Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1762-4 and March 1770 – June 1773 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
1 bound volume, 4to, ff. [88] + 2 blanks.
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
SMITH, SAMUEL, son of Samuel Smith, Compton Street, London, merchant, and Christian, dau. of Rev. Edward Pain, Winchester; b. 17 Jul 1731; adm. (aged 12) Jul 1744; KS 1746; elected to Trinity Coll. Cambridge 1750, adm. pens. 14 Jun 1750, scholar 26 Apr 1751, matr. 1751; BA 1754; MA 1757; LLD 1764; Minor Fellow, Trinity Coll. 2 Oct 1756, Major Fellow 6 Jul 1757; ordained deacon 21 Sep 1755, priest 21 Dec 1755 (both Ely); Head Master of the School Jun 1764 -–88; Rector of Walpole St. Andrew, Norfolk, from 1762; Rector of Dry Drayton, Cambs., from 1785; Prebendary of Westminster from 29 Mar 1787, and of Peterborough from 28 Sep 1787; Busby Trustee 10 Apr 1766; m. 1st, 27 Aug 1764 Ann, dau. of John Jackson, King Street, Westminster; m. 2nd, 9 May 1791 Susanna, sister of Thomas Pettingal (qv); m. 3rd, 19 Jun 1794 Ann Pinckney, Cathedral Precinct, Peterborough, Northants; d. 23 Mar 1808. Buried North Aisle, Westminster Abbey.
Repository
Archival history
Content and structure area
Scope and content
'This volume records parish accounts for the early years of his rectorship of St Peter’s (1762-85), before resuming in 1770 with daily receipts and expenses while Head Master at Westminster (1764-88).
As one might hope from a Cambridge don and schoolmaster, the accounts contain several entries for books, generally of a classical, theological, or educational nature, purchased from the likes of ‘Mr [Thomas] Payne’ and ‘Mr [William] Ginger’. Examples include Graevius’s edition of Cicero’s De Officiis, Thomas Newton’s Dissertations on the prophecies, and, fresh off the press, a copy of Proposals for an amendment of school-instruction (London, 1772). Smith subscribed to books too, including Lawrence Holden’s A paraphrase on the Book of Isaiah, and Thomas Francklin’s translation of Lucian. He purchases prayerbooks from a Mrs Cole, ‘two spelling books for my children’, ‘a Virgil … which belonged to Ld Derehurst’, and makes regular payments to the newsman. In addition to his bibliophilic tendencies, the accounts also demonstrate Smith’s interest in art and music, as he visits exhibitions, buys picture frames, and pays the ‘Bp of Peterborough for a landscape by [Adam] Pynaker’, as well as taking his wife to see ‘Il Cid opera’ and Handel’s oratorio Alexander Balus.
There are very practical payments (to a glazier for mending the chancel windows, to a ‘chimney doctor’, and for the clearing of sewers and gutters), as well as charitable contributions (subscriptions to the Westminster Infirmary and Grey Coat Hospital, gifts to the poor, Christmas boxes for the dustman, &c), but also occasional treats (oysters for his children, lobsters, Dublin beer, a backgammon table, and money won and lost at cards). In June 1770 Smith pays ‘Mr Small for inoculating two of my children’. The entries for income reveal that Smith received, for example, money from India and City bonds, from school fees, and from selling his father’s furniture via ‘Mr Christie’.
The front pastedown bears a list of the impressive stocks of alcoholic beverages under Smith’s care in 1772 and 1773, including ’76 bottles of Port at home’, and supplies of Hock, Burgundy, Cherry Brandy, and ‘Dehany’s Rum’ in the ‘cellar in cloisters’ and ‘the room over the gate’ (presumably at Westminster).' - Bernard Quaritch Catalogue
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to collection items is granted to bona-fide researchers, by prior appointment, subject to the overriding provisions of relevant legislation, including Data Protection.
Conditions governing reproduction
A reprographics service is available to researchers subject to the access restrictions outlined above. Copying will not be undertaken if there is any risk of damage to the item. Copies are supplied in accordance with Westminster School's Policy on Archive and Heritage Collections, and under provisions of any relevant copyright legislation. Permission to reproduce images of items in the custody of Westminster School must be sought from its Governing Body.
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Manuscript on paper, in English, 4to, ff. [88] + 2 blanks, neatly written in a single hand in brown ink, with a few later pencil notes; occasional light marks; very well preserved in contemporary vellum over boards, ‘West Lynn’ inked to one board (crossed through); boards slightly bowed, a few marks to covers.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Sackville, Charles, 1711-1769 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Final
Level of detail
Full
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
- Latin
Sources
Bernard Quaritch Ltd. catalogue