The records in this group relate to private activities of the More and More Molyneux family other than those relating to the Loseley estate. The relatively insubstantial quantity in the following groups is due to a major series of family correspondence relating to both official and private matters, which is is now held as LM/COR/- and 6729/- (see main introduction). A database of this correspondence up to 1688 is available.
The first section of the list describes documents relating to individual family members, 16th to 19th cent, including an account of the expenses incurred and presents received at the wedding of Elizabeth More to Richard Polsted, 1567 (LM/2021), estimate of the cost of buying a plantation in Barbados, 17th cent (LM/2022), and travel diaries of James More Molyneux in Morocco and Spain, 1785-1786 (LM/1327/25-27); this is succeeded by bills and receipts for personal expenditure relating to more than one individual, 1580-19th cent; then material relating to the Loseley library, scholarship and unattributed writings arranged by subject, including family pedigrees, a large collection of culinary and medical recipes (LM/1379), music for the flageolet (LM/1327/18), William Bray's account of the first three Mores (LM/1654), and printed plans, 1708-1811.
The following is a detailed summary of the contents:
LM/SECTIONF/1 SECTION F.1: JOHN MORE 1486
It has been assumed that the John More in the document below is the father of Christopher More, rather than his brother-in-law.
LM/SECTIONF/2 SECTION F.2: SIR CHRISTOPHER MORE (d.1549) 1509-1549 Correspondence and papers relating to Sir Christopher More's estates, public and private offices and commissions, parliamentary business and executorships will be found listed in the relevant sections of this catalogue; further correspondence and papers will also be found in LM/COR/1/- (database available) and in the Folger Library (microfilm available: see Z/407 sec.1). See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/3 SECTION F.3: SIR WILLIAM MORE (1520-1600) 1556-c.1590 Correspondence and papers relating to Sir William More's estates, public and private offices and commissions, parliamentary business and executorships will be found listed in the relevant sections of this catalogue; further correspondence and papers will also be found in 6729 and LM/COR/3/- (database available) and in the Folger Library (microfilm available: see Z/407 sec.2). See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/4 SECTION F.4: SIR GEORGE MORE (1553-1632) AND SIR ROBERT MORE (1581-1626) 1591-c.1623
Correspondence and papers relating to Sir George More's estates, public and private offices and commissions, parliamentary business and executorships will be found listed elsewhere in the relevant sections of this catalogue; further correspondence and papers will also be found in 6729 and LM/COR/4/- (database available) and in the Folger Library (microfilm available: see Z/407 sec.3). See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs. For political writing, see also LM section C.
LM/SECTIONF/5 SECTION F.5: SIR POYNINGS MORE, BART (1606-1649) c.1625-1642 Sir Poynings More inherited Loseley on the death of his grandfather Sir George More in 1632. Correspondence and papers relating to Sir Poynings's estates, public and private offices and commissions, parliamentary business and executorships will be found listed in the relevant sections of this catalogue; further correspondence and papers will also be found in 6729 and LM/COR/5/- (database available) and in the Folger Library (microfilm available: see Z/407 sec.5). See also section F.6 below. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/6 SECTION F.6: ELIZABETH ROUS, LATER MORE (d.1666) 1661 Elizabeth Fitch of Woodham Walter, Essex, married Christopher Rous of Henham, Suffolk, in 1630 (see LM/COR/5/18). After Rous's death she married Poynings More (she was married to More by Apr 1637: see LM/COR/5/6). For personal letters, see LM/COR/7/24 and LM/COR/5/108. Some personal correspondence of Poynings More and of Elizabeth More is held at the Folger Library (see Z/407 sec.5.1.2). For letters of James Gresham concerning Elizabeth's management of the estate, see LM/COR/6/ [database available]. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/7 SECTION F.7: SIR WILLIAM MORE, BART (1643-1684) 1648-c.1679 William More inherited Loseley during his infancy, on the death of his father Poynings in 1649. He married Mary Hendley of Cuckfield in 1665, but died without surviving issue in July 1684. Correspondence and papers relating to Sir William's estates, public and private offices and commissions, parliamentary business and executorships will be found listed in the relevant sections of this catalogue; further correspondence and papers will also be found in 6729 and LM/COR/6/- (database available) and in the Folger Library (microfilm available: see Z/407 sec.6). See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/8 SECTION F.8: JAMES GRESHAM (1616-1689) POST 1668
James Gresham married Ann More, sister of Poynings More, in c.1644. For correspondence of James Gresham, see LM/COR/6/- and LM/COR/9/- (database available); further correspondence of other members of the Gresham family is held in LM/COR/7/-; for deeds of the Gresham estates, see section G.7.10. For records of offices held by James (commission of the peace, musters and taxation), see section B. For other documents of Gresham's concerning political matters, see LM/1331/55 and LM/1331/76, section C.1. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/9 SECTION F.9: NICHOLAS MORE (1615-1684) 17TH CENT
Nicholas More, a brother of Poynings More, inherited Loseley briefly on the death of his nephew Sir William More in 1684, but died later in that year. He was rector of Fetcham. For correspondence of Nicholas, see LM/COR/8/1-6 (database available) and Z/407 sec.7. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/10 SECTION F.10: ROBERT MORE (d.1689) 1686-1725
Robert More was the son of Nicholas More, a brother of Poynings More. He inherited Loseley on his father's death in 1684, but only briefly survived him, dying in May 1689. Correspondence of Robert More is held as LM/COR/9/1-22 (database available). See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/11 SECTION F.11: SIR THOMAS MOLYNEUX (d.1719) 1682-1716
Thomas Molyneux's marriage to Margaret More in August 1689 brought him the seat of Loseley Park, and new money to the estate (see introduction to section A). See also LM/1087/2/3, section A.4.2, for Thomas Molyneux's accounts of personal expenditure (at Oxford, Grays Inn etc), 1680-1691; and LM/COR/10/- for correspondence. For deeds of the Molyneux Lancashire estates, see G.7.12. See also section E.10.5 for records possibly relating to Thomas's business or executorship, and section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/12 NATHANIEL MOLYNEUX THE YOUNGER c.1709
Nathaniel Molyneux was a younger son of Thomas and Margaret Molyneux. He died young. See LM/COR/10/267 for further composition by him.
LM/SECTIONF/13 SECTION F.12: SIR WILLIAM MORE MOLYNEUX (1690-1760) 1717-1766
William More Molyneux, often known simply as More Molyneux, inherited the Loseley estate on the death of his father Sir Thomas Molyneux in 1719. He was active in local affairs, acting as a justice of the peace (see section B.1.9), commissioner for the Wey Navigation and turnpike trustee (see sections D.5 and D.6). See also LM/1087/1/8, section A.4.2, for personal accounts of Sir William More Molyneux, 1723-1729; and LM/COR/11/- for correspondence; LM/1087/2/16, section A.4.2, for notes on the births of his children, early 18th cent; and section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/14 SECTION F.13: CASSANDRA CORNWALLIS, LATER CASSANDRA MORE MOLYNEUX (d.1754) 1712-LATE 18TH CENT
Cassandra Cornwallis of Abermarles, Carmarthen, Wales, had married William More Molyneux by October 1721 (see LM/356/44/2, section G.1.8). Deeds relating to the Cornwallis family estate at Abermarles, Carmarthen, which was inherited by the More Molyneux, are held as LM/1687 in section G.7.13. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/15 SECTION F.14: JAMES MORE MOLYNEUX (1723-1759) 1733-c.1759 James More Molyneux was the eldest son of Sir William More Molyneux. He died before he could inherit the Loseley estate. Records relating to his election as MP for Haslemere in 1754 are held with other records of the parliamentary borough (section D.3). See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/16 SECTION F.15: MARGARET SHERARD, LATER MOLYNEUX (d.1769) 1756-1769
Margaret Sherard of Car Colston, Nottinghamshire, married James More Molyneux (d.1759). She died without issue. For records relating to the Sherard estates in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and elsewhere, see sections A.6.15 and G.7.15. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/17 SECTION F.16: SIR THOMAS MORE MOLYNEUX (1724-1776) 1757-1774 Thomas inherited Loseley on the death of his brother James in 1759. Records relating to his military career will be found in section B.3.3; for notes on speeches in Parliament and other papers relating to his electoral campaigns in Haslemere, see section D.3. For William Bray's brief biographical account of Thomas, see G52/8/10. See LM/1087/2/17, section A.4.2 for essay notes of Thomas. See also section A.4.2 and section F.27 for accounts, bills and receipts relating to personal, household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/18 SECTION F.17: JANE MORE MOLYNEUX (1729-1802) 1775-1796
Jane was the fourth of Sir William and Cassandra More Molyneux's children to inherit Loseley: her sister Cassandra (b.1725) inherited the estate on the death of their brother Thomas in 1776, but died unmarried the following year. Much evidence for Jane's tenure of the estate survives, in the form of housekeeping accounts, details of refurbishments and servants' duties (see section A, in particular A.4.1). Jane let Loseley, except for the evidence room, and lived in London herself. For correspondence, see LM/COR/12/- & LM/COR/13/-. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/19 SECTION F.18: JAMES MORE MOLYNEUX (1760-1823) 1785-c.1818 James More Molyneux, the illegitimate son of James More Molyneux (d.1759), inherited Loseley on the death of Jane More Molyneux in 1802. James encouraged William Bray's antiquarian work on the Loseley MSS, and the publication of documents in Archaeologia (see LM/1654 below, F.28.3.8). For letterbooks, see LM/COR/14/-; records of his captaincy of the Surrey Light Dragoons will be found in section B.3.4. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs. For copies of verses collected by James's wife Anne, see LM/1087/4/1, section A.1.
LM/SECTIONF/20 SECTION F.19: ANN CORNWALLIS MOLYNEUX, LATER ANN CORNWALLIS RAINSFORD (d.1798) 1798-1809
Ann Cornwallis Molyneux, a younger daughter of Sir William and Cassandra More Molyneux, married General Charles Rainsford in 1789 (see 1974/-). She died without issue in 1798. For a list of her books, see LM/821 in section F.28.1; for a book belonging to her see LM/2149, section F.28.3.9. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/21 SECTION F.20: HENRY MORE MOLYNEUX (c.1793-1822) EARLY 19TH CENT
Henry was the eldest son of James More Molyneux (1760-1823). He died before he could inherit Loseley. See LM/1327/32-38, section B.3.5, for Henry's naval logbooks. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/22 SECTION F.21: JAMES MORE MOLYNEUX (1805-1874) 1833-1843 James inherited Loseley on the death of his father James in 1823. Sharing an interest in the Loseley MSS, James became a Fellow of the Society of Arts and a founder member of Surrey Archaeological Society, and published further papers in Archaeologia. For letters, see LM/COR/15/-. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/23 SECTION F.22: CAROLINE STONE LOWNDES, LATER CAROLINE MORE MOLYNEUX 1823-1830
Caroline Lowndes married James More Molyneux (1805-1874) in 1832. See also section F.27 for bills and receipts relating to household and estate affairs.
LM/SECTIONF/24 SECTION F.23: HENRIETTA ANN MORE MOLYNEUX, LATER HENRIETTA MANGLES (d.1918) c.1852
Henrietta was the youngest daughter of James and Caroline More Molyneux. She married R L Mangles.
LM/SECTIONF/25 SECTION F.24: WILLIAM MORE MOLYNEUX (1835-1907) 1874 William, second son of James More Molyneux (1805-1874) inherited Loseley in 1874. He built a nursery wing on the south side of the house in 1877, but later lived at St Catherine's House, leasing Loseley itself. William was a justice of the peace, founder chairman of Artington Parish Council and clerk of the House of Commons. He died unmarried, leaving the estate to Gwendoline, daughter of his brother Robert. For letterbooks, see LM/COR/15/-.
LM/SECTIONF/26 SECTION F.25: ADMIRAL SIR ROBERT HENRY MORE MOLYNEUX (1838-1904) 1876-1903
Admiral Sir Robert Henry More Molyneux (1838-1904) was the brother of William More Molyneux (d.1907); his daughter, Gwendoline, inherited the Loseley estate after her uncle's death. For papers relating to the naval career of Sir Robert More Molyneux, 1882-1888, see section B.3.6.
LM/SECTIONF/27 SECTION F.26: GWENDOLINE MORE MOLYNEUX AND JOHN WALLIS MORE MOLYNEUX MC COWAN 1909-1918
Gwendoline More Molyneux, the daughter of Admiral Sir Robert More Molyneux, inherited the Loseley Estate after the death of her uncle William More Molyneux in 1907.
LM/SECTIONF/28 SECTION F.27: BILLS AND RECEIPTS RELATING TO PERSONAL EXPENDITURE AND ESTATE AND HOUSEHOLD AFFAIRS 15TH CENT-19TH CENT
The following descriptions relate to boxed groups of bills and receipts of mixed provenance and date, which were apparently arranged for convenience of storage only. They relate to the personal financial affairs of members of the More, More Molyneux and related families and also to estate and household management.
LM/SECTIONF/29 SECTION F.28: LOSELEY LIBRARY AND COLLECTED WRITINGS c.13TH CENT-c.19TH CENT
Records in this group comprise library catalogues, printed material, and manuscript documents which are assumed to be copies and not attributable to More and More Molyneux family members, including some scholarship by William Bray and Owen Manning, relating to their antiquarian interest in the Loseley Manuscripts and the composition of The History and Antiquities of the County of Surrey. A library collection at Loseley can be dated from as early as 1556, recorded in an inventory of the old manor house under William More's 'closet' (Folger MS Lb.550: see below). The books included: literary, political and philosophical works (Classical, Italian, French and English writers including Chaucer and Skelton, as well as Erasmus and Thomas More), 16th cent statutes, legal precedents and formulae, theological works and biblical texts, chronicles, maps, medical works and works on the education of women. Although the items specified in detail on More's list (with the possible exception mentioned below) do not appear in the deposit, the documents listed here do reflect family members' interest in a wide range of scholarly activity. (Of some interest in the context of the accumulation of archives at Loseley is the inclusion in the inventory of 'a book of profits of the remembrancer's office' [possibly LM/1628, section B.1.1] 'a note for payment of fines levied' and 'a note of the knights fees in Surrey'. These may presumably be understood as distinct from More's own records in use, the remembrancer's office being his father's, and they are not given a valuation in the inventory.) The inventory of 1556 is now held at the Folger, ref MS Lb.550: see Archaeologia 36 for a transcript. The inventory is discussed in Elizabeth McCutcheon, 'A Mid-Tudor owner of More's Utopia: Sir William More' in Moreana Vol XVIII, no. 70 (Jun 1981), and briefly by Mark Girouard, Life in the English Country House (1978). See LM/1109, section A.4.1, for an undated inventory of similar date, with briefer book list. See LM/348/38, section G.5.4, for lease to Giles Goddett, printer, including first of copies of Goddett's books as payment, 1565. For an inventory of the library of Sir William More, Bart, 1673, see Folger, ref MS Lb.709.
LM/SECTIONF/29/1 F.28.1: LIBRARY CATALOGUES, BOOK LISTS AND ARCHIVE CATALOGUES LATE 16TH CENT-c.1908
LM/SECTIONF/29/2 F.28.2: FAMILY PEDIGREES 1597-19TH CENT
LM/1346, an explanation of arms borne by Sir More Molyneux children (quartering of More Molyneux and Cornwallis) was withdrawn by depositor. Further pedigrees of families not known to be connected with the More and More Molyneux family are listed under antiquarian and historical below. See also LM/1687/458 section G.7.13 for Cornwallis pedigree, 1721.
LM/SECTIONF/29/2/1 F.28.2.1: More 17th cent-18th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/2/2 F.28.2.2: Molyneux 1597-18th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/2/3 F.28.2.3: Rous 17th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/2/4 F.28.2.4: Poynings 17th cent-18th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/2/5 F.28.2.5: Lowndes 19th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/2/6 F.28.2.6: Maude 1876
LM/SECTIONF/29/3 F.28.3: COLLECTED WRITINGS, MOSTLY UNATTRIBUTED 13TH CENT-19TH CENT
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/1 F.28.3.1: Ecclesiastical and theological 13th cent-19th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/2 F.28.3.2: Classical 17th cent-c.1790
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/3 F.28.3.3: Poetry 16th-19th cent
See also poem, The Parlyament of Devylles in LM/1327/2 below F.28.3.5; electoral satires, LM/763/91, 107-110, section D.3; verses and speech to Queen Elizabeth, LM/1329/257-258, section E.6.
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/4 F.28.3.4: Music and Opera 16th cent-1774
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/5 F.28.3.5: Natural Philosophy and Science c.1446-1684
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/6 F.28.3.6: Agriculture 1649-1816
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/7 F.28.3.7: Recipes 16th cent-19th cent
See above for LM/1379/1, book of recipes belonging to Cassandra Cornwallis, c.1722.
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/8 F.28.3.8: Antiquarian and historical (1470)-20th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/9 F.28.3.9: Geography 1781
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/10 F.28.3.10: Current Affairs c.1738-1801
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/11 F.28.3.11: Legal 16th cent-18th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/12 F.28.3.12: Calendars and codes 16th cent-18th cent
LM/SECTIONF/29/3/13 F.28.3.13: Miscellaneous 17th cent-1848
Further correspondence and papers, particularly relating to Sir William More (d.1600), Sir George More (d.1632) and Sir Poynings More (d.1649), and including literary manuscripts and poems in their possession, are now held by the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington DC. They can be consulted on microfilm, for which see Z/407 which includes a detailed catalogue of the Folger's holdings.