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Auction: 14035 - Postal History, Autographs and Historical Documents
Lot: 3050

Historical Documents
(George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough)
1821 (24 November) "Conveyance of the Steeple Barton Estate Subject to the Indemnity Deed as to the Tithes of the Holdenby Estate - The Devices in trust under the late Duke of Marlborough's Will to Viscount Clifden". A group of related documents and indentures legally bound together, eight pages on vellum signed by "Shaftsbury", "Robt. Spencer", "J. Blackstone" and "Clifden". The reverse of this document with, "Received the day and year first within written of and from the within named Henry Welbore Ellis ... Viscount Clifden the sum of One hundred pounds being the consideration money within mentioned to be paid by him to us - I say received the same By us" and signed by Shaftsbury, Robert Spencer and J Blackstone with witnesses to each signature.

The first seven pages, dated 1796 and 1804 are an exemplification of common recovery relate to land in "Wescott Barton and within the Liberty and Proximity of Middle Barton in the parish of Steeple Barton in the county of Oxford", and describes over two hundred acres near Clympton from George, late Duke of Marlborough to Cropley Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftsbury, Lord Robert Spencer and James Blackstone plus lands of Henry Welbore Ellis, Viscount Clifden.

The final page is an indenture dated 24 November 1821 between Cropley Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftsbury, the Right Honorable Robert Spencer, James Blackstone and Henry Welbore Ellis, Viscount Clifden, referring back to the two earlier leases but here the reference is to the Manor of Holdenby in Northamptonshire, subject to a mortgage of £20,000 and adds, " ... in consideration of sixty thousand five hundred and twenty six pounds six shillings and 2 pence ..."

Each of the first seven pages with blue £1 revenue stamps, the final page with blue £100 and £10 revenue stamps. Some soiling to the outer cover, otherwise fine. A very unusual document. Photo

George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766 – 1840), styled Marquess of Blandford until 1817.
A British peer and collector of antiquities and books. Although the Marquess was born and baptised with the name of George Spencer, soon after succeeding to the Dukedom of Marlborough, he had it legally changed to George Spencer-Churchill. This illustrious name did not, however, save him from his mounting debts and his estates were seized and his collections sold. He retired to Blenheim Palace where he lived the remainder of his life off a small annuity granted to the first Duke by Queen Anne

Henry Welbore Agar - Ellis, 2nd Viscount Clifden (1761-1836)
Lord Clifden married Lady Caroline, daughter of George Spencer, 4th Duke of Marlborough, in 1792. His only son George became a successful politician and was created Baron Dover in his father's lifetime, but predeceased his father. Lady Clifden died at Blenheim Palace in November 1813, aged 50. Lord Clifden remained a widower until his death at Hanover Square, Mayfair, London, in July 1836, aged 75. He was succeeded in his titles by his grandson Henry, the eldest son of Lord Dover.

Lord Robert Spencer (1737-1841) was the youngest son of the second Duke of Marlborough.


William Seymour Blackstone (1809–1881) was an English MP in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. He lived at Castle Priory, Wallingford, built for his grandfather, but decided to build a still-grander house, Howbery Park, across the Thames in Crowmarsh Gifford. However, he fell into debt, largely because of the costs of building this new home, and spent time in the debtors' prison at Oxford. His debt problems also contributed to the end of his political career. He died in Brighton, never having lived at Howbery Park.

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Estimate
£200 to £250