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Dunmore Family Papers (I)

 Collection
Identifier: Mss. 65 D92

  • Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Letters and papers of the Earls of Dunmore, a branch of the Murray family of Scotland. All of the papers, except eleven items relating to Virginia, 1770, 1776 are photocopies. The early papers relate to lands in Brabant (a province of the Netherlands) inherited from the 7th Earl of Derby and his wife, and to the role of Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore (1661- 1710) as Master of the Horse to Queen Mary, the wife of James II.

Eighteenth century papers relate to the Jacobite conspiracies of 1703 and 1745, the War of Austrian Succession in which John, 2nd Earl of Dunmore (1685-1752) served in Flanders and also relate to the career of Dunmore (1732-1809), governor of Virginia, 1771-1775. There are four letters from George Washington to Lord Dunmore.

The nineteenth century papers include letters from George, 5th Earl of Dunmore to his agent Thomas Jack. Topics in the collection include the marriage of Prince Augustus Frederick to Lady Augusta Murray.

Prominent correspondents include Edward VII and his wife Alexandra (to Charles Adolphus, 7th Earl of Dunmore), Queen Victoria, Prince Adolphus Frederick (Duke of Cambridge), Sir William Johnson, Henry Pelham and Marshal Saxe.

George Washington letter to Lord Dunmore, 1774 in Box 3 Locked Section.

Dates

  • Creation: 1650-1899

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use:

Questions regarding permission to publish may be directed to the Rare Books and Manuscript Librarian, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Extent

2.00 Linear Feet

Acquisition Information:

Papers were deposited at the College of William and Mary and later given back to the Dunmore Family except for the items relating to Virginia. The papers are now in the Scottish National Archives, Register House, Edinburgh.

Related Materials:

See also; Dunmore Family Papers (II), Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Physical Description

395 items

Processing Information:

Box and Folder List compiled by Zach Woodward, SCRC staff, in April 2011.

Title
Guide to the Dunmore Family Papers (I)
Author
Special Collections staff
Date
2007-08-01
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository

Contact: