Correspondence

  • Reference
    • GB 133 Eng MS 916-917
  • Dates of Creation
    • [c 1806-1809]
  • Physical Description
    • 225 items.

Scope and Content

The correspondence relates almost entirely to Cheshire (parochial history, manors, topography, genealogies and kindred matters). It is contained in two boxes, as follows:

  • I (Eng MS 916): Letters from William Nicholls (nos 1-11) and letters to him (nos 12-111, alphabetical sequence from Armitstead to Litler);
  • II (Eng MS 917): Letters to William Nicholls (nos 112-211, alphabetical sequence from Lyon to end) and miscellaneous letters (nos 212-225).
 Much of this correspondence appears to have been occasioned in connection with the assistance Nicholls gave to Daniel and Samuel Lysons for the account of Cheshire in their Magna Britannia (London, 1810). Nicholls circulated questions to local clergy on behalf of the Lysons, and also supplied descents of several manors. Among the correspondents are the Lysons themselves, G.F. Beltz, and Hugh Cholmondeley, Dean of Chester.

Related Material

The JRUL holds letters from Daniel and Samuel Lysons to Hester Lynch Piozzi, 1784-1821, within the Thrale-Piozzi Manuscripts (ref. GB 133 Eng MSS 552, 576 and 892). There are also 43 letters from Rev. Daniel Lysons to Davies Davenport (1757-1837), 1808-9 (ref.: Bromley Davenport Muniments, Davenport of Davenport family, papers of Davies Davenport III).

Oxford University, Bodleian Library, Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, holds letters from Samuel and Daniel Lysons to William Nicholls, 1803-1809 (ref.: GB 0161 MS Eng lett d 216 ).