Letters to Richard Lowndes from his sisters, 1754-66

British Library, Add MS 37069 and Centre for Bucks Studies D/BAS/22/370

These letters to Richard Lowndes of Winslow Hall from his sisters in Shropshire (where they lived among their mother's relatives) were probably preserved because they touched on financial matters. The exact spelling of the originals has been reproduced here. Ann Lowndes of Uttoxeter was buried at Atcham, Salop, in 1791 aged 73. Bushbury, Staffs, was the home of their sister Elizabeth who married Walter Mansfield in 1745; the Goughs were another prominent family there.

[BL, ff.222-3] Shrewsbury Nober y 27 1754

Dear Brother

I should a been glad to a herd you was well bye yours which we received & a Bank-Note of Twenty four pounds inclos'd in it it was changed very sune & claver

We are very esey & finde you contrife better for us which we thank you for, so we shall send you word when we want it has you are so good Sally his prity well & shall be glad to hear you are quit recover'd I shall write to Winslow to day hop ye are well excuse all falt & exsept of Sally Love with your
Loving sister Ann Lowndes

To Richd Lowndes Esqr at ye Coco-Tree
Pall-Mall
London

[BL, ff.224-5] Salop June ye 7 1756

Dear Brother

I received yours with the note Sef and wish you joy of your son receivery of the Small Pox for it tis a great Satisfaction to all his Friends Aunt Kynaston desired her compliments upon the a kasson I dind with cousin Roger yesterday who desired his Mr Edwards as not been in town Sinces I receive yours wee expect our cousin Mrs Bradshaw down nex week She Board in the Sam Hous with me pray my Love to Misss Lowndess from your affectioned
Sister Sarah Lowndes

To Richd Lowndes Esq Member of Parliament
at the Cocoa Tree
Pall Mall

[CBS, no.1] Bushbury April 22 1759

Dear Brother
this is to Let you know that the Bankers Note cam Safe and I hop you will Let me have the Principlbel Soon and you will ever oblig your affect Sister
Sarah Lowndes
pray my compliments to Miss Lowndes and till I should have wort to her before this but have no news

To Richd Lowndes Esqr
Member of Parliament
at Winslow
Bucks

[CBS, no.7] Bushbury May 10th 1760

Dear Brother
I did not receive the Bankers not till Last night or I shou’d have right before now. I hop my Sister Nancy is better for Mr Proud says he thinks he shall make quite a Cure of her it will be [an] expence but I hop it for the Best to have her curered, I have Left Shrewsbury and am com to live with Mr Mansfield
from your affect Sister
Sarah Lowndes

To Richd Lowndes Esqr
Member of Parliament
at Winslow
Bucks

[BL, ff.226-7] Bushbury Nov^r 21^th 1760

Dear Brother

Yours I received very safe and am Glad to hear you are all well My Sister I hop is Sumthing Better then she was for Sum times She is very Reasonable I hop in Lord She will be Better soon or I dont know what will become of her nor me for the expence is so great that I cant hold it Long with out you will Let me have My Fortune which I hop you will do soon and you will every oblig your affect Sister
Sarah Lowndes

Mr Mansfield desire his respect to you

To Richd Lowndes Esq Member of Parliament
at the Cocoa Tree
Pall Mall

[BL, ff.228-9] Bushbury Mach the 8 1766

Dear Brother

Yours I received and wish you all joy upon the happy akesson and that you have bout Mr Mansfield and my consent to Purchasing an Annuity for my Sister and that I should very Glad to doe any thing for her that is in my power but the Gough have so much Spit againss me that Mr Mansfield cant live in Quit[?] upon my a count so that I [m]ust Leve him and if I go to Woolverhampton it will be the same therefor should be very Glad if you could send them a Smal rapmand to mind there one Bisness and not to conson them selfs a bout me : I am very Sorry to trouble you a bout such things but I cant Live in this county without you will be so good to do it for me for the[?] think I have no Freind so think the may do what the Please with me. I hop you will escouse this Freedom in me but tis Necessity that make me do it : begg my love to my Nephew & Nieces

from your affet sister Sarah Lowndes

To Richd Lowndes Esq Member of Parliament
at the Cocoa Tree
Pall Mall

[verso] Received 1 March 1766 of Richard Lowndes the sum of £34 in full for half year interest Due at Michaelmas last by me Sarah Lowndes

Will of Sarah Lowndes of Worcester, spinster, 1794 (proved 1795)

National Archives, PROB 11/1269/30

St John Worcester October ye 23 1794. This is the desire of Sarah Lowndes that she may be buried in Acham Church by my Sister Anne Lowndes and in the manner that she was and I Leave to my Nephew John Edwards the sum of £1400 that is in the Bank of England and Leave to my Nephew Rowland Six hundred Pounds that is in Mr James Moore hands and all my Pursuty [sic] to be Sold for bury me and to Give my two Maid Morning and to fower me, and for Mr George Griffin to Manyig for me boon June ye 9 1719 Witness my hand – Sarah Lowndes [seal] – Elizabeth Caswell – F. Tinings to be Undertaker

The will was made irregularly but entirely in the style of Sarah's letters. George Griffin of Lincoln’s Inn was brought in to explain her meaning. He described her as being "formerly of Shrewsbury ... afterwards of Stoney Stratford ... late of the City of Worcester". He said that he invested £1,432 5s 9d in an annuity of £58, and identified her handwriting. It was interpreted as appointing him executor but he renounced in favour of John Edwards, son of Sarah's sister Margaret.

Other letters of Richard Lowndes and his son William

These are in various collections in the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies.

D/LE/D6/52

This is the only letter in Lowndes' own writing. He was writing to Sir William Lee of Hartwell House. Mr Drake is probably William Drake of Shardeloes, MP for Amersham.

For Sir William Lee Bartt.

Sir
As Mr Drake, in answer to a letter of mine on Business, has sent me word He intends Spending a Day with Sir Wm. Lee on next Sunday, I begg leave to Offer myself a Humble Servant on that day also. And this waites on You not out of Form, but certainly, to know whether Mr. Drakes engagement holds Good for Sunday
                                                Who am Sir Your Obedt.
                                                                Humble Servant
                                                                                R Lowndes
Winslow
August, 10th. 1759

D/Dr/8/63

The Hans Sloane who wrote this letter appears to be the great-nephew of the more famous Sir Hans Sloane whose collection was the basis of the British Museum. He became an MP in 1768. Thomas Drake (already Rector of Amersham) was appointed Rector of Chelsea in August 1770 so Lowndes must have used his influence with the people who held the presentation.

Privy Garden June 2nd. 1770

Dear Sir,
Had the neat presentation of the living at Chelsea belonged to me, I should have informed you of it at the time you first mentioned your wish for Mr Drake to me in the Park, but it really does not, but is the entire property of Lord Cadogan, and Mr. Stanley. Whatever was in my power to do for yourself or friend, I should at all times be most happy to forward, and assist; the transaction alluded to is absolutely between other parties and upon an Estate to which tho’ mine joined at Chelsea , I have no other connection with whatever, or I should have been very ready to have put the earliest period to this affair in my power conceiving the use to be not a new One and to which most London Attornies would give a speedy and equitable answer. I am
Dear Sir                Your most Obedient and
                                                                Most H’ble Svt.
                                                                Hans Sloane

To Richard Lowndes

The following letters concern the discharge of the mortgage on the Lowndes estate in Winslow, which by this time had passed to Richard's son William. Thomas Hill the mortgagee was Richard's maternal uncle. Mr Gosstrey or Goostrey was William's father-in-law.

D/LO/6/2/8 (15)

To Richard Lownes
Received this 15th. Day of January 1778 of Charles Lowndes and John Dashwood King Esquires the Sum of Two Thousand four Hundred and Eighty Six pounds Ten Shillings in part discharge of the Sum of Six Thousand Pounds due to me on Mortgage upon the Estate of Wm. Lowndes of Winslow in the County of Bucks Esqs.

[signed] Thos. Hill

Witness Charles Killett

D/LO/6/2/8 (13)

Recd. This 11th. Day of March 1778 of Messrs. Charles Lowndes and John Dashwood King Esquires the Sum of One Thousand and fifty pounds in further part of the Six Thousand pounds due to me on the Mortgage on the Estate of Wm. Lowndes Esquire, and for which the Estate of Mr Gosstrey at Ickleford in the County of Herts is made liable

[signed] Tho. Hill

D/LO/6/2/8 (34) to Charles Lowndes of Chesham. Chambers Green is near St Leonards, Bucks.

Dear Sir,
I am sorry I happened to be from home this morning when you & Mr. W(illia)m Lowndes did me the favor of a Visit. I wish it had been convenient to you to have taken a family dinner with us. I inclose a Rec(eip)t for the Interest with 3l.15s the Change out of 60l. I am setting off for Wilts(hire) in hopes to return on Saturday or at farthest on Sunday. I will have the Pleasure of taking a dinner with you at Chesham on Monday and if the weather is fit for a Lady to put her nose out of Doors will take the Liberty of having a Companion with me. I beg my Complim(en)ts to Mrs W(illia)m Lowndes. The Distance from Chesham to this place will be an Excuse for my wishing for as early a dinner Hour as may be suitable to the other Circumstances of your family & Engagem(ent)s.
                I am D(ea)r Sir Your obliged & most obedi(ient) Serv(an)t
                       Joseph Baldwin
Chambers Green               19 Oct(ober) 1778

D/LO/6/2/8 (26)

Received this 23rd. day of February 1780 of John Dashwood King and Charles Lowndes Esquire the Sum of Two Thousand Four hundred and Sixty three pounds Ten Shillings which together with the two Several Sums of Two Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty Six pounds Ten Shillings and One Thousand and Fifty Pounds paid before, making together the Sum of Six Thousand pounds is in full for the principal Sum of Six Thousand pounds due on Mortgage upon the Estate of William Lowndes Esquire in and near Winslow in the County of Bucks

[signed] Thos. Hill