Calendar of the 29 Boxes in the Reeves Collection, Bodleian Library, Oxford. 

Compiled by Timothy Whelan

Box 1

1.     An envelope stuffed full of letters titled ‘To be re-sorted … some of particular interest’, probably all from the 19thc. and concerning the Whitaker/Saffery families. 

2.     A large bundle of letters of John Saffery Whitaker (19th c.) in an envelope, also known as ‘Master Whitaker’. 

Box 2   

A.  Attwater Poetry:

1.   Poems by Marianna Attwater. 

2.   One poem either by Marianna Attwater or Mary Attwater (d. 1799) [‘On a small branch ...’]

3.   Two poems by Gay Thomas Attwater, including one on the death of his mother, Anna Attwater, in 1784.  

 B. Saffery/Whitaker letters.

1. Jane Saffery, London, to Maria Grace Saffery, Salisbury, 11 December 1825. 

2. Anne Andrews Whitaker, Bratton, to her daughter-in-law, Jane Saffery Whitaker, undated (Monday morning) [after 1837].

3. Jane Saffery at Salisbury to Maria Grace Saffery (visiting Alfred Whitaker, Esq, in Frome), Thursday Evening, undated (postmarked 26 March 1835).  

4. Jane Saffery, Bodenham, to Maria Saffery, at that time visiting Robert A. Green, Esqr., Flint House, Holcombe, near Old Down, via Bath, Good Friday, 17 April 1835 [with a note on the back of the letter in the hand of Maria Saffery to her daughter Marianne.]  Saffery writes that she has called on Mary Ryland (apparently living at Bodenham at that time), but missed her. She and her mother are selling everything at their house in Salisbury and preparing for their move to Bratton, but the furniture will remain for another week, she says. She is preparing to go to London, where she hopes her mother will join her. Anne Salter is with Jane at this time. The letter was eventually sent to Marianne Saffery by Maria Saffery, with this note:

Dear Marianne,

    You will like to read this letter and you will take care to return it safely.  Anne has been writing @ a cap &c and I have not a moment for things ...  

5. Mrs. Anne Whitaker, Castle Street, Sarum, 26 April ?, to her nephews/nieces?  in ?  Letter continues with a note by Anne to Jane Saffery in Salisbury.  

C. Envelopes:

1.     Diary of Sophia Williams (1790-1890) for 1812-13 from 1812-13 (when she was 22-23), and from 1817. Her father’s death is recorded here. 

2.     Pocket Diaries of Mrs. Jane Saffery Whitaker – transcriptions by Marjorie Reeves. The diaries are for the years 1824, 1825, and 1828-36, almost all prior to her marriage. The actual diaries are in Box 29. 

3.     Entries of births in Family Bible with exact time of birth:  Joshua Whitaker¾15 January 1801; Jane Saffery Whitaker – 1 May 1805; they were married on 23 July 1835; their children – Anna Jane Whitaker, 12 March 1838; John Saffery Whitaker, 29 July 1840; Joshua Cecil Whitaker, 20 February 1842; Mary Grace Whitaker, 29 January 1844; Alfred Thomas Whitaker, 15 February 1846. Philip Whitaker was baptized in the local Baptist church c. 1787-88. 

4.     Jane Saffery Whitaker’s Commonplace Books.  In this envelope are several small bound volumes:  one is of religious reflections taken from ‘Mr Adam’s Thoughts on Religious Confessions’.  This appears, however, to be copied in the hand of MGS, not Jane, but it is not clear.  Another volume contains notes on Abbe Raynal’s History of the European Settlements of Trade in the East Indies, but in a different hand.  Another one, in the same hand as the previous one, contains notes on South America.  Another one, without a cover, appears to be in the hand of Jane Saffery and it contains notes and extracts from the life of Fenelon.  Another one has some extracts from the life of Benjamin Franklin and two other copied items, all in the hand of Jane Saffery.   

Box 3

1. Letters from members of the Gay family at Haycombe, Bath (chiefly by Elizabeth Gay, used by Reeves in Pursuing the Muses, pp. 10-17). 

2. Family Tree Correspondence.

3. Reeves’s mother’s notes for various talks in relation to her family and the local Baptist Church.

4. A bundle of four envelopes involving material on the Reeves family, early 20th c. [also Box 6].

5. Wills of the Reeves family. 

6. Reeves Family Tree Papers. 

7. Reeves/Anderson/Broome photos. 

8. In a plastic sleeve, MS titled ‘A Dissertation on Bells’ by Moore. 

9. Photographs of Coombs, Gotch, Castle. 

Box 4

1. Two envelopes marked, ‘Aunt Thomas’ (19th c. letters).  Most of these letters are by Sophia Williams Whitaker  (prior to her marriage) written in the 1820s to friends and family, many composed when she was living in London.

2. Letters by Sophia Williams Whitaker, c. 1870s.

3. Family Letters & Relics kept by K. M. R.  

4. Tombstone inscriptions at Britford Cemetery for the Attwaters, placed into two blue, lined, bound copybooks.  One book includes Thomas (26 June 1767) and Anna (8 April 1784); William Attwater, died 8 April 1818, aged 46; his wife, Anna, died 15 November 1825, aged 49; John Gay Attwater, surgeon at Fordingbridge and son of Gay Thomas Attwater, died 10 July 1799, aged 36; Gay Thomas, died 15 December 1792, aged 56; his wife, Mary, died 30 July 1812, aged 66; Thomas Attwater, another son of Gay Thomas, died 2 March 1818, aged 50; Sarah Attwater, Gay Thomas’s daughter, died 22 May 1830, aged 64; Philemon Attwater, died 19 December 1832, aged 45; Maria Attwater, died 15 November 1840, aged 57.  The second volume has some of the same entries as the first volume. Thomas Attwater’s first wife, Mary, died in 1732.

Box 5

1.  Another bundle of letters from the mid-19th c. in an envelope, this one marked ‘Mrs Thomas Whitaker’ [Sophia Williams Whitaker].

2.  Letters to and from Sophia Williams Whitaker, 19th c., with many between her and her sister at Miss Heads, Bradford, c. 1832.  Obituary on Sophia Whitaker, 1890, aged 100, in Bratton. She married Thomas Whitaker when she was 34.  Many letters here addressed to Sophia, some after the death of Thomas.  

3.  A large and long MS titled ‘Recollections of my Life as a Governess’.  

Box 6

1. Lewis Magazines.  

2. Remaining papers of Mrs. M. W. Wheeler.  

Box 7

1. Four bundles of materials marked ‘ESWR’ (Edith Sarah Whitaker Reeves), mother of Marjorie Reeves. 

2. Reeves’s family photographs, some of the Elms, Bratton. 

3. Small bound volume with records of the estate holdings of J. S. Whitaker in account first with Mrs. J. Whitaker (his mother) and then with her estate, beginning in 1876. 

4. Envelope containing order of funeral services as well as numerous memorial cards kept by Reeves.  

5. More old photos, some of the Brinkworth’s. 

6. Envelope of more Brinkworth and Bratton memorabilia. 

Box 8

1.  Envelope containing family letters written to Joshua Whitaker. 

2.  Joshua Whitaker – Misc. Letters etc. including Gotch Letters etc.

3.  Letters to Miss Anne Whitaker (Aunt Annie Gotch). 

Box 9

1. Miscellaneous Letters:  A letter of P. J. Saffery to his sister, from Ilkley Wells House, Ilkley, Yorkshire, 29 July 1866. He is now raising money for the RTS, having just returned from Scotland. Also here are letters of P. J. Saffery that reveal a rift between himself and some of his former Baptists friends; also a note of appreciation to Miss Whitaker from a R. Gibson that mentions Jane Blatch; also a petition for assistance from Martha Elkins (very interesting document).  

2. Large bundle of letters by Edward & Edwin Whitaker, mostly to their father, Joshua Whitaker. 

3. Letters of Gratitude. 

4. Letters to Mrs. J. S. Whitaker, née Mary Brinkworth (wife of the son of Jane and Joshua Whitaker).  

5. A bundles of letters marked ‘P. J. Whitaker’ (son of Jane and Joshua Whitaker). 

6. Another package marked ‘P. J. Whitaker’, and addressed at The Elms, Bratton. 

7.  A bundle of 19th c. letters, still in the envelopes, marked ‘Business and letters from acquaintances on variety of topics’.  

Boxes 10 and 11

About two hundred letters involving the children of Anne [Andrews] Whitaker and Maria Grace [Andrews] Saffery, writing to their brothers and sisters and to their cousins.  These letters continue into the 1870s. This box needs substantial work, including collating and flattening the letters and creating an accurate calendar.  These letters are still in their original envelopes, many probably never having been removed more than once or twice since they were written. Many letters in Box 11 are addressed to Joshua and Jane Whitaker; a few here are to Philip and Anne Whitaker.  Also letters in Box 11 to Sophia Williams Whitaker of Bratton. Hard to know the true extent of the contents of these boxes. Box 10 and 11 consist solely of these letters.

Box 12

‘Wiltshire Notes’, material used by Reeves for her books and articles. This is now the entirety of Box 12. 

Box 13

‘Jeffrey Whitaker diaries’, a transcript of the MS. used by Reeves for her book on Jeffrey Whitaker, the Wiltshire schoolmaster.  This is now the entirety of Box 13.

Box 14 

1.  17 Letters – Anne Andrews to Maria Andrews¾remarkable collection of letters, with some transcriptions by Reeves.  

a.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Miss Andrews, Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, 5 February 1790. ‘Tho’ I am not yet prepared to send you those things ...’

b.     Anne Andrews [no location] to Miss [Maria] Andrews, Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, Tuesday, 27 ?  ‘Tho’ I have learn’d from painful Experience ...’

c.     Anne Andrews [at the Horsey’s in Portsea] to Maria Andrews [at Salisbury], undated [no postmark]. ‘Your kind letter reach’d me Saturday Morng the occasion of the delay ...’

d.     Anne Andrews, Salisbury, to MGA, Isleworth, undated. Address: Miss Andrews | Isleworth | Midd.x Postmark: 17 September [1794].* ‘Now my dr Sister I can no longer forbear ...’ 

e.     Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, Exeter Street, Sarum, 5 January 1796.* ‘I cannot help feeling both surprise and uneasiness ...’

f.      Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, c/o Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, 19 December 1795.  ‘I had waited with no small degree of impatience ...’

g.     Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, c/o Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, Monday morning, 13 January 1794. ‘I am at length favor’d with ...’

h.     Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, c/o Mr Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, 11 April 1793.* ‘I think my dr Grace if she reflects one Moment ...’

i.      Anne Andrews, [Isleworth[, to Maria Andrews, Exeter Street, Sarum, Tuesday afternoon, undated, no postmark. ‘I am limited to a few minutes in conversing with you ...’

j.      Anne Andrews [most likely Isleworth] to Maria Andrews [most likely at Sarum], undated, no location, no postmark.  Water damaged.* ‘My dear Grace’s letter whh I received ...’

k.     Anne Andrews [Salisbury] to Maria Andrews, Portsea, ‘favor’d by M.r Davis’ [most likely at Sarum], Saturday morning, undated and no place, no postmark. ‘I have risen somewhat early this morng with an intention ...’

l.      Anne Andrews [Portsea] to Maria Andrews [Salisbury], Monday afternoon, undated and no place, no postmark.  ‘I conceive my dr Grace could not desire much satisfaction ...’

m.   Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, c/o Mr. Hardings, Exeter Street, Sarum, Monday morning, undated [postmark is 1792]. Water damaged.* ‘How shall I be thankful for, yet deprecate your tender ...’

n.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], 29 June ?, no postmark.* ‘I fear that this enforcedsilence hath injured both myself and you ...’*  check for bad words

o.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, c/o Mr. Hardings, Exeter Street, Sarum, 21 September ?, no postmark. ‘My dear Sister will I know forgive the delay in writing ...’

p.     AW, Holcombe, to MGS, Salisbury, 7 March 1834.  Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury. Postmark: Westbury. ‘It is a long time since I have addressed you individually ...’

q.     Anne Andrews to Maria Andrews, Tuesday morning ½ past Six, ?  Address: Miss Andrews. No postmark. ‘I have no reason to assign for addressg my beloved ...’ 

r.      Maria Grace Andrews [Salisbury] to Anne Andrews [Portsea], undated [c. July 1796]. No address page. ‘Your kind attention to my feelings my beloved ...’

2.  13 Letters – Anne Andrews to Maria Andrews – These are the letters Reeves used in her book, with her transcriptions.  

a.     Anne Andrews [most likely at Isleworth] to Maria Andrews [most likely at Sarum], undated. ‘My dear love has indeed been kind in overlooking my indolence ...’ 

b.     Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, Exeter Street, Sarum, 21 July 1797. This letter is about her rejecting a beau, but I don’t think it is Philip Whitaker. ‘I am pain’d when I think on the disappointment ...’

c.     Anne Andrews, [Portsea], to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], Sunday, 6 o’clock, undated. ‘The Date will sufficiently instruct my dear Grace ...’

d.     Anne Andrews, [Portsea], to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], Sunday afternoon, undated. ‘Tho the time is too short to admit of much conversation ...’

e.     Anne Andrews, Chapel Street, London, to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], 27 March ? ‘I fear my dr Sister that I am at this time laboring under your displeasure ...’

f.      Anne Andrews, Salisbury, to Maria Andrews, Portsea, Thursday evening, undated.  ‘You have no doubt anticipated ...’

g.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, Exeter Street, Sarum, 17 May 1794. ‘I am ready to anticipate your charge of unkindness ...’

h.     Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], Tuesday afternoon, 18 March, ? [1792?]. ‘I am sat down my dr Grace with an intention of writing a short letter  ...’

i.       Anne Andrews, [Salisbury?], to Maria Andrews, [Portsea], Monday afternoon, undated. ‘Perhaps my dr Grace has by this time ...’

j.       Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], Wednesday afternoon, undated. ‘I expected to have been with you as yesterday ...’

k.     Anne Andrews, [Salisbury], to Maria Andrews, [with the Saffery’s in Portsea], Friday afternoon, undated. ‘I have a very little time to spend in conversation with ...’

l.       Anne Andrews, [Portsea], to ‘my beloved Sister’ Maria Andrews, [Salisbury], undated. ‘I sincerely hope my dr Grace was not grieved ...’

m.   Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Grace Andrews, [Salisbury], undated. ‘I had hoped to give my dear Grace no cause of uneasiness ...’

3. 17 Letters – Anne Andrews to Maria Grace Andrews. 

a.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, [Salisbury], 21 July 1792.  [no postage page].  ‘Thanks to my dear Girl for her very welcome Letter ...’

b.     Anne Andrews, [probably at Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, [Salisbury?], 11 February ?. [No address page].* ‘I rec.d & perused your letter my dear Sister ...’ 

c.     Anne Andrews [in Salisbury] to Maria Andrews, Isleworth, undated. ‘I have at length a few moments ...’

d.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, Tuesday, 30 May, and Saturday, 3 June [1792]. ‘I am so deeply indebted to the industrious tenderness ...’

e.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Miss [Maria] Andrews, Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, 8 June 1793. ‘I will not now attempt to set before you ...’

f.      Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], Tuesday evening, 2 February 1796. ‘My dr Grace’s backwardness in writing, has not yet so far ...’

g.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, Exeter Street, Sarum, 29 April 1796.* ‘I received my dr Grace’s letter about an Hour since ...’

h.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, c/o Rev. Mr. Saffery’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, 21 April 1797. ‘I scarcely know how to express ...’

i.       Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, Exeter Street, Sarum, 22 [February?—from postmark] 1796. ‘The request contain’d in my dr Grace’s last ...’

j.       Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, 14 November 1795 [from postmark]. ‘I make no doubt but my dear Grace is waiting ...’

k.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, Mr. Harding’s, Exeter Street, Sarum, 5 November 1792. ‘We received your Letter with a mingled Sensation ...’

l.       Anne Andrews, Sarum, to Maria Andrews, Isleworth [crossed out and then forwarded to Mrs. Scott, Chapel Street, Grosvenor Place], London, 25 November 1794. ‘I scarcely know how to address my dr Grace at this time...’

m.   Anne Andrews, [Isleworth], to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], Sunday Evening, 13 October ? ‘My dear Maria need I tell you how very acceptable ...’ 

n.     Anne Andrews, Sarum, to Maria Andrews, Isleworth, 13 August 1794. ‘I need not assure my dear Anna, that ye pause in our correspondence ...’

o.     Anne Andrews, Isleworth, to Maria Andrews, [Sarum], 16 May 1792. ‘With what zealous transport, what trembling agitation, did...’

p.     Anne Andrews, [Sarum], to Maria Andrews, [Isleworth], 8 June 1796.  ‘As I indulge the hope of receiving a letter from my dear Grace ...’

q.     Anne Andrews, Salisbury, to Maria Grace Andrews, Isleworth, Monday Aftn, undated.  ‘After wasting many days in a state of anxiety ...’

4.  18 letters by Maria Saffery to Anne Whitaker, 1804-10, and one by Maria to Eliza [in folder marked, ‘Letters to Mrs. Philip Whitaker’].

a.     Maria Grace Andrews, Portsmouth, to Mrs. P. Whitaker, Bratton Farm, near Westbury, Wilts., Friday, 20 November 1798.  [Postmarked from Portsmouth.] ‘The disappointment which your silence has occasion’d ...’

b.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. P. Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Westbury, Wiltshire, 27 January 1804 [could be 1809?]. ‘I received my dear Anne’s brief acc:t of her Journey ...’

c.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Westbury, Wiltshire, 30 March 1805. ‘The receipt of my Dear Anne’s letter @ 2 hours ...’

d.     Maria Saffery, [Portsea], to Mrs. Whitaker, Bratton Farm (to be left at the Red Lion), Warminster, 16 August 1805. ‘I have my Watch before me & positively only time ...’

e.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Bratton Farm [‘to be left at the Red Lion’], Warminster, 22 November 1805. ‘My dear Anne will expect her usual modicum of comfort ...’

f.      Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Bratton Farm [‘to be left at the Red Lion’], Warminster, 6 December 1805. ‘It is with no small degree of perplexity that I attempt ...’

g.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Bratton Farm [‘to be left at the Red Lion’], Warminster, 4 April 1806. ‘It seems now a long time since I conversed with my ...’

h.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Bratton Farm [‘to be left at the Red Lion’], Warminster, 1 April 1808. ‘The return of my dr S. last night accompanied as it was ...’

i.       Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Westbury, Wiltshire, 12 May 1808 [with attached note by the Rev. John Saffery]. ‘All my feelings are at variance as indeed is commonly ...’

j.       Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm [‘obliged by Mr Stapleton’], Westbury, 13 August 1808 [with attached note by the Rev. John Saffery]. ‘I need not assure my dear Anna, that ye pause ...’

k.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, ‘to be left at the Red Lion,’ Warminster, 3 August 1809. ‘While I reflect on the nature of your engagements this day ...’

l.       Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, near Westbury, Wiltshire, 11 November 1809. ‘There we are after riding for six or seven hours in direct opposition ...’

m.   Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton Farm, Westbury, 24 November 1809. ‘I made immediate inquiries respecting the subject of your last ...’

n.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm, near Westbury, Wiltshire, 17 February 1810. ‘Ryland who is somewhat of an invalid to day has given her assent ...’

o.     Maria Grace Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker, Bratton near Westbury, 6 June 1810. ‘I need not tell my beloved Anna that she is a personage ...’

p.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs Philip Whitaker, Bratton Farm (‘to be left at the Red Lion’), Warminster, Wiltshire, 30 August ? ‘My knowledge of your maternal feelings is too experimental ...’ 

q.     Maria Saffery, Sarum, to Mrs. Philip Whitaker (‘obliged by Mr Head’), [Bratton Farm, Westbury], Wednesday morning ? ‘Mr Head has promised to call this Morng for the purpose of taking ...’ 

r.      Maria Saffery, Hastings, to Eliza ?,  unknown location, 20 October ? ‘Soon after I came hither, I began to think that I could send ...’  letter mentions Mary Mullett.

5.  Five letters here: two letters to a Miss Whitaker, Philip Whitaker’s unmarried sister, from E. Rivers and a J. E. Smith; three other letters. 

6.  Seven letters here: letters from Philemon Attwater to Philip Whitaker; one letter by William Andrews of Shaw House, near Newbury, to Philip Whitaker, 5 June 1817; a letter by Sally Harriet Andrews, Shaw, to Philip Whitaker, 3 September 1819; one letter to Philip Whitaker by Elizabeth Theodosia Head, 9 April 1818; one letter from Henry Whitaker, Maidstone, to Philip Whitaker (his cousin), 14 June 1811. 

7.  19 letters total. Clear plastic package containing seven letters of John Saffery to Philip Whitaker, dated 15 February 1817, 1 April 1817, 5 June 1817, 30 September 1817, 6 April 1818, 8 April 1818, and 5 August 1819; three letters by Philip Whitaker to John Saffery, one dated 1 February 1816 and the other two undated; eight letters by Anne Whitaker to Philip Whitaker, mostly from Salisbury, all undated, but two postmarked 1817 and 1818; and two letters by Anne Whitaker to her daughter-in-law, Jane Saffery Whitaker, both undated. 

8.  11 Letters from Mary Egerton [later Scott] to Mrs. Andrews, and to Maria and Anne Andrews, 1788-95. 

a.     Mary Egerton to Mrs. Andrews, Isleworth, Thursday Noon, 28 August 1788. ‘Your Mint Tea my dr MrsAndrews ...’

b.     Mary Egerton, London, to Mrs. Andrews (‘at Mr Ed. Shores’), Isleworth, 17 September 1788 ‘You will think my dr Mrs Andrews that I mean to retaliate ...’ 

c.     Mary Egerton to Mrs. Andrews, Isleworth, 2 January 1789. ‘You were perfectly right in your Conjecture indeed my Dear Mrs Andrews ...’

d.      M[ary].E[gerton]., London, to Mrs. Andrews, Opposite the Mill, Isleworth, Middlesex, Monday morning, 12 October 1789.  The girls are present in Isleworth at this time. ‘I left my dear friends in such a State of dejection & discomfort ...’

e.     Mary Egerton [London] to Mrs. Andrews, Isleworth, Monday, 25 January 1790.  ‘It gives me sincere pleasure to find the disagreeable conjectures ...’

f.      Mary Egerton, Chapel Street (living and working at this time with the Scotts), to Mrs. Andrews, Isleworth, 19 July 1790. ‘As my dear Friends are so very suspicious & doubtful ..’

g.     Unsigned [Mary Egerton of Denmark Hill] to Mrs. Andrews, Isleworth, Saturday afternoon, 31 July 1790.* ‘I but this morning received your kind Letter my dr Mrs Andrews ...’*

h.     Mary Egerton, Denmark Hill [at Mrs. Barber’s], to Mrs. Andrews, Isleworth, postmarked 2 November [1790] – after the death of Scott’s first wife – Mary is getting ready to move back in it appears on Thursday, or get married to him on that day! not clear.* ‘Extraordinary as it may seem to you, my journey ...’

i.      Mary Scott in London to Grace Andrews at Mr. Hardings in Salisbury, 25 March 1793; attached is a letter from Thomas Scott to Maria, undated but most likely written on the same day, for the postmark is 26 March.  This letter has suffered some water damage. ‘I sincerely thank my Dr Sister for her kind Letter, & am truly sorry ...’

j.      Mary Scott in London to the Miss [Maria] Andrews, at Mr. Hardings, Exeter Street, Sarum, 30 July 1793. Attached to the same folio is a letter dated 2 August 1793 to Anne, also in Salisbury. ‘In hopes of soon receiving another Letter, in reply to my last ...’

k.     Mary [Egerton] Scott, 2 Chapel Street, to Anne Andrews, Isleworth, 13 September 1794. ‘I have this moment received my dr Sister’s affectionate Letter ...’

9. An envelope containing some transcriptions of some of the Andrews /Saffery/Whitaker letters by Marjorie Reeves.

Box 15 

1.     One letter from Ann Taylor, Ongar, to Anne Whitaker, Bratton, 17 June 1812; letter of Phillip W. to MGS, 30 August 1820; and short note from John Saffery to Phillip W., 3 April 1818. 

2.     Four letters of Edward Whitaker from Bradford to P.W. 1817-18. 

3.     Seven Letters to Alfred Whitaker in Stokes Croft, Bristol, from Philip Whitaker and Anne Whitaker at Bratton, 1820-21.   

4.     Envelope marked ‘Philip Whitaker’, containing many letters to P. W., including a set of 13 letters from a Mr. Edward Nelson in Philadelphia, c. 1810-1820. 

5.     Some legal documents. 

6.     Some illegible letters of Edward Whitaker and a J. Smith.

7.     Miscellaneous illegible letters. 

8.     ‘Register of the births of my dear children & grandchildren’ of Caroline Attwater Whitaker.  

9.     A printed poem by a young George Whitaker when he was a student at Frome Grammar School, dated 15 June 1826 (printed by Crockers, Frome).  The poem is titled ‘David’, and is about the biblical king David.  It is some 400 lines, 14 pp., and is dated June 1826.  On the back page is a listing of the students.  George was in the first class, with three others.  The classes go on to the 6th class, with some 46 students.   

10.   Marjorie Reeves’ transcriptions of portions of the diary of Jane Attwater Blatch.  These materials were used in her article on Jane Attwater.  These materials have been separated from the main body of Attwater materials, including nearly all of Attwater’s diary, now housed in the Angus Library, Regent’s Park College, Oxford.  

11.   Old Whitaker genealogies.

Box 16 

1.   Reeves’s transcription of Philip Whitaker’s diaries (he married Anne Andrews in June 1798), including a poem addressed to Philip composed by Jane Attwater Blatch. The original diary has been water damaged at some point and is not legible in many places; very fragile. 

2.   An envelope marked ‘Joshua’, mostly business letters of Joshua Whitaker of Bratton. 

3.   Another envelope marked ‘article on Jane Attwater’s diaries’ by Marjorie Reeves. More transcriptions here. 

Box 17  

1. A letter addressed to Jane Saffery, 1827, about a governess position.

2. Letter of Anne Whitaker the younger to Jane Saffery, summer 1820. 

3. Poems of Maria Grace Saffery, Anne Whitaker (a poem to her son, Edwin, on his birthday, 22 June 1820), Jane Saffery, and one by P. J. Saffery. 

4. Fragment of a late diary (1820) of Mrs. Caroline Whitaker (and a scrap of paper containing names and dates of members of the Attwater family). 

5. In a white envelope marked ‘Joseph Goodenough Blatch’ are some comments by Blatch on women’s fashions. 

6. Two 19th c. journals, one green (from the 1860s) and the other dark brown (1833 to 1862). One is by a daughter of Maria Saffery; the other is by a son of Anne Whitaker, but not Philip or Alfred. 

7. A volume of 51 copied letters to Samuel Saffery, Maria’s son, from his parents, brothers, sisters, and the family friend and live-in companion to Maria Saffery, Ann Salter, 1821-23. Samuel lived in London from March 1822 to September 1823 with a Mrs. Stennett at No. 60, Paternoster Row. 

8. A poem by John Saffery to the King of Prussia, with accompanying letter from Lord Bunsen and from Jane Saffery (John’s wife), about the poem and letter. A small white folder full of silhouettes of members of the Saffery family and locks of hair. 

9. Cecil’s letters from Mill Hill School, north London.  

10. Letters of John Harris to Joshua Whitaker, c. 1860s. 

11. Educational Relics.  

12. Miscellaneous.  Includes an autograph letter from Bristol, 1750; and one from Fordingbridge, 1734; also an envelope marked ‘Flotsam and Jetsam.’ 

13. A large white envelope marked, ‘Children’s Letters.’  More letters from the Whitaker/Saffery children, including some pieces by Mary Grace Whitaker, dated 1852; letters of Grace Whitaker to her mother, Jane Saffery Whitaker, and from Grace to her sister Anne; also letters from John Saffery Whitaker to his mother, Jane Saffery Whitaker, during his time at Mill Hill School, as well as letters from the children living at Lamb Farm. 

14. Two miscellaneous envelopes. 

Box 18

1. Minute book of the Bratton Mutual Improvement Society 1886. See Reeves, Sheep Bell & Ploughshare, chapter 10.

2. An envelope marked, ‘The Elms, Bratton, Westbury,’ containing many letters, still folded, composed mostly by members of the Whitaker/Saffery children, 19th c. 

3. An envelope marked, ‘Mrs. J. S. Whitaker (Mary Brinkworth)’¾many late 19th c. letters.   

Box 19

1.     Blatch, Annajane (1793-1809).  This is one of the most important envelopes in this box, for in it is a portion of Jane Attwater’s diary for 1809, and covers meticulously the last few months of her daughter’s life. Full transcription appears in Whelan, NWW, vol. 8, pp. 266-302.

2.  Attwater/Blatch letters:

a. Jane Blatch, [Nunton[, to Nancy Overbury, [Tetbury], c. 1800 [after the death of Mary Whitaker in 1800.

b. Jane Attwater Blatch to Caroline Whitaker, undated. 

c. Jane Attwater Blatch, [Bratton,] [to Mary and Thomas Dunscombe,] [Broughton,] [Wednesday] 28 November 1810.

d. Jane Blatch, to nephew of Joseph Blatch, undated.

e. Jane Blatch to an unknown recipient, undated.

f. Jane Attwater Blatch to her daughter, Anna, ‘written for my Beloved Anna to read to her schollars wch she taught once a week to read’, c. 1806.

g . Jane Attwater to her sister, Marianna or Caroline, undated.

h. Marianna Jane Head to Jane Attwater Blatch, undated.

i. Annajane Blatch, Bratton, to Miss Cross, attached to a letter by Jane Attwater Blatch, Bratton, to Maria Saffery, Salisbury, c. 1803-4 (copied by JAB).

j.  Joseph Blatch, Bratton, to an unidentified recipient, undated [late spring 1809].

k. John Clare, Downton, to JAB, Bratton, 29 April 1840.  Address: Mrs Blatch | Bratton | near Westbury | Wilts.  Postmark: Salisbury 29 April.

l. Poem ‘In Memory of Annajane Theodosia Blatch’. [autograph JAB].

m. ‘To Jane Attwater Blatch [from her niece]’, a poem (see Volume 4, poem 110).

n. ‘A Thought on Humility’, a meditation by Jane Attwater Blatch.

o.  Marianna Jane Head to Jane Attwater Blatch, undated.

p. Three fragments.

3.  Attwater/Blatch/Saffery Letters. 

a. A letter by one of the sons of Anne Whitaker, at Havre, to MGS, Salisbury, 21 August 1833.

b. Letter to John Saffery, Salisbury, by ‘the poor Shepherd of Salisbury’, 23 February 1820.

c. Two letters by Robert Edminson, former minister at Bratton:

i. Rev. Robert Edminson, Hemel Hempstead, to Miss Whitaker, Bratton, 2 November 1835.

ii. Rev. Robert Edminson to Jane Attwater Blatch, Bratton, 4 June 1840.

d. Two letters by Samuel Saffery:

i.  Samuel Saffery, Cape Town, to MGS, 14 April 1834.

ii. Samuel Saffery, London, to his sister Jane, undated. 

e. Two letters by Edwin Whitaker:

 i. Edwin Whitaker, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, to Anna, 20 March 1863.

ii. Edwin Whitaker, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, to Anna, 31 August 1867.

f. Six letters by P. J. Saffery:

  i. P. J. Saffery to Anna Jane, from Harrogate, 27 June 1845.

 ii. P. J. Saffery, RTS, Paternoster Row, to Anna, 15 August 1854.

iii. P. J. Saffery, RTS, to his daughter, 25 August 1854.

iv. P. J. Saffery, Paternoster Row, to Anna, 26 August 1854.

v. P. J. Saffery to unidentified recipient, 18 August 1855, from Bruce Grove, Tottenham.

vi. P. J. Saffery, RTS, Paternoster Row, to Anna, 21 April 1856.

g. Jane Saffery Whitaker, Bournemouth, to her daughter, Anna Jane Whitaker, Bratton, 6 August 1841.

h. Letter from William Frederick Alexander.

i. Letter to Joshua Whitaker (still in the envelope).

j. Two letters to Ann Salter from the children.

k. Journal to Scotland, 1888.

l. Miscellaneous papers.

4.     Miscellaneous papers.

5. Assorted pieces.

a.   Mary Egerton’s copy of Gessner’s ‘Picture of the Deluge,’ undated, but prior to her marriage to Thomas Scott. 

b.   MS copy of a sermon (possibly by Mary Egerton as well), ‘And Enoch walked with God.’ 

c.   MS copy of John Radnor’s letter from America after the battle of Bunker Hill, copied by Jane Attwater Blatch.

6. More assorted items.

a.   An envelope containing locks of hair kept in tiny envelopes and marked by Maria Saffery. The outside of the envelope reads, ‘Hair  My beloved Mother’s [this is probably the ‘Mrs C. Saffery’, which is probably John Saffery’s mother’s hair, . and Mrs. Whitaker’ [most likely Philip and Anne], another one marked ‘Mrs. Whitaker, March 14th 1845’, one marked ‘Mrs. Philip Whitaker’, marked ‘This used to be my dear very dear Sister Sarah’ [these last ones are in two or three different hands, none of which are that of Maria Grace Saffery].  The hair is perfectly intact in all cases. 

b.   Miscellaneous letters of the third generation of Whitakers, some of it involving their education.

c.   Some materials related to Joshua Whitaker, and letters from a John Harris.

Box 20 

1.  An envelope marked, ‘Mrs. Philip Whitaker (Anne) late diary’. Two thin volumes. 

2.   An envelope marked, ‘George Whitaker’.  Many letters in this envelope, including those by George Whitaker, and other siblings, especially Edward, and many of them are to Anne Whitaker.  Some are from the 1820s and are very faded and fragile. Three letters here by Anne Whitaker to Philip Whitaker, including some from Shaw.  Six letters here to Maria Grace Saffery. 

a.   Anne Whitaker, Shaw, near Newbury, to Philip Whitaker, Bratton, 18 September 1817. Address: Mr Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | Westbury |Wilts | 15th Septr 1817.  Postmark: Newbury. ‘I desire to feel truly thankful that on taking the pen this morning ...’

b.   Anne Whitaker, Shaw, near Newbury, to Philip Whitaker, Bratton, 19 September 1817. Address: Mr Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | Westbury | Wilts.  Postmark: Newbury. ‘Your letter received yesterday affected me deeply for although ...’

c.   Anne Whitaker, Shaw, near Newbury, to Philip Whitaker, Bratton, undated. Address: Mr Philip Whitaker | Bratton Farm | near Westbury | Wilts.  Postmark: Newbury. ‘As you express an intention of sending to the office tomorrow ...’

d.   Anne Whitaker, Bratton, to Maria Saffery, Salisbury, 16 August 1828. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury. Postmark: Westbury.  ‘Notwithstanding the heavy rain I found my gig ...’ 

e.   Anne Whitaker, Bratton, to Maria Saffery, Salisbury, undated. Address:  Mrs Saffery. No postmark. ‘I feel grieved that your letter should remain ...’

f.    Anne Whitaker at Bratton to Maria Saffery, Salisbury, undated   [Address: Mrs. Saffery. No postmark.] ‘I was more grieved than surprised at the feelings ...’

g.   AW at Bratton to MGS, Salisbury, Wednesday evening, undated.  Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury | Favor’d by Mrs Sloper.  No postmark. ‘I was greatly relieved by your letter which I obtained last night ...’

h.   AW, Weymouth, to MGS, Salisbury, Friday morning, undated. Mrs Saffery. No postmark. ‘Thanks for your letter which though it contained a refusal was welcome ...’

i.    AW, Bratton, to MGS, Salisbury, undated. Address: Mrs Saffery | Castle Street | Salisbury. Postmark: Frome.   ‘The wound in John’s head notwithstanding ...’

Included in this envelope is an MS marked ‘Pedigree of the Whitaker Family from 1560 to 1911,’ in which we find that Anne Andrews died in 1865.  Thomas Whitaker (1735-84) married Caroline Attwater on 10 January 1765 at Downton, and they had five children:  Philip (1766-1847), Anna (b. 1768, d. 1779, Mary (b. 1773-1800), Thomas (b. 1776-1857) (who married Sophia Williams), and Anna Jane (b. 1784-1836).   Philip and Anne Whitaker had nine children:  

Alfred (1799-1851); Joshua (1801-62) m. Jane Saffery; Edward (solicitor) (b. 1802) m. Emily Woolbert; Philip (b. 1803) m. Maria Jones; Emma (b. 1805), unmarried; Anne (b. 1807) m. Robert Green, a brewer; John (b. 1810); George (b. 1811) m. Charlotte Burton (daughter of former BMS missionary)¾son was George Herbert Whitaker, canon in Church of England; Edwin (b. 1814, became solicitor) m. Mary Attwater.   Joshua and Jane Whitaker had four children:  Anna, who married W. Gotch; John, who married Mary Brinkworth; Joshua Cecil who married someone named Margaret; and Mary Grace (marriage partner not listed). 

3.  An envelope marked, ‘Offprints on George Whitaker’, is a letter from George to one of his brothers or sisters at Waltham (probably P. J., maybe) about Maria Saffery, who had been visiting him at Oakington, near Cambridge, 19 August 1846.  Also an article by Reeves on George Whitaker, and one from the Canadian Biography and one from a Toronto newspaper in 1985. 

4.   An envelope marked, ‘Joshua Whitaker’s Commonplace Books: Lists of Contents’, compiled by Marjorie Reeves. 

5.   An envelope marked, ‘Miscellaneous Verses (Lewis Papers)’.  

6.   An envelope marked, ‘Mill Hill Relics’ from the boarding school, Mill Hill, near London, where several of the Whitaker children attended.

7.   Another envelope marked, ‘Joshua Whitaker Commonplace books’.   Now empty. 

Box 21 

1. Three poetry commonplace books of Joshua Whitaker.  One is dated 6 March 1822, with several poems by Byron, Southey, and Moore; another one dated 27 December 1822, which includes Robert Hall’s ‘A Reverie’, the letter from Mackintosh to Hall, dated 1805, Hall’s ‘Essay on Poetry and Philosophy’, something by Edward Irving, and a sketch of a sermon by John Foster. Last entry is dated 18 March 1856; one entry, dated 15 December 1823, includes a Wordsworth sonnet, ‘If thou be one whose heart the holy forms’. 

2. Joshua Whitaker’s diary from 1833.

3. A commonplace book with one poem and some sermon notes, which appear to be in Anne Whitaker’s hand.  

4. MS materials originally placed by Reeves into a large black 3-ring notebook.

a.   Advertisement of the Bratton school, 5 February 1787.

b.  8 issues of the ‘Hodge-Podge’ of the Whitaker children at Bratton, January-February 1856.  Single octavo sheet folded into four leaves.  

c.  More material from Jeffrey Whitaker’s school in early 18th c. Reeves writes on one, ‘The sole surviving exercise book from the Jeffery Whitaker School, dated 1701’ with ‘interesting scribbles on the back’.  Also some exercises in ‘Definitions’ and ‘Geometry’.  

d. A letter to Philip Whitaker of Bratton from a Mr. M. M. Sherwood, dated 9 August 1822, who operated a boarding school, concerning the Whitaker’s daughter, who had been taught from the Church of England catechism but was told to do so no more, and Sherwood is complying. 

e.  Lines addressed to Philip Whitaker on his 54th birthday by his three youngest children, composed in 1820 [the three sons were John Whitaker (11 June 1810), George Whitaker (9 October 1811), and Edwin Whitaker (22 June 1814)]; some lines about Anna Jane Whitaker, when very young; a poem in honor of Caroline Whitaker, 29 January 1824, her 78th birthday, by Anne Andrews Whitaker; and a poem by Eliza Attwater of Bratton, to John Gay Attwater, 19 December 1828. 

f. 6 Letters by Anne Andrews Whitaker: 5 letters to her son Alfred staying with his cousins at boarding school (Alfred was born on 27 July 1799, so he was very young at the time) at the Saffery’s in Salisbury – 3 October 1804 (possibly the Attwaters), 23 August 1805, 20 September 1805, 9 March 1806, 17 April ? One letter to Anna Jane Whitaker, on a visit to Bristol (Mr Hackett’s, Rosemary Street), 

g. A letter from Thomas Scott (the son of the biblical commentator Thomas Scott, at this time operating a boarding school), 21 July 1829, from Gawcott.  Mary Egerton Scott is there as well as the two other brothers of Thomas.  Anne and Philip sent at least one son to this school.

h. Some miscellaneous items, including a collection of letters by the Victorian generation of Whitakers; and materials from Mill Hill School, London, in the 1850s. 

Box 22 

1.  A package marked ‘Maria Grace Saffery, Poems & extracts’. Three poems are loose. Others are in two small bound volumes, one a commonplace book of poems with a few of her own poems at the end; the other contains only a few poems by Saffery from the mid-1820s, in her best hand. In a small book in this package are some poems mostly copied by Saffery (but not all, for there is more than one hand here), including a poem by Moore beginning ‘A beam of tranquillity smil’d in the west’; ‘Perpetual Adoration’, also by Moore; ‘Solitary’ by Vernon; a poem by E. P. beginning ‘Here calm as the wane of the untroubled ocean’; ‘The Rose of Sharon’, by E. P. (he was a friend of Saffery); ‘The Wish’, by E. P.; and two other poems by E. P.; also a poem titled ‘On the death of an Infant’, beginning ‘The infant has taken its flight’.  After many blank pages, the poetry resumes, this time with poems signed ‘M.G.S.’¾  ‘EP’ is the Revd Edward Phillips of East Tytherley, who also appears in ‘Lyra Domestica’. 

2.  Envelope marked ‘Odd Attwater Letters’. Letter to Jane Attwater, 1789, from Mrs. Philips, wife of the minister at Brown Street, as he was on his death bed, responding to a letter read to him by his wife from Attwater; a letter from Philemon Attwater to John Saffery about the impending death of his mother, Mary Drewett Attwater, in 1812; letter from Gay Thomas Attwater to a Mr. Blatch concerning the death of Thomas Attwater in 1767; letter from Mary Attwater to Annajane Whitaker, prior to Mary’s death in 1800; a copy of the will of Thomas Attwater (d. 1818) for Philemon Attwater;  letter from Mary Attwater of Bodenham (unmarried daughter of Philemon and Mary Attwater) to Annajane Whitaker of Bratton, 4 September 1811, delivered by Maria Grace Saffery.  

3.  Envelope marked ‘Fragment of a diary c. 1830’.  Includes Saffery material and poems, including one by ‘Anna Jane’. In a thin bound volume is one poem only, titled ‘To the Omnipotent’, but not in Maria Grace Saffery’s hand; possibly Anne Whitaker’s hand. Several poems by various writers, including Shakespeare, have been copied into the volume. The diary appears to be composed by Maria Saffery, c. May 1830. The diary records the death of Miss Attwater of Bodenham, probably the unmarried daughter of Gay Thomas, on Saturday 22 May 1830.  On 7 May the writer begins practicing the guitar ‘for the first time in my life’.  The writer is reading Dante on Friday night, 21 May 1830, and has been reading from Cary’s translation all month. Also a poem here by Anne Steele, transcribed by Anne Whitaker, 1824. 

4.   Envelope marked ‘Victorian Bookmarker and silhouettes’. Includes silhouettes of John Saffery, Jane Taylor (autographed by her as a gift), and Anne Andrews.  

5.   Envelope containing ten letters of Marianna Jane Head of Bradford to her cousin, Eliza Penny Attwater of Nunton, 1827-35. 

6.   An envelope containing fourteen letters from N. Overbury of Tetbury to Miss Mary Whitaker of Bratton, c. 1794-99; also letters from Elizabeth Theodosia Head to Anna Whitaker, c. 1809; one letter by a Mrs. Claypole to Annajane Whitaker, 28 January 1813. Mrs. Claypole was the wife of Thomas Claypole (1772-1825), who began his ministry in the Particular Baptist church at Rushden, near Bedford. He came to Bratton in 1804, serving as pastor of the Baptist congregation there until 1809, when he removed to Bloxham, Oxfordshire. His final ministry (1818-23) was at Yeovil, Somerset.

7.   In an envelope marked ‘2 1792 recipe books’ is a recipe book most likely by Marianna Attwater Head, apparently a part of the Attwater collection of materials, with one reference here to ‘Aunt Blatch’s recipe’).  

8.   In an envelope marked ‘More Attwater Letters’ are three from the late 1830s, including one by Anne Saffery to Mrs. Attwater, 29 October 1836, from Hastings; and one to Mrs. Attwater, Bodenham, from her daughter Eliza at Holcombe, 24 October 1838.

9.   Envelope containing Marjorie Reeves’s transcriptions of ‘Extracts from the ‘Hodge Podge’’.  

10. Envelope marked ‘Aunt Tillie, her letters to Aunt Jane’.  Late 19th and early 20th c.  

11. Envelope marked ‘Anna Jane Whitaker’s arithmetic book, late 18th c., turned into a Victorian Scrapbook’. 

12. In clear plastic sleeve, MS copy of ‘The Budget’, 8 July 1831.

13. In a clear bag are two thin volumes, one ‘Recollections of Mrs. Jay’, most likely Marianna Jane Head (she married William Jay late in life); she died on 4 February 1857; also a prose work titled ‘Selfishness’, dated 18 March 1861, author unknown.

Box 23

1. Map used by Reeves in her book of Hampshire and Somerset. 

2. Letter of Thomas Whitaker to his wife, 26 October 1775. 

3. Envelope of seven letters from S. Whitaker, 1830s. 

4. Family tree of the Attwaters used by Reeves in her book.

5. Envelope of material on Whitakers in Australia. 

6. Envelope titled ‘A few Lewis remains’.

7. Envelope titled ‘Family trees of the Gays’. 

8. Envelope containing Reeves’s transcriptions of the Gay letters.

9. Envelope containing considerable amount of commonplace poetry in the early decade or so of 19th c., all MS. Also here is a long poem, ‘Ode on Adversity’, anonymous; some of this poetry is original, but cannot tell who wrote it.

10. A volume of letters of Alfred Whitaker to his mother, Anne, 1816-19, during his time in London, living at Gray’s Inn. 

Box 24  

2.     Letter: Caroline Attwater to Jane Attwater, 28 December 1787. 

3.     Rare copy of Anne Steele’s Verses for Children (1788). 

4.   In a small envelope is a copy of a letter from Anna Roach to Jane Attwater Blatch concerning the death of John Gay Attwater, Jane’s nephew.  

5.   Miscellaneous materials concerning the Earle family and William Whitaker of Melbourne House, Bratton.  

6.     Copy of John Broome’s Hymns of Anne Steele.

7.     Copy of Reeves’s Sheep Bell & Ploughshare. 

8.     Envelope marked ‘Tennis Tournament (before 1914)’.

9.     Dark bound volume (notebook) signed ‘Jane S. Whitaker, 1919’.

10.   Envelope marked ‘Later 19th c. Letters’.

11.   Envelope containing Mary Whitaker’s arithmetic book, c. 1780s.

12.   Envelope marked ‘Attwater Leases’ concerning property at Bodenham, as well as information on death dates for various members of the Ballard, Drewett and Whitaker families.

13.   Printed copy of the funeral sermon for John Gay Attwater, 11 August 1895.

14.   Printed copy of the notes for the funeral sermon on Joshua Whitaker, died 9 December 1864. 

15.   Copy of ‘Beauties of Bratton’, a poem by Mary Reeves, 1906.

16.   Bacon’s County Map of Wiltshire (early 20th c.).

17.   A group of loose letters to Marjorie Reeves. 

Box 25

1. MS. book, ‘Lyra Domestica’, by Maria Grace Saffery.  On the envelope Reeves wrote, ‘May need to go to Regent’s Park?’  That did not happen. The book of 53 poems, including drawings by Saffery, is all in her hand and dated on the frontispiece, 1839.  The poems only take up about one-fourth of the bound book. 

2. MS. book, ‘Poems’, a commonplace book by Ann Salter, who lived with the Saffery’s most of her life.  Inscription reads, ‘Anne Salter, Salisbury¾June 27th 1811’.  It is a copy of James Montgomery’s The Wanderer of Switzerland and other poems, 3rd ed.  The book is beautifully done.  Inside the front cover is another MS, an eight-stanza hymn titled ‘Praise’, author unknown, but possibly Salter?  

3. Another copy of Saffery’s Poems on Sacred Subjects, this one a gift from Maria to her grandson, John Saffery Whitaker. Inscription reads (in Maria Saffery’s hand):  ‘John Saffery Whitaker from his dear Grandmamma Saffery Janr 1st 1853’.  This copy has the subscription list [between pages 192 and 193 is a dead spider!]. 

4.  ‘The Budget’ 1831 – some of which written by George Whitaker when a student.

5.  Envelopes containing the ‘The Village Rill’, ‘The Village Quarterly’, and ‘News from Parnassus’, all creative works by the Whitaker children at Bratton in the 1830s. See Reeves, Sheep Bell & Ploughshare, chapter 7.

6. Thin bound volume, ‘Jane Attwaters her Book 1768’. Also on the first inside page is written ‘Jenny Attwaters her Book … 1771’   ‘Jane Attwaters Her Book 1771’  ‘Jenny Attwaters her Song Book 1770’ and one signature by Gay Thomas Attwater, her brother.  Music book, but the pages are now empty. Apparently the others were torn out previously. 

7. Vol. 3 of Poems by Theodosia (1780), titled Miscellaneous Pieces.  Inscription reads:  ‘Jane Attwaters Book the Gift of the Beloved Authors survivor’ ‘Fain would my soul thy sentiments imbibe /And in my own thy manners would transcribe’. 

Box 26

1. Caroline Attwater’s copy of vol. 2 of Poems, by Theodosia (Anne Steele), a gift from Anne Steele, May 1763. [‘Caroline Attwaters her Book—the gift of Miss Ann Steele of Broughton Hamshire [sic] May 1763 2nd volume’] 

2. Letters Moral and Entertaining, in Prose and Verse.  By the author of Friendship in Death.  [Elizabeth Singer Rowe]. Part III.  (London: T. Worrall, 1733).  This book was originally owned by Caroline Attwater and then Mary Whitaker. Inscription reads:  ‘Caroline Attwater, her book; gave to her by Anna Attwater, 1764.  Mary Whitaker the gift of her Mother 1788’.

3. Jane Attwater’s copy [inscribed ‘Jane Attwaters her Book—the Gift of the Rev.d Mr Philips March 31 1772’] of The Great Duty of Believing on the Son of God … (London: J. and W. Oliver, 1768).  

4. Jane Attwater’s copy (signed 1772) of A Concise History of Philosophy and Philosophers, by M. Formey (Glasgow: Robert Urie, 1767).  

5. Mary Whitaker’s copy of The Dialogues of Eumenes, by John Ash of Pershore, Baptist Minister (Bristol: W. Pine, 1779).  Inscription reads:  ‘Mary Whitaker’s given her by the Revd Mr Evans  Novr 9th 1786’.  

6. Anna Jane Whitaker’s copy of An Extract of the Life of the late Rev. Mr. David Brainerd, Missionary to the Indians, by John Wesley (Bristol: William Pine, 1798).  Inscription reads:  ‘Bratton Meeting Library.  The gift of Anna Jane Whitaker, Bratton, Novr 5. 1810’.  Attached to this in the same volume is A Treatise Concerning Marriage, by Moses West, 4th ed. (London: J. Philips, 1780) (Quaker text). 

7. The Book of Psalms (London: S. Bagster, n.d.). Pocketsize edition. A. J. Whitaker, 1835. 

8. The Christian Hero: An Argument Proving that no Principles but those of Religion are sufficient to make a Great Man (London: J. Tonson, 1727).  Once owned by Arthur H. Coombs, April 22 [18]79.  Not clear how it belongs to this collection now. Also on the inside cover is the insignia of W. R. Highmore, M. D.  1779.   

9. Rob Roy, by Sir Walter Scott (London: Thomas Nelson, 1901).  Originally owned by H. Whitaker Coomb, January 1, 1906, then by Marjorie Reeves, 17 July 1917.  

Box 27 

1. Folder 27/1: Saffery Poems. A collection of loose MS poems from the early 19th c., mostly by members of the Saffery and Whitaker families, including Maria Saffery.  Most of the material is anonymous, but a number of poems (and drafts of poems) and one prose piece are by Saffery (mostly in her late hand). 

2. Folder 27/2: A commonplace booklet (no cover) of poems by a young Jane Attwater c. early 1770s. In the Attwater book is ‘The Arbour: an Ode to Contentment’, by Thomas Cole; Hymns 4 and 5 from Hymns by Anna Letitia Aikin, beginning lines ‘Behold, where breathing love divine’ and ‘Awake my soul, lift up thine eyes’. Also ‘An Address to the Deity’, ‘To Miss R—, on her Attendance on her Mother at Buxton’, ‘On the Death of Mrs. Jennings, the authors Grandmother’, ‘A Summer Evening’s Meditation’, ‘Ode to Spring’ by Waller (altered, says Attwater, by ‘Philander’ [William Steele IV]), and ‘A Character’ by Horace, first line beginning ‘Oh! born to sooth distress, & lighten care’, and finally ‘Another’, first line beginning ‘Of gentle manners & of tast[e] refin’d’.  

3. Folder 27/3: A collection of numerous unidentified poems and prose pieces on loose folia and some in envelopes marked by Reeves; one is ‘A History of the Kings of England in Verse’. 

4. Folder 27/4: A large envelope containing 5 numbers of the New Bratton Magazine, 1 number of The Children’s Magazine, 2 numbers of The Haphazard (1918), one School Magazine (1922), and one Ghosts’ Review (1866). 

5. Folder 27/5: In an envelope, a manuscript poem, ‘The Valley of Achor for a Door of Hope’, by the Revd Mr. Meadows, with some other poems, authors unknown. A commonplace book from the 18th c.

Loose materials in the box: 

6. A copy of Mary Steele’s Danebury (1779) (with no annotations), paper cover.  

7. Envelope of Reeves’s transcriptions of portions of Mary Scott’s The Female Advocate and some Seward material used for Pursuing the Muses.

8. Envelope containing Reeves’s footnotes for Pursuing the Muses. 

9. Large folder containing Reeves’s typescripts of Mary Steele’s poetry, and some of the other members of the Steele circle, some of it used in Pursuing the Muses. All taken from manuscripts in the Steele Collection, Angus Library.

10. Envelope containing pictures of the illustrations used in Pursuing the Muses.

11. Envelope containing halftones used in Pursuing the Muses.

Box 28

1. In a white envelope marked ‘Book of MS. Poems by ‘Maria’’ are thirteen poems by Marianna Attwater, all from 1768-70. 

2. An envelope marked ‘Genealogical Material on Gays, Attwaters, etc’.  Here is a record of the date of Marianna’s wedding (21 January 1773). 

3. An envelope marked ‘Poems by Amira, Philander, Maria—oddments of 18th c. verse’.

4. An envelope marked ‘19th c. material—Research material (Jennifer Thorp)’.

5. ‘George Whitaker’, printed materials only.

6. Envelope containing copy of catalogue of Steele Collection at the Angus Library.

7. Envelope containing Reeves’s transcriptions of Mary Steele’s poems.

8. Clear envelope containing material on Seward, Hayley, and other 18th c. poets for use in Pursuing the Muses.

9. Brown envelope containing material on Anne Steele, poems and letters.

10. A large bundle of materials from Hugh Steele-Smith concerning Anne Steele, Mary Wakeford, and William Steele IV¾mostly copies of their letters and poems by Steele-Smith.

11. Envelope marked ‘Dossier on Mary Scott from Hugh Steele-Smith’ used in Pursuing the Muses.

12. Envelope marked ‘J. Thorp materials and letters’, used in Pursuing the Muses.

13. Envelope on Elizabeth Rowe used in Pursuing the Muses.

14. White envelope of materials on Hannah More and other ‘Primary Materials’ used in Pursuing the Muses.

15. Printers, Booksellers and Libraries in Hampshire, 1750-1800, by John Oldfield (Hampshire Papers, printed by Hampshire County Council). 

Box 29

1.  Copy of Maria Saffery’s Poems on Sacred Subjects (1834).  This copy is in poor condition and was issued before the subscription list was added. On the title page at top is written ‘Preparing for immediate publication’.  In Saffery’s hand at the front is an MS list of the subscribers, including a Mrs. Paget of Newbury House, which might be Shaw House after the death of the last Joseph Andrews. Also subscribing is John Sheppard of Frome, which ties Saffery with Anne Steele.  

2.  Two letters that passed between Reeves and Sue Mills at the Angus Library concerning Philip Furneaux and William Pine, Bristol printer.

3.   A stack of note cards that Reeves apparently used for Pursuing the Muses.

4.   An envelope containing ‘poems, riddles, puzzles, humourous writings … 19th c.’

5.   A large folder of materials on Anne and Mary Steele taken from the work of Hugh Steele-Smith, now located in the Angus Library. Much of this material appears NWW.

6.   Five pocket calendars belonging to Jane Saffery (1816, 1824, and 1825) are here, mostly unused. 1828 and 1829 are full of entries, however, some of which Reeves transcribed.