Bowes Museum Collection
Reference: D/Bo/C Catalogue Title: Bowes Museum Collection Area: Catalogue Category: Antiquarian and Composite Records Description: Lee Papers
Covering Dates: 1553-1941
Catalogue Index
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- Bowes Museum Collection
- Bowes Museum Collection (Ref: D/Bo)
- Lee Papers (Ref: D/Bo/C 1-622)
- Appointments etc. of John Lee (Ref: D/Bo/C 1-9)
- Lincoln's Inn (Ref: D/Bo/C 10-12)
- Correspondence (Ref: D/Bo/C 13-248)
- John Lee (Ref: D/Bo/C 13-176)
- Abdy, Sir Anthony Thomas (Ref: D/Bo/C 13)
- Barker, Henry (Ref: D/Bo/C 14)
- Bentinck, William Henry Cavendish, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738 - 1809), (Ref: D/Bo/C 15)
- Blackburne, Francis (Ref: D/Bo/C 16-17)
- Blackburne, Francis (Junior) (Ref: D/Bo/C 18)
- Blackburn, Thomas (Ref: D/Bo/C 19-20)
- Brodrick, Thomas (Ref: D/Bo/C 21)
- Burgoyne, John (1722 - 1792) (Ref: D/Bo/C 22-27)
- Busk, Wadsworth (Ref: D/Bo/C 28-35)
- Butterfield, Henry (Ref: D/Bo/C 36)
- Cavendish, Lord George (Ref: D/Bo/C 37-38)
- Cavendish, Lord John (1732 - 1796) (Ref: D/Bo/C 39-40)
- Delaval, John Hussey (Ref: D/Bo/C 41)
- Dixon, Mary (Ref: D/Bo/C 42-43)
- Dundas, Charles, Baron Ainesbury (1751 - 1832) (Ref: D/Bo/C 44)
- Dunning, John, 1st Baron Ashburton (1731 - 1783) (Ref: D/Bo/C 45-49)
- Eelking, John. Agent for Bremen (Ref: D/Bo/C 50)
- Erskine, Thomas, 1st Baron Erskine (1750 - 1823) (Ref: D/Bo/C 51-54)
- Farrer, Oliver (Ref: D/Bo/C 55-56)
- Fenton, Richard (1746 - 1821) (Ref: D/Bo/C 57)
- Ffytche, Lewis Disney (Ref: D/Bo/C 58)
- Fisher, Rev. Peter. Vicar of Staindrop (Ref: D/Bo/C 59-60)
- Fitzwilliam, Richard, 7th Viscount Fitzwilliam (1745 - 1816) (Ref: D/Bo/C 61)
- Fitzwilliam, William Wentworth, 4th Earl Fitzwilliam (1757 - 1833) (Ref: D/Bo/C 62-64)
- Foley, Sir Thomas (1757 - 1833) (Ref: D/Bo/C 65)
- Fox, Charles James (1749 - 1806) (Ref: D/Bo/C 66)
- Gilbert, Captain (Ref: D/Bo/C 67)
- Gilderneister, John (Ref: D/Bo/C 68)
- Gildemeister, John Frederick (Ref: D/Bo/C 69)
- Hamer, Ibbetson (Ref: D/Bo/C 70)
- Hamer, Mary (Ref: D/Bo/C 71-72)
- Hird, W. (Ref: D/Bo/C 73)
- Hotham, Beaumont, 2nd Baron Hotham (1737 - 1814) (Ref: D/Bo/C 74-75)
- Hubbersty, Zachary (Ref: D/Bo/C 76)
- Jackson, Cyril (1746 - 1819) (Ref: D/Bo/C 77)
- James, A. (Ref: D/Bo/C 78)
- Keppell, Augustus, 1st Viscount Keppel (1725 - 1786) (Ref: D/Bo/C 79-83)
- Leeds, Edward (1728 - 1803) (Ref: D/Bo/C 84)
- Lennox, Charles, 3rd Duke of Richmond and Lennox (1735 - 1806) (Ref: D/Bo/C 85-87)
- Leveson-Gower, John (1740 - 1792) (Ref: D/Bo/C 88)
- Liddell, Anne, Lady Ravensworth (Ref: D/Bo/C 89)
- Liddell, Sir Henry, Baron Ravensworth (1708 - 1784) (Ref: D/Bo/C 90-91)
- Lindsey, Theophilus (1723 - 1808) (Ref: D/Bo/C 92)
- Lister, Thomas (Ref: D/Bo/C 93-96)
- Lowth, Robert (1710 - 1787) (Ref: D/Bo/C 97)
- Luttrell, John (Ref: D/Bo/C 98)
- Macdonald, Sir Archibald, 1st Baronet (1747 - 1826) (Ref: D/Bo/C 99)
- Macdonogh, Thomas (Ref: D/Bo/C 100)
- Marriott, Sir James (1730? - 1803) (Ref: D/Bo/C 101)
- Matthews, John (Ref: D/Bo/C 102)
- Murphy, Arthur (1727 - 1805) (Ref: D/Bo/C 103)
- Petty, Sir William, 1st Marquis of Lansdowne and 2nd Earl of Shelburne (1737 - 1805) (Ref: D/Bo/C 104-105)
- Potts, Mr. (Ref: D/Bo/C 106)
- Priestley, Jonathan (Ref: D/Bo/C 107)
- Priestley, Joseph (1733 - 1804) (Ref: D/Bo/C 108-110)
- Raine, Frances (Ref: D/Bo/C 111)
- Savile, Sir George, 8th Bart. (1726 - 1784) (Ref: D/Bo/C 112-116)
- Shipley, Jonathan (1714 - 1788) (Ref: D/Bo/C 117)
- Sinclair, Robert (Ref: D/Bo/C 118)
- Smart, N. (Ref: D/Bo/C 119)
- Strange, S. (Ref: D/Bo/C 120)
- Thurlow, Thomas (1737 - 1791) (Ref: D/Bo/C 121)
- Trumbull, John (Ref: D/Bo/C 122)
- Trumbull, Jonathan (Ref: D/Bo/C 123)
- Vane, Henry, 2nd Earl of Darlington (1726 - 1796) (Ref: D/Bo/C 124-125)
- Vane, Rev. Sir Henry (1729 - 1794) (Ref: D/Bo/C 126)
- Vernon, John (Ref: D/Bo/C 127)
- Villiers, John Charles, 3rd Earl of Clarendon (Ref: D/Bo/C 128-130)
- Villiers, Thomas, 1st Earl of Clarendon (1709 - 1786) (Ref: D/Bo/C 131-132)
- Wallace, Sir James (1731 - 1803) (Ref: D/Bo/C 133)
- Warren, Richard (1731 - 1797) (Ref: D/Bo/C 134)
- Watson-Wentworth, Charles, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (1730 - 1782) (Ref: D/Bo/C 135-142)
- Watson-Wentworth, Mary, Marchioness of Rockingham (Ref: D/Bo/C 143-159)
- Wentworth, Lady Charlotte (Ref: D/Bo/C 160)
- Willis, William Shippen (Ref: D/Bo/C 161)
- Wyldbore, Mr. (Ref: D/Bo/C 162)
- Wyvill, Christopher (1740 - 1822) (Ref: D/Bo/C 163)
- Zouch, Henry (1725? - 1795) (Ref: D/Bo/C 164)
- Miscellaneous (Ref: D/Bo/C 165-176)
- Mary Lee (Mrs. John Lee) (Ref: D/Bo/C 177-246)
- Addison, William (Ref: D/Bo/C 177)
- Askew, A. (Ref: D/Bo/C 178)
- Calder, John, 1733-1815) (Ref: D/Bo/C 179)
- Coulthurst, M. (Ref: D/Bo/C 180)
- Dunning, John, 1st Baron Ashburton (see D/Bo/C 45-49) (Ref: D/Bo/C 181-182)
- Eden, William, 1st Baron Auckland (1744-1814) (Ref: D/Bo/C 183)
- Elliot, J. W. (Ref: D/Bo/C 184)
- Erskine, Thomas, 1st Baron Erskine (Ref: D/Bo/C 184)
- Farrer, Oliver (Ref: D/Bo/C 186)
- Heeman, T. E. (Ref: D/Bo/C 187)
- Hotham, Beaumont, 2nd Baron Hotham (Ref: D/Bo/C 188)
- Leveson, Mrs. (Ref: D/Bo/C 189)
- Lindsey, Mrs. T. (Ref: D/Bo/C 190)
- Meredith, Sir William, 3rd Baronet (d. 1790) (Ref: D/Bo/C 191)
- Ord, Anne (Ref: D/Bo/C 192)
- Pelham, Francis (Ref: D/Bo/C 193)
- Vane, Frederick (Ref: D/Bo/C 194)
- Vane, Henry, 2nd Earl of Darlington (Ref: D/Bo/C 195)
- Vane, Mrs. H. (Ref: D/Bo/C 196)
- Vane, Margaret, Countess of Darlington (d. 1800) (Ref: D/Bo/C 197)
- Villiers, John Charles, 3rd Earl of Clarendon (Ref: D/Bo/C 198)
- Watson-Wentworth, Mary, Marchioness of Rockingham (Ref: D/Bo/C 199-238)
- Miscellaneous (Ref: D/Bo/C 239-246)
- Mary Tabitha Lee (Ref: D/Bo/C 247)
- Tinkler, William (Ref: D/Bo/C 247)
- Thomas Hutchinson (Ref: D/Bo/C 248)
- Rakeshaw, Anthony (Ref: D/Bo/C 248)
- Lee Family Papers (Ref: D/Bo/C 249-338)
- John Lee (Ref: D/Bo/C 249-265)
- Mary Lee and Mary Tabitha Lee (Ref: D/Bo/C 266-268)
- Accounts and receipts (Ref: D/Bo/C 269-334)
- Miscellaneous (Ref: D/Bo/C 335-338)
- Title Deeds and Related Documents (Ref: D/Bo/C 339-583)
- Barnard Castle (Ref: D/Bo/C 339-518)
- Middleton-in-Teesdale (Parish) (Ref: D/Bo/C 519-545)
- Staindrop (Ref: D/Bo/C 546-580)
- Bowes (Co. York) (Ref: D/Bo/C 581-583)
- Enclosures (Ref: D/Bo/C 584-609)
- Miscellaneous (Ref: D/Bo/C 610-622)
Catalogue Description
John Lee was born in Yorkshire in 1733, but for the major part of his life he resided at Malvern House, Staindrop. Having qualified as a barrister he attended the northern circuit for many years and was appointed Recorder of Doncaster in 1769 (D/Bo/C 1). He became Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding in 1779 and was invited to the Bench by the Council of Lincoln's Inn in 1780 (D/Bo/C 3, 10). This was followed by a series of appointments culminating in his appointment to the office of Attorney-General in the Fox-North coalition government of 1783. At this time Lee was M.P. for Higham Ferrers (Northamptonshire). Although Lee did not retain the Attorney-Generalship for long because of a change in government, he served as Attorney-General of the Durham Palatinate from 1784 (D/Bo/C 8) and his patent was renewed by Bishop Shute Barrington in 1791 (D/Bo/C 9).Lee was married to Mary Hutchinson, the daughter of Thomas and Tabitha Hutchinson, of Staindrop, and by her had his only daughter and heir, Mary Tabitha Lee who died in 1851 aged 74. John Lee died in 1793 and was interred in Staindrop Church where a fine monument by Nollekins was erected by his widow above the South door. She herself died in 1812, aged 78.
The records of the family were deposited in the Museum by the British Records Association and the most important parts of the collection are the correspondence of John and Mary Lee (D/Bo/C 13-246) and the muniments of title (D/Bo/C 339-581). The correspondence contains numerous letters from well known contemporary figures including General Burgoyne (D/Bo/C 22-27), Joseph Priestley (D/Bo/C 108-110) and the Marquess of Rockingham (D/Bo/C 135-142). The title deeds relate mainly to properties in Barnard Castle and Staindrop, many of which were acquired by Mary Lee's father, Thomas Hutchinson, both by purchase and through his marriage with Tabitha Atkinson. In addition to the correspondence and title deeds, there is a number of grants of office to John Lee (D/Bo/C 1-11), some family papers (D/Bo/C 249-338), enclosure papers (D/Bo/C 584-609) and a few miscellaneous items (D/Bo/C 610-622).
Catalogue Contents
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1782; Prime Minister, 1783
Ref: D/Bo/C 15Blackburne, Francis (1705 - 1787); rector of Richmond (Co. York); Prebendary of York; author of 'The Confessional' (1766) and other controversial works.
Ref: D/Bo/C 16Son of Francis Blackburne by whom D/Bo/C 16-17 are written.
Ref: D/Bo/C 18Physician
Ref: D/Bo/C 19-20Dramatist and general; given supreme command in Canada, but capitulated at Saratoga, 1777; Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, 1782; manager of impreachment of Warren Hastings
Ref: D/Bo/C 22Attorney-General in the Isle of Man.
Ref: D/Bo/C 28-35Brother of Lord John Cavendish.
Ref: D/Bo/C 37-38Fourth son of 3rd Duke of Devonshire; Chancellor of the Exchequer 1782, 1783.
Ref: D/Bo/C 39-40Barrister; M.P. for Orkney and Shetland, 1781 - 1784 and Berkshire, 1794 - 1832.
Ref: D/Bo/C 44Solicitor-General, 1768 - 1770; elected M.P. for Colne, 1768, 1774, 1780.
Ref: D/Bo/C 45-49(See also D/Bo/C 68 - 69.)
Ref: D/Bo/C 50Barrister; Lord Chancellor, 1806.
Ref: D/Bo/C 51-54Barrister, Middle Temple.
Ref: D/Bo/C 57F.R.S.; founder of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Ref: D/Bo/C 61President of the Council, 1794.
Ref: D/Bo/C 62-64Admiral, 1825; Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth, 1830.
Ref: D/Bo/C 65Foreign Secretary, 1782; member of the Rockingham party.
Ref: D/Bo/C 66Member of the Bremen senate (see also D/Bo/C 50, 69).
Ref: D/Bo/C 68Son of John Gildemeister (see D/Bo/C 50, 68).
Ref: D/Bo/C 69Barrister, 1758; M.P., Wigan, 1768 - 1775.
Ref: D/Bo/C 74-75Dean of Christ Church, Oxford, 1783 - 1809.
Ref: D/Bo/C 77Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet, 1778; court-martialled in 1779, the charge being pronounced "malicious and ill-founded"; First Lord of the Admiralty and created Viscount, 1782.
Ref: D/Bo/C 79-83Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, 1768; Master in Chancery, 1773; M.P., Reigate, 1784 - 1787.
Ref: D/Bo/C 84Secretary of State, 1766 - 1767; Master-General of the Ordnance, 1782 - 1795.
Ref: D/Bo/C 85-87Son of 1st Earl Gower; captain in the Navy, 1760; rear-admiral, 1787.
Ref: D/Bo/C 88Unitarian minister; author of various theological works and a liturgy adapted for unitarian congregations.
Ref: D/Bo/C 92Bishop of London.
Ref: D/Bo/C 97Barrister, Lincoln's Inn, 1770; Attorney-General, 1788 - 1792.
Ref: D/Bo/C 99Advocate-General, 1764; judge of Admiralty Court, 1778.
Ref: D/Bo/C 101Author and actor; admitted to Lincoln's Inn, 1757.
Ref: D/Bo/C 103Secretary of State for the Southern Department under Pitt, 1766, but resigned 1768 because of opposition to his policy of reconciliation with the American colonies; Prime Minister, 1782 - 1783.
Ref: D/Bo/C 104-105Author of many controversial literary works; wrote History of Electricity (1767), but chiefly remembered as the "discoverer" of oxygen; librarian to the Earl of Shelburne, 1772 - 1780.
Ref: D/Bo/C 108-110Politician; supported resistance of the American colonies, 1775; successfully brought in bill for relief of Roman Catholics, 1778, and in consequence was subjected to attacks of Gordon Rioters, 1780.
Shipley, Jonathan (1714 - 1788) (Ref: D/Bo/C 117)Bishop of St. Asaph, 1769 - 1788.
Ref: D/Bo/C 117Bishop of Durham, 1787 - 1791.
Ref: D/Bo/C 121Father of John Trumbull (see D/Bo/C 122)
Ref: D/Bo/C 123Lord Lieutenant of Co. Durham and Governor of Carlisle.
Ref: D/Bo/C 124-125Rector of Long Newton and Prebendary of Durham.
Ref: D/Bo/C 126Barrister, Lincoln's Inn, 1779; Comptroller of the Household, 1787.
Ref: D/Bo/C 128-130M.P., Tamworth, 1747 - 1756; Privy Councillor, 1763; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; created Earl of Clarendon, 1776.
Ref: D/Bo/C 131-132Admiral, 1801.
Ref: D/Bo/C 133Physician, practising in London, 1756 - 1797; physician to George, Prince of Wales, 1787.
Ref: D/Bo/C 134Leader of the Whig opposition in the House of Lords, 1768 - 1781; supported proposal to grant independence to the American colonies, 1778; Prime Minister, March 1782.
Ref: D/Bo/C 135-142Wife of Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham (see D/Bo/C 135-142), and daughter and heir of Thomas Bright of Badsworth (Co. York)
Ref: D/Bo/C 143-159Chairman of the Yorkshire Association; took leading part in drawing up Yorkshire Petition, 1780.
Ref: D/Bo/C 163Vicar of Sandal Magna, 1754 - 1789; chaplain to Marchioness of Rockingham.
Ref: D/Bo/C 164Librarian of Dr. Williams' Library, London; non-conformist minister.
Ref: D/Bo/C 179M.P. for Woodstock, 1774, 1778 - 1784, and Heytesbury, 1704; Postmaster-General, 1798 - 1804.
Ref: D/Bo/C 183(See D/Bo/C 51-54)
Ref: D/Bo/C 185(See above D/Bo/C 74-75)
Ref: D/Bo/C 188Wife of Theophilus Lindsey (see D/Do/C 92)
Ref: D/Bo/C 190M.P. for Wigan, 1754 - 1761, and Liverpool, 1761 - 1780; Comptroller of the Household, 1774.
Ref: D/Bo/C 191(See above D/Bo/C 124-125)
Ref: D/Bo/C 195Wife of 2nd Earl of Darlington and daughter of the Rev. Sir William Lowther of Little Preston (Co. York).
Ref: D/Bo/C 197(see D/Bo/C 128-130)
Ref: D/Bo/C 198(See D/Bo/C 143-159)
Ref: D/Bo/C 199-238Daughter of John and Mary Lee
Tinkler, William (Ref: D/Bo/C 247)Ref: D/Bo/C 247Father of Mary Lee
Rakeshaw, Anthony (Ref: D/Bo/C 248)Ref: D/Bo/C 248