pay&power: Galton family

The Galton family papers held at Birmingham City Archives are a unique collection of mid-18th century business records and correspondence, accompanied by a considerable amount of personal correspondence.

The Galton family were Quakers and lived in Birmingham from the mid-18th century. Their arms manufacturing business, Farmer & Galton, prospered during the 18th century, supplying guns to merchants in Bristol and Liverpool. The guns were than sold on the west coast of Africa in return for slaves.

Pencil sketch of the house at Dudson, 1815.

James Farmer to Samuel Galton, letter regarding muskets, September 1754.

"Mr Saml. Galton, London Septem. 10, 1754.

"Since my last, I received your favour of 5th and 7 Inst. and I am glad you are like to furnish Mr Bayd's order in time & desire you would forward as fast as possible the 800 Bonny Muskets as will be wanted as well as Messrs Oswald & Co.: and shall want further to be hear in a Month for Mr John Peter Blaquier 700 Angola Muskets very neat ... "

Images copyright of Birmingham City Archives; collection catalogued as part of the pay&power project.

A workshop considered the potential for using this collection in adult education for the under-25s, from developing basic skills to sociology.