1/7 B.1.7: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF OF SURREY, SUSSEX AND KENT 1392-1687
Christopher More served as sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in 1532-3 and 1539-40; William More served in 1558-9 and 1579-80; George More in 1597-8 and Sir William More II in 1668-9. This group of papers also includes some relating to shrievalties of Sir Thomas Hendley (Sir William More II married Mary Hendley, daughter of Sir Walter Hendley of Cuckfield, Sussex, in 1665): Kent, 1637-8, and Sussex, 1645-6. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; for further papers relating to Sir William More's service as sheriff, see Z/407 sec.2.1.1; for papers relating to the seizure of Thomas Cawarden's armour by the sheriff of Surrey in 1554 see Z/407 sec.8.1.1.

LM/SECTIONB/1/8 B.1.8: PAPERS RELATING TO MUSTER COMMISSIONS, AND THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY LIEUTENANT 1522-1759
Sir Christopher More was appointed a muster commissioner in 1545. Sir William More I was appointed a deputy lieutenant in 1569, 1580 and 1588 and served as a muster commissioner on several occasions; Sir George More was appointed a muster commissioner in 1580 and a deputy lieutenant in 1600; Sir Robert More (d.1626), Sir Poynings More (d.1649), Sir William More II (d.1684), Sir Thomas Molyneux (d.1719), Sir More Molyneux (d.1760), James More Molyneux (d.1759) and Thomas More Molyneux (d.1776) all also served as deputy lieutenants. See also LM/1508 below for letter concerning funding of soldiers, 1591; further muster and lieutenancy papers can be found in 6729 and in LM/COR/- [database available]; for papers relating to personal military service and commissions of the Mores and More-Molyneux see below, sections B.3.1-6; for papers relating to Sir Anthony Browne's service in the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536, and to Sir Thomas Cawarden's service against France in 1544, see sections E.4.1 and E.4.4. See also L.b.97, 100 and 236 (Z/407 sec.2.1.1) for further papers relating to the deputy lieutenancy, 1588. Many of the documents have been published by Surrey Record Society in the four volumes of Surrey Musters, as referred to in individual document descriptions below.

LM/SECTIONB/1/9 B.1.9: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF JUSTICE OF THE PEACE 1462-1763
Several members of the More, later More Molyneux, family were on the commission of the peace for Surrey: Christopher More, William More I and George More were very active in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries; and William More II also appears to have been a diligent justice after the Restoration in 1660. Many of the post-Restoration papers appear to have been kept to serve as forms and exemplars to assist Sir William More II in his work as a justice of the peace and relate in particular to petty sessions business, chiefly conducted at the White Hart Inn or Red Lion Inn, Guildford. The papers have been broadly sorted by function and thereafter chronologically within each group. The groups are: proclamations and instructions from the Council; general sessions business; crime and disorder; licensing of alehouses, victuallers, badgers etc; economic regulation; enforcement of poor law and oversight of parochial administration; enforcement of religious conformity and complaints against the clergy; purveyance for the royal household; legal formularies. Papers relating to investigations into and arbitration of disputes over the title to property, in some of which the Mores were acting as justices, in others under special commissions from the central courts and in others as local persons of standing and repute have been grouped together in a separate section which follows this, section B.1.10. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; further papers relating to the work of Sir Christopher More, Sir William More and Sir George More as justices of the peace in Surrey are in the Folger Shakespeare Library (see Z/407 secs.1.1, 2.1.1, 3.1.1).

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/1 B.1.9.1: Proclamations and Instructions from the Council 1462-1747
Only proclamations and instructions of a more general nature are listed here; others will be found in the relevant section below.

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/2 B.1.9.2: General Sessions business, including complaints against Justices 1561-1763
For record of gaol delivery of Guildford Castle by judges of the King's Bench, Feb 1530, including lists of justices and calendar of prisoners, see section B.1.2.

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/3 B.1.9.3: Crime and Disorder 1564-1756

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/4 B.1.9.4: Licensing of Alehouses, Victuallers, Badgers etc. 1565-1682
See also LM/1046/1 for alehouse in Artington, 1674, and references to the selling of meat by innkeepers, section B.1.9.7.

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/5 B.1.9.5: Economic Regulation 1561-1678

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/6 B.1.9.6: Enforcement of the Poor Law and oversight of parochial administration c.1574-1754
This group begins with poor rate assessments and accounts listed alphabetically by parish. Other documents are then listed chronologically.

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/7 B.1.9.7: Enforcement of Religious Conformity and complaints against the clergy 1539-1683
Records of specific commissions against recusants, Jesuits and seminary priests and those relating to Sir William More's activities as a member of the High Commission for Causes Ecclesiastical from 1576 are listed separately below (sections B.1.16 and B.1.17). For petition to Parliament by the parishioners of Godalming against their vicar, 1642, see LM/590, section C.1. See also Z/407 sec.2.1.1 for documents relating to Anabaptists, 1561, and the suppression of the 'Family of Love', 1580; see also L.b.200 (Z/407 sec.6.1) for information concerning conventicles, 1680. For testimonial by George More on behalf of Mr Wilson of St Nicholas, see LM/1866, section D.7. See also correspondence in 6729 and LM/COR [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/8 B.1.9.8: Purveyance 1589-1672
See also LM/1330/62 in section B.1.8.

LM/SECTIONB/1/9/9 B.1.9.9: Legal formularies 1654-c.1678

LM/SECTIONB/1/10 B.1.10: PAPERS RELATING TO INVESTIGATIONS INTO PROPERTY DISPUTES AND LOCAL ARBITRATION 1515-1711
Detailed investigation of many of the papers listed in this section has not yet taken place and it is not clear in some of cases why the Mores were involved. In some instances they were acting as justices to investigate inheritance and property disputes, in others they were appointed to ad hoc commissions to deal with specific disputes and arbitrate between dissenting parties. In others they were probably called in as local figures of standing to act as mediators. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/1/11 B.1.11: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF VICE-ADMIRAL OF SUSSEX AND TO MARITIME AFFAIRS 1382-1591
William More served as vice-admiral for Sussex under three Lord High Admirals of England: Edward Lord Clinton and Say (from 1559); Edward Earl of Lincoln (from 1577); and Charles Lord Howard of Effingham (from 1585). Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; for papers at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 1562-1578, see Z/407 sec.2.1.4.

LM/SECTIONB/1/12 B.1.12: PAPERS RELATING TO COMMISSIONS TO COLLECT SUBSIDIES, FORCED LOANS, BENEVOLENCES AND OTHER TAXATION (1334)-1756/7
Sir Christopher More, Sir William More I and Sir George More all served on a number of occasions as local commissioners for the assessing and levying of subsidies, loans, benevolences, aids and other forms of taxation. Sir William More II and his uncle James Gresham both served as commissioners for assessment in west Surrey between 1661 and 1680. Of particular note are papers relating to William More's appointment as treasurer in Surrey of the Lottery of 1568/9; further letters and papers are to be found in 6729/7/144. The records also include a number of records of taxation in Kent and the Cuckfield district of Sussex during the Civil War and Commonwealth period which relate to Sir Thomas Hendley, grandfather of Sir William More II's wife, Mary Hendley. Further letters relating to the work of Sir William and Sir George More as subsidy and loan commissioners can be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; for papers at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 1571-1604, see Z/407 secs.2.1.3 and 3.1.1. For other documents relating to land tax, see also LM/361-362 and LM/628, section A.3.7.13

LM/SECTIONB/1/13 B.1.13: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF ULNAGER OF CLOTH FOR SURREY AND SUSSEX c.1505-1610
Christopher More acquired the office of ulnager [alnager] of cloth for Surrey and Sussex, responsible for the official measurement and inspection of woollen cloth, in 1505. He was succeeded in the post by his son William More, who in turn was succeeded by George More. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/1/14 B.1.14: PAPERS RELATING TO COMMISSIONS TO SURVEY CHANTRY LANDS IN SURREY AND SUSSEX 1546-1548
Sir Christopher More was appointed to commissions to survey chantry lands in Surrey, Sussex and Southwark in 1546 and Surrey, Sussex and Chichester in 1548.

LM/SECTIONB/1/15 B.1.15: PAPERS RELATING TO COMMISSION FOR CHURCH GOODS 1549-1553
In March 1549 commissioners were active in Surrey taking indented inventories of church goods, plate, ornaments and vestments, one copy of which was to remain in the parish, the other to be lodged with the custos rotulorum or clerk of the peace. It does not appear that William More or Sir Thomas Cawarden acted as commissioners at this stage. In May 1552 further commissioners, including Sir Thomas Cawarden, were appointed to take new inventories and summon parish juries to answer questions about goods that had been lost or sold and about the church accounts. The new inventories were made between September and December 1552 and it is probable that the 1549 inventories that survive in LM/1085/20 below were also collected by the 1552 commissioners. Finally, in January 1553, a commission was appointed to oversee the collection and sale of church plate and other goods and was authorised to appoint local commissions within each county to assist it in its task. A commission for Surrey was appointed in April 1553 and included Sir Thomas Cawarden and William More. The Surrey commissioners apportioned the workload between themselves, Cawarden being one of those responsible for the eastern half of the county, and More one of those active within the western half. Parishes were allowed to retain a chalice and a cloth for the communion table; otherwise plate and ready money were to be delivered to the Jewel House and vestments and other goods sold and the money similarly delivered. Surplus linen artefacts could be distributed among the poor. The Surrey commissioners appear to have completed their work in June 1553. The documents in LM/1085/20 below are published in Surrey Archaeological Collections, vols IV, XXI, XXII, XXIII, and XXIV; the last has a parish index. See also 6729/3/21, LM/COR/10/6 & 14 and LM/COR/3/216 for further letters.

LM/SECTIONB/1/16 B.1.16: PAPERS RELATING TO COMMISSIONS TO SEEK OUT RECUSANTS, JESUITS AND SEMINARY PRIESTS 1575-1613
Sir William More and George More were both, on a number of occasions, appointed commissioners to seize the weapons of recusants and arrest seminary priests and Jesuits. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; many records relating to recusancy are now held at the Folger Library, for which see Z/407 sec.2.1.1; the Folger also holds papers relating to William More's custody of the Earl of Southampton, 1570-1573 (Z/407 sec.2.1.2). See G K Hyland, A Century of Persecution (London, 1920) for references to these and other Loseley Mss concerning recusancy. For records relating to enforcement of religious conformity by the justices of the peace, see section B.1.9.7.

LM/SECTIONB/1/17 B.1.17: PAPERS RELATING TO HIGH COMMISSION FOR CAUSES ECCLESIASTICAL 1577-1591
Sir William More was appointed to the High Commission for Causes Ecclesiastical in 1576 (see Folger MS Lb.244 and MS Lb.255, Z/407 sec.2.1.1). Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/1/18 B.1.18: PAPERS RELATING TO SPECIAL COMMISSIONS 1557-1645
These records relate to ad hoc commissions granted to Sir William and Sir George More to investigate alleged offences or other matters; also the county standing committee which met during the Civil War period, of which Poynings More was a member. Records relating to commissions to investigate and arbitrate property disputes are separately listed above (section B.1.10). Records relating to commissions to survey and administer the estates of deceased Bishops of Winchester are listed with papers relating to offices held by the Mores within the Bishopric in section B.2.3. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/1/19 B.1.19: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF VERDERER OF WINDSOR FOREST AND TO KEEPERSHIPS OF ROYAL PARKS 1312-1619
Sir Christopher More, Sir William More and Sir George More all served as verderers and woodwards within the Surrey bailliwick of the royal forest of Windsor which extended over a large portion of West Surrey embracing Guildford, Woking, Bagshot, Henley and Byfleet parks. Christopher, William and George More also held stewardships of the royal manor and park of Witley, for which see section B.1.22 below. For papers relating to cases of poaching within the Forest see section B.1.9.3 above. Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/1/20 B.1.20: PAPERS RELATING TO A COMMISSION FOR SEWERS 1565-1568
William More was a commissioner for sewers, reporting on the state of the River Wey, between 1565 and 1568. See 5403/2/2 for writ for the hearing of oaths of commissioners, 1563, and 6729/8/21.

LM/SECTIONB/1/21 B.1.21: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY MASTER OF THE SWANS FOR SURREY 1572-1593
William More gained the office of deputy for Surrey to the master of the game of swans in the Thames and its tributaries in 1593. See also LM/1327/6, section F.3, for a notebook containing copies of swan marks and instructions for executing the office of the Master of the Game of Swans; other letters will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/1/22 B.1.22: PAPERS RELATING TO STEWARDSHIP OF ROYAL MANOR OF WITLEY (1258)-1588
For grant of stewardship to William More, see 6729/7/10, and for grant to Sir John Wolley, see MS Lb.612, Z/407 sec.2.2.3. The manor of Witley later passed into George More's possession; some records of the manor and park are listed in section A (LM/210, A.3.7.10 and LM/938, A.6.9.6) and section G.3.9. For survey of Witley Park, 16th cent, see LM/1081/36, section B.1.19

LM/SECTIONB/2 SECTION B.2: PRIVATE OFFICES AND COMMISSIONS OF THE MORES AND MORE MOLYNEUX (1279)-1890
This section includes records generated through private offices held by members of the More family. The groups are arranged chronologically by acquisition of office; the offices and dates of the surviving papers are as follows: surveyor to Margaret, Countess of Salisbury, 1522; offices relating to the estates of the bishopric of Winchester, 1515-c.1632; treasurer and receiver general to Henry Prince of Wales, c.1457-1613.

LM/SECTIONB/2/1 B.2.1: PAPERS RELATING TO THE OFFICE OF SURVEYOR TO THE COUNTESS OF SALISBURY 1522-PRE 1541
Christopher More held the office of surveyor to Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, (1473-1541) by 1521. See 6729/2/12 for a memorandum by the Countess authorising More's fee, 1522.

LM/SECTIONB/2/2 B.2.2: GRANTS OF FEES TO SIR CHRISTOPHER MORE 'PRO BONO CONSILIO' 1492-1541
See also LM/345/29 in section B.2.1 above and LM/345/100, grant of rents from Fastbridge, Alfold, in section G.4.15. For list of fees, see G145/box62/3.

LM/SECTIONB/2/3 B.2.3: RECEIVER GENERAL OF THE PRECEPTORY OF POLING 1532-1535

LM/SECTIONB/2/4 B.2.4: OFFICES AND GRANTS RELATING TO ESTATES OF THE BISHOP OF WINCHESTER (1380)-1661
The following group relates to the More interest in the Bishop of Winchester's estates, both through offices granted by the Bishop and through royal commissions to administer the Bishopric estates during vacancies. William More was appointed as constable of Farnham Castle in 1565, and in 1575 William More and his son George as his heir were granted the posts of Constable of Farnham Castle and Chief Keeper and Surveyor of the Chases and Parks with fees and venison yearly: see LM/348/100/1-2 below. William was appointed as an executor of the Bishop of Winchester in 1579 (see 6729/1/56), and also to commissions to survey and administer the see of Winchester in 1594 and 1595 or 1596. The estates included the manor of Farnham and the hundred court, and Frensham Ponds. Frensham Ponds were normally leased with the southern chase of Farnham Park, the responsibility of the constable of the castle (VCH Vol II; see also LM/1327/16, section A.2, including deed relating to custody of the 'Little Park'), and there are a number of records in this group relating to curbing of poaching of fish. See business of the justices of the peace, section B.1.9.3 for further records of poaching. Sir George More surrendered the position of constable in return for a pension during James I's reign (see LM/554 below), but retained an interest in Frensham Ponds by private conveyance. (For a records, 1662-1680 relating to the Ponds, see LM/565/2, section A.5.9) Other letters and papers will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available].

LM/SECTIONB/2/4/1 B.2.4.1: Financial Accounts and Papers relating to Administration of Bishopric 1530-c.1596
LM/SECTIONB/2/4/2 B.2.4.2: Constable of Farnham Castle (1380)-c.1632
LM/SECTIONB/2/4/3 B.2.4.3: Manor of Farnham 1515-late 16th cent
For the dispute between the Bishop of Winchester and Anthony [Browne], Viscount Montague, see LM/COR/3/- [database available]
LM/SECTIONB/2/4/4 B.2.4.4: Little Park, Farnham 1573-1582
LM/SECTIONB/2/4/5 B.2.4.5: Frensham Ponds (1550)-1661

LM/SECTIONB/3 SECTION B.3: PAPERS RELATING TO ARMY, NAVAL AND MILITIA COMMISSIONS 1660-1815
This section comprises papers relating to the personal military service of members of the More and More Molyneux family, either in the regular army or navy or in the militia. It does not contain papers relating to exercise of the offices of muster commissioner or deputy lieutenant within Surrey: these will be found in section B.1.8 above. The groups within this section are as follows: early commissions, 1660-1688; James More Molyneux's commission as captain of a militia company, 1758-63; Thomas More Molyneux's commissions in the 45th Regiment of Foot 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, 1747-1776; James More Molyneux's commission as a captain in the Surrey Light Dragoons, 1795-1802; Henry More Molyneux's naval service, 1807-1815, Admiral Sir Robert More Molyneux's naval service, chiefly in Egypt, 1882-1888. Papers relating to Sir Anthony Browne's command of a force to suppress the Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536, and Sir Thomas Cawarden's command of a contingent in the invasion of France in 1544 will be found in sections E.4.1 and E.4.4; further papers relating to military commands of the More family will be found in 6729/- and LM/COR/- [database available]; see also MS Lb.706 (Z/407 section 6.1) for an appointment by Viscount Mordaunt of Sir William More, bart, as cornet of troop of horse in Surrey, 1660.

LM/SECTIONB/3/1 B.3.1: EARLY COMMISSIONS 1660-1685

LM/SECTIONB/3/2 B.3.2: PAPERS RELATING TO JAMES MORE MOLYNEUX'S COMMISSION AS CAPTAIN OF A MILITIA COMPANY 1758-1763
James More Molyneux (?1723-1759) was given the command of a Godalming militia company in 1758.

LM/SECTIONB/3/3 B.3.3: PAPERS RELATING TO THOMAS MORE MOLYNEUX'S COMMISSIONS 1747-1776
Thomas More Molyneux (?1724-1776) joined the 45th Regiment of Foot and had been promoted to captain while on campaign by Jul 1747 (see LM/COR/11/-). Following the disbandment of the 45th Regiment in 1748, he was commissioned as an ensign in the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards in 1747 and was subsequently promoted to the ranks of lieutenant and captain in 1753, captain and lieutenant-colonel in 1761 and colonel in 1773. During the Seven Years War (1756-1763) he saw service in Germany.

LM/SECTIONB/3/4 B.3.4: PAPERS RELATING TO JAMES MORE MOLYNEUX'S COMMISSION AS A CAPTAIN IN THE SURREY LIGHT DRAGOONS 1795-1802
James More Molyneux (1760-1823) served as a captain in the Surrey Light Dragoons, raised to supplement the regular army during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. For his travel diaries see LM/1327/25-29, section F.18.

LM/SECTIONB/3/5 B.3.5: NAVAL LOGBOOKS OF HENRY MORE MOLYNEUX 1807-1815
Henry More Molyneux (d.1822), eldest son of James More Molyneux (d.1823) was commissioned as a midshipman in the Royal Navy in 1807. He served on HMS Revenge, HMS Tonnant and HMS Horatio.

LM/SECTIONB/3/6 B.3.6: PAPERS RELATING TO NAVAL CAREER IN EGYPT OF ADMIRAL SIR ROBERT HENRY MORE MOLYNEUX (1838-1904) 1882-1888
Robert Henry More Molyneux, later Admiral Sir Robert More Molyneux, was the third son of James More Molyneux of Loseley Park. He entered the navy in 1852, and served in the Crimea, west Africa, the West Indies, the Levant and Burma, before being stationed in Alexandria, Egypt, initially as captain of HMS Invincible. In May 1884, he was appointed commodore of ships in the Red Sea, with responsibility for protecting Suakin. By c.1886, More Molyneux had returned to Britain. He served as captain-superintendant to the Sheerness dockyard until May 1888, and subsequently held administrative positions. He was made an admiral in 1899. Source: Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, 1901-1911 (Oxford, 1920).

Administrative / Biographical History

This catalogue describes those papers of the More and More Molyneux family of Loseley Park, Artington, which relate to parliamentary, national and international affairs between c.1536-1775. For a full introduction to the family, its estates and records see catalogue LM.

Access Information

There are no access restrictions.

Acquisition Information

Deposited by Major James More-Molyneux of Loseley Park near Guildford in 1950 and by Mr and Mrs M More-Molyneux in October and December 1999.

Other Finding Aids

An item level description of the archive is available on the Surrey History Centre online catalogue