Bundle of Thomas Walton Financial Papers

Scope and Content

Thomas Walton's accountant and financial adviser was George Edmonds, who managed Walton's investments and made disbursements from his account until Edmonds' death in November 1752. There appears to have been a reciprocal arrangement whereby Walton collected the rents in Cheshire due to Edmonds, while Edmonds drew upon Walton's accounts in London. For information on George Edmonds see Marjorie Cox, Peter Kemp and Ronald Trenbath, Bowdon Hall and its people (Altrincham: Bowdon History Society, 1994), pp. 71-86. Edmonds' widow had considerable difficulty tying up her husband's affairs, owing to the suddenness of his demise, and the secrecy in which he had conducted his business (EGR8/1/3/28). From 1753 onwards John Jackson of Great Queen's Street, London, managed Thomas Walton's affairs.

The papers below comprise: 16 statements of Thomas Walton's account with George Edmonds (EGR8/1/3/1-2, /4-5, /7, /9-12, /14-15, /17, /21, /23, /25-26), and a statement of his account with John Jackson (EGR8/1/3/39); 8 printed receipts for purchases on Walton's behalf of government securities and lottery tickets (EGR8/1/3/8, /13, /16, /18-20, /22, /24); 3 receipts issued by Thomas and Mary Walton to John Jackson (EGR8/1/3/29, /34-35); a statement of receipts (EGR8/1/3/27); 5 mandates from Thomas and Mary Walton to John Jackson to make payments (EGR8/1/3/31, /33, /36-38); 5 letters from George Edmonds, Elizabeth Edmonds and W. Ainge to Thomas and Mary Walton (EGR8/1/3/3, /6, /28, /30, /32). In the statements of account with George Edmonds, disbursements include payments of rent, purchases of annuities and lottery tickets, grocery bills, staymaker's bills, purchases of elixir; receipts include cash receipts, bills, dividends and interest.