FARMING AND HOUSEHOLD ACCOUNT BOOK OF THE BRENT FAMILY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE

Reference Number: 1233
Alternative Reference Number: 1233
Level of Description: Collection
Title: FARMING AND HOUSEHOLD ACCOUNT BOOK OF THE BRENT FAMILY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Creator(s) & Administrative History: Brent family of Gloucestershire and Hughes family of Bath, England, and Ontario, Canada
Date: 1620-1980
Extent: Extent: 1 vol.
Description: The book was created in 1854 when separate smaller books and loose papers were bound together. There is original pagination of pages 1-211, which has been retained. Page numbers have been added, A1-A49, to the preceding section of this book. At the end of the volume, in reverse, the pages have been numbered B1-B119. This substitutes for the original pagination 1-79, so as to take in other un-numbered pages.The full contents of the book are therefore paginated as follows:
Pages A1-A49
Pages 1-211
In reverse, pages B1-B119

The volume includes the following:

A1
- Coat of Arms hand-coloured on parchment
A2 - memo
- "Alfred B. Hughes, Chief of Police, Bath. This book was re-bound December 1854 by Dawson, Stationer, Market Place, Bath".
A3-4
- Press cutting: possible inheritance of Baronetcy of recently deceased Lord Sempill by his sister Eizabeth, who in 1952 underwent sex-change and became Euan Forbes Sempill. No date.
- Press cutting: obituary to James Thomas Hughes of Calgary, Canada, died 18 April 1981.
- piece only of telegram 1855 to Mr Parker of Charing Cross.
- letter 1857 from Colonial Secretary's Office, Sydney, New South Wales in reply to enquiry by Mrs Rosa Matthews into administration of the estate of Edmund Stephen Hughes of Richmond in 1844.
A5
- Coat of Arms hand-coloured on parchment.
A6
- Two Coats of Arms hand-coloured on card.
A7
- extract of pedigree of Sempill alias Semple family copied from Lord Hugh Sempill's books, beginning with Archbold Sempill of Renfrew and his son Robert Lord Sempill of Edinburgh who died 1731 in Paris.
A8
- same as A7 but continued.
A9
- Blank
A10
- Blank
A11-A12
- list of descendants of Charles Waring Hughes (19th century).
A13
- Blank
A14
- pasted-in letter from Helen in Dublin to her father.
A15
- hand-drawn plan of the location of graves of Charles Waring Hughes and other family members (including his mother Mary Semple Hughes) at Lewisham Old Church, Kent.
- Also: press cutting of death notice of Joseph Hugh Hughes, surgeeon R.N., died 3 September 1859 (grandson of George Baron Sempill).
A16
- Blank
A17 - A18
- (loose) Copy letter from W. Hughes to his brother Joseph offering reconciliation in their estrangement. No date.
A19-A22
- notes on family history of Alfred Benjamin Hughes (19th Century) and his children. His seventh child born at Bath, 1855 at Woodland Cottage, Walcot.
A23 and A24
- Blank
A25 -A26
- (loose) brief notes on superiority of mankind over animals, no date.
A27
- Blank
A28
- news cutting on preparations in London for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee [1897].
A29-A31
- Blank
A32
- written account by Rosa Catherine Hughes of witnessing state funeral of W.E. Gladstone in Westminster Abbey.
A33-45
Blank
A46
- pasted-in letter addressed from Little Stanhope Street, Mayfair, to "My Dearest Granddaughter Seton" [possibly in convent school as reference is made to the Lady Abbess]. Refers to "Madam St. Maur alias Sempill". Also refers to "your mother's death".
A47-48
- pasted-in letter from J. H. Hughes to Mr Charles W. Hughes, coach founder at Brownlow Street, Drury Lane, regarding his terms on which he would meet for a possible reconciliation.
A49
- pasted-in copy extract of a letter from Messrs? Levrils? and Britten? of Sheffield, describing arrangements when Mr Hughes left England that he should write every 3 months but nothing was ever heard. Mr Hughes left employment "at our Sydney house" some considerable time before he died. Sydney newspaper reported accidental drowning of Mr Edmund Hughes whilst cattle driving in the Hawkesbury river. No date.

Here follows Page 1 of farming accounts 1628 of Brent family.

After Section A, pages 1-120 are farming accounts.
Includes lists of title deeds nos. 1-45 at pp 23-49.
Pages 50-61 list of family births, marriages and deaths including Richard Brent's own birth 1601, with ancestors back to 1531.
Further list of deeds nos. 46-96 at pages 61-79.

pp80-82
- a levy made by the parishioners of Ilmington in Warwickshire, 1630, 1654, 1636.
pp83-84
- "1637 a note how the King's provision is rated on the townships in Kiftsgate hundred, co. Gloucs.... "to furnish out a ship of 55 tons" ".
p85
- memoranda of payments 1632 [also 1643 for raising soldiers].
p87
- family births marriages and deaths 1659-1673.
p88
- memo of 1827 re Lord Semple.
pp89-92
- further list of deeds nos. 97-109, covering 1637-1645.
pp93-94
- un-numbered deeds 1641-1656.
p95
- further list of numbered deeds 110-114 covering years 1645-1652.
pp97-99
- note concerning land in Ilmington called the Valley Land.
pp100-119
- farming and personal accounts 1632-1640 of Richard Brent.
p120
- computations for levying rate in Kiftsgate hundred 1644.
pp121-127
- "1637 Abstract of His Majesty's (Charles I) instructions for a plantation in the province of Connaugh in Kindom of Ireland (40 items).
pp128-129
- "The speech of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Stratford to the over House of Parliament being the conclusion of pleading before his judgement, 17 April 1641.
p130
- personal accounts of Richard Brent 1641.
pp131-134
- list of books belonging to Richard Brent 6 October 1641 including Latin books and Spanish books.
p135
- rate of monthly payments in Kiftgate Hundred 1644.
p136
- names of towns in Bearehurst Hundred 1644.
pp137-139
- personal accounts of Richard Brent 1642-1646.
p140
- Personal accounts of Richard Brent 1659-1665.
p141
- Detailed inventory of household goods 3 June 1659.
pp142-143
- Names of towns in Westminster Hundred, Tewkesbury Hundred, Slaughter Hundred.
pp144-146
- account of funeral of William, Earl of Chatham, 1778 in Westminster Abbey
pp147-152
- notes on the Sheldon family and others of Warwickshire
pp153-155
- a pedigree of the Brent family of Stoke in Co. Glos from the timeof William the Conqueror 1066.
p156
- Memo of John Hughes taking Oath of Allegiance to the King 2 July 1778 at Court of King's Bench, Westminster.
pp157-165
- Statement of the case of Richard Brent against Lady Katherine Brook, 9 Feb 1653 regarding disputed land ownership.
p166
- Memo dated 25 March 1774 of John Hughes on hearing of the death of his brother, Capt. Stephen Hughes of a fever in Alexandria on 21 December, 1773.
- Memo of John Hughes dated 11 January 1777 on the return to Dover from Smyrna of the ship Active which Captain Stephen Hughes commanded before his death.
pp167-172
- Note made in 1658 of the year of death of Brent family members (also births and marriages) 1505 onwards. Annotated later to 1688.
(no pages 173-174)
p175
- Latin Epitaph on grave of Giles Reed and wife Catharine of Mytton, Co. Worcs, buried in Bredon church, 1611.
p176
- Inscription on brass in Ilmington church, Co Warwicks. regarding the Brent family.
- Also family lineage from John Buston of Somerset in 1487 to 1666.
(no pages 177-178)
pp179-180
- inventories of household goods 1659-1661 (continued from page 141).
p181
- 1659 memorandum concerning the Will of Richard Brent's uncle Ffoulke Reed died 17 Sept 1658, executor Richard Verney Esq. (Richard Brent being one of eleven children of Elizabeth, sister of Foulke Reed). Bequest included a mortgage of Bartestree in Co Hereford; a lease of land and titles of 21 years and most of the personal estate.
Then follows a list of the monies received from Richard Verney, executor, 1658-1662 and dividends paid.
p182
- details of lands bequeathed by Foulke Reed in Walton Cardiff, 1662, 1667, 1669.
(pp183-184 missing)
p185
- memorandum 7 June 1665 of repayment of debts to Richard Brent from Sir Robert Button.
- memorandum of the marriage at London on 9 February 1656 of Richard Brent's son Robert and ? She was the daughter of John Heywood of Summercot in Co. Lincs and widow of Gotieve, a French musician, "lutinist" to King Charles I. Her late husband's debts (detailed) transferred to her new husband Robert Brent, viz £1,950.
p186 (continued from p140)
- accounts of Richard Brent's "stock and debts" 1665-1666 (continued at p188)
p187
- inventory of household goods 1666-1672 (continued from p180)
pp188-192
- account of Richard Brent's "stock and debts" 1667-1676 (continued from p186)
pp193-195
- report of proceedings at the Court in Whitehall on 28 January 1675/6 when the King presented his scheme for regulating royal expenditure totalling £1,175,315, 1s 6d.
- memorandum of John Hughes of newspaper report dated 26 January 1793 on the execution of King Louis XVI of France in Paris.
p196
- memorandum of issuing of Papal Bull by Pope Clement 14th on 21 July 1773 abolishing the Order of Jesuits, in consequence of which the English College of Jesuits at Bruges and the Lesser College of Jesuits were closed on 20 September 1773 and the staff and pupils held inside, including John Hughes' sons, John and William. The colleges re-opened on 1 October 1773.
p196 a and b
- bound-in letter from Rev. William Walton of King Street, Bloomsbury to John Hughes in Red Lion Street, Wapping, dated 12 January 1770 confirming baptism records of the children of John Hughes 1762-1767 in the English Chapter's Register Book at Grays Inn Court. Also covering note from John Hughes dated 13 January 1770 attesting receipt of the letter. [John Huges describes himself as sail-maker].
p197 (continued from p192)
- accounts of Richard Brent's "stock and debts" 1677-1678
- copy letter from John Hughes at Berry Hall to John Nutt, priest and master of Edgbaston School, dated 3 November 1775 requesting he will hold one mass on 15 March 1776 for the souls of his deceased parents and brother, and all his ancestors of Berry Hall House.
p198
- memorandum by John Hughes of the death of his father Captain John Hughes at Coles Ropewalk, Bermondsey on 15 March 1775 aged 85 years (born 26 June 1689, buried 22 March 1775 in the churchyard of Bermondsey parish).
- attached - note of baptism of John Hughes on 26 May 1763 and William Hughes on 17 January 1765 (godparents William Manhood, Dorothy Manhood, Stephen Hughes, Frances Hughes)
pp199-200
- an Elegy on seeing a skull in a churchyard (14 verses) dated 6 November 1769).
(pages 201-202 missing)
p203
- memorandum (first part missing) of christening of [?Joseph] Hughes, no date (pre-1788 being the date Mrs Ann Dias Santos died at Lewisham).
- memorandum dated 19 June 1782 by John Hughes of a visit with son Joseph to Lord Sempill at Chartres in France and then deliver Joseph to English College at Douay.
- memorandum of the marriage of John Hughes' only daughter Mary to John Seton of London on 13 February 1786 at Solihull Church.
- memorandum of John Hughes dated 5 April 1786 that his daughter Mary set out from Berry Hall, Warwickshire for her husband's house in London accompanied by her mother.
p204
- memorandum of John Hughes dated 9 March 1781 of the death of his sister's husband, Thomas Smith, and buried in the family vault "although he had excluded my poor unfortunate sister from his Will".
- memorandum of John Hughes dated 18 March on opening the family vault, with observations on the state of the coffins.
p205-206
- extract from Salmon's Peerage of Scotland 1759 page 129 on the family of the 11th and 12th Lord Semple, 1726-1758; also, description of the family arms.
p207-211
- copy of a letter dated 19 February 1766 from Hugh Semple, a canon at Chartres in France, to his nephew, William Semple describing descent of title to himself.
p211
- memorandum dated 16 January 1770 by John Hughes on the death of his mother aged 72 years, buried in Bermondsey Churchyard 23 January 1770.
- memorandum by John Hughes of the death in January 1770 at Paris of his wife's father, George Semple Esquire.
p212
- copy of letter of John Gordon in Paris dated 7 May 1770 to John Hughes announcing the death of Monsieur de Semple, brother of the Canon of Chartres.
- memorandum of 9 July 1770 on receiving a letter from Solomon Hyman at Paris containing death and burial certificate of George Semple.
p213
- memorandum dated 29 July 1770 of death of William Sempill, son of George and Mary Sempill and only brother of John Hughes' wife Mary, describing how the title of Lord Sempill will be inherited by Mary after the death of the present Lord Hugh Sempill of Chartres.
- memorandum of John Hughes on 11 August 1770 describing the burial of William Sempill on 2 August 1770 at church of St Bartholomew the Great in West Smithfield.
p214
- memorandum of John Hughes dated 30 May 1788 on accompanying his youngest son, Charles Waring, from Berry Hall to London for his son's first voyage at sea on Board the Aurora bound for Lisbon under Captain Bartholomew Gerrard.
p215
- memorandum of John Hughes dated 4 August 1770 on receiving a letter from his wife's uncle, Lord Hugh Semple, at Chartres announcing the death of his only sister on 27 September 1767.
- memorandum of John Hughes dated 25 June 1771 on delivering his daughter Mary to be taught at the Austin convent in Bruges, and delivering his son John into the Jesuit college, returning to London on 4 July 1771.
p216
- no entry
p217
- see B119
p218-219
- see B117-118

Page:
B1
- pasted-in letter dated 1 March 1862 to "My dear Son" whom the writer seldom hears from, on the writer's 75th birthday. The letter contains solely religious contemplation.
B2
- blank
B3
- writings of Richard Brent (date missing) in Latin, possibly religious contemplation.
B4
- brief index to subsequent pages up to p187 relevant to farm accounts and family records.
B5
- as B3 but mostly in English.
- Also a list of the 16 children born to Edward Sheldon of Stratton near Cirencester, Glos and Mary Wake, his wife.
B6
- blank
B7-8
- dated 1636. Latin: religious thinking
B9-10
- dated 1633. Prayers in Latin and English numbered 1 to 10.
B11-13
- No date. Prayers in Latin and English numbered 1 to 10.
B14-17
- No date. Prayers in Latin and English numbered 1 to 5.
B18
- No date. Two poems in English on the state of mankind.
B19-20
- a sermon or religious thoughts.
- Also, note on the death of Lord Hugh Francis Xavier Sempill at Beaune in France 1782.
B21
- an account of the great freeze in London in 1776 January.
B22
- religious thinking on death.
- Also memorandum of taking possession of "my farm" at Berry Hall, Warwickshire and removal of household from Red Lion Street, London, March 1785, leaving house to son John.
B23
- religious thinking.
B24-B39
- thoughts on solitude (English)
- Also religious thinking and poetry in English.
(p.B31 - signed Richard Brent 1654).
B40
- memorandum made at Berry Hall House, Solihull on 4 January, 1786 on hearing of the death by plague at Tripoli of "my brother in law John Rabaliat, husband to my elder sister Frances Rabaliat, now living in Flanders convent. Resquiescant in Pace.
- Also memorandum made at King Street, Golden Square, London, Feb 1799, on hearing of the death of our son William Hughes in the Bahamas.
B41
- religious thinking on Fasting
B42-44
- on Feasts. Also Memorandum of John Hughes made at Berry Hall on 24 July 1790 accompanying youngest son Charles Waring Hughes to Liverpool to join the ship Venus.
B45-46
- thinking on Tithes, 1670.
B47-B117
- thinking on intellectual powers (paginated 1-78)
B117-118
- memorandum of John Hughes Junior at Red Lion Street, Wapping, London 23 October 1774 on his journey to Bruges to bring home his 2 sons, John and William, from the Austin convent, a Jesuit college now dissolved by the Pope.
B118-119
- memorandum of 1771 Nov 14 on the amputation of finger of "my son William" by Caesar Hawkins of Pall Mall, Sergeant Surgeon to the King. Further memorandum 21 November 1771 on the burial of the finger in family vault at St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey.
- Further memorandum of John Hughes Junior of 8 July 1772 on delivering his son William to Bruges for schooling and then to Lord Sempill's at Beaune, returning to England via Bruges.
Custodial History: The Brent family were a Catholic family, and significantly wealthy from the profits of farming. By the eighteenth century their descendants the Hughes family, also Catholics, were living in London and Warwickshire. A nineteenth-century descendant, Alfred Hughes, settled in Bath and was Chief Constable of the City Police Force from 1851 to 1868, when he was arrested for debt and embezzlement of police funds.