Papers of George Harry Grey (1765-1845), 6th Earl of Stamford

Scope and Content

There are numerous references to George Harry Grey (1765-1845), Lord Grey, later 6th Earl of Stamford, among the papers of his father the 5th Earl of Stamford, in particular: letters from Lord Grey to his father re the militia, 1794 (EGR4/1/2/2/10-12); a receipt from Lord Grey for payment towards rewards for the militia, 1794 (EGR4/1/2/5/11); a letter from Thomas Parker to Lord Grey re the militia, 1795 (EGR4/1/2/6/34); a letter from Lord Grey to his father re the militia, 1795 (EGR4/1/2/6/36); a letter from Lord Grey to his father re elections, 1806 (EGR4/1/5/4/1-2); receipts from Lord Grey for quarterly payments of an annuity by his father, 1800-17 (within bundles EGR4/1/6/2/1-17); an account book recording payments of interest to Lord Grey by his father on a legacy from Mary Countess of Stamford, 1770-89 (EGR4/1/6/4); a joint bond with his father, 1789 (EGR4/1/6/15); receipts from Lord Grey for quarterly payments of an annuity by his father, 1814 & 1816 (EGR4/1/6/21/70 & EGR4/1/6/25/58); a memorandum by Lord Grey re Mottram in Longdendale church, 1819 (EGR4/1/8/2/39); letter with enclosures from Hugo Worthington to Lord Grey re a field in Altrincham, 1815 (EGR4/1/8/4/51-55); correspondence re a joint bond with his father, 1804 (EGR4/1/8/6/7-15); draft letters from Lord Grey to Hugo Worthington re tithes etc., 1816 (EGR4/1/8/13/36 & /38); a letter from Lord Grey to his father re tithes, 1816 (EGR4/1/8/13/41); a letter from Oswald Leicester to Lord Grey re St George's chapel Altrincham, 1827 (EGR4/1/9/1/33); correspondence re the postal service, 1842 (EGR4/1/10/6/25-27). Within EGR4/10, papers of various members of the Grey family, there is a letter from the 6th Earl of Stamford to his daughter Lady Jane Grey, 1821 (EGR4/10/8/11); three letters to his daughter Lady Henrietta Charlotte Law, 1825, 1831 & 1843 (EGR4/10/14/1-3); a letter to his niece Maria Glegg, 1837 (EGR4/10/18); and a letter to (?) his niece Henrietta-Louisa Cotes, 1842 (EGR4/10/20); there are also numerous references to his wife and children.

Within subfonds EGR8, Records relating to Thomas Walton's Bequest, there are letters from numerous correspondents concerning Little Heath Charity School (EGR8/2/5 & EGR8/2/6/23-28), Seamon's Moss School (EGR8/3/3/1-5, EGR8/3/3/20 & EGR8/3/4), and the distribution of bedding (EGR8/4/6/35, EGR8/4/15/2 & EGR8/4/17-18). Within EGR9, Records relating to the Earl of Warrington's Charity, there are letters from Rev John Foster and Rev Oswald Leicester (EGR9/3/5/1-6). Subfonds EGR11, Papers from Dunham Massey Hall relating to the Cheshire and Lancashire Estates, contains a bundle of vouchers for the general account of Hugo Worthington with the 6th Earl of Stamford, 1819 (EGR11/2/8). This includes accounts for donations by Lord Stamford to charities, hospitals and schools, payments of annuities from him, payments of gratuities to his servants, and the appointment of his domestic chaplains. Among the miscellaneous papers from Dunham Massey Hall is a letter from Lord Stamford to his daughter Lady Jane Walsh, 1842 (EGR13/24/2), and two letters to Farmer Taylor of Bridgnorth co. Salop, 1821-2 (EGR13/31). There are two other letters that contain accounts of Lord Stamford's vehement disapproval of the marriage of his daughter Lady Henrietta Charlotte to Rev James Thomas Law, 1820 (EGR13/29).

Administrative / Biographical History

George Harry Grey, eldest son of George Harry Grey (1737-1819), 5th Earl of Stamford, was born on 31 October 1765 and baptized on 2 December at St James's, Westminster. He was educated at Winchester (1779-83) and Trinity College, Cambridge, matriculating in 1784. In 1786-8 he went on the Grand Tour of Europe. For much of his adult life, until his inheritance of the family estates in 1819, he resided at Atherstone Hall in Warwickshire.

George Harry Grey served as MP for Aldborough, Suffolk, 1790-6, and for St Germans, Cornwall, 1797-1802. Although a Whig he did not follow Fox in his opposition to the war with France. In the Lords he opposed both Roman Catholic Relief and the Reform Bill. He held the following additional offices and privileges: Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Cheshire Militia from 1789; Colonel in the Army during service, 1794; deputy lieutenant for Staffordshire and Derbyshire from 1796, and for Leicestershire from 1797; Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Cheshire from June 1819; Chamberlain of Chester from 1827 until the abolition of the palatinate in 1830; Vice-Admiral of Cheshire from 1827.

Between 1768 and 1819 George Harry Grey was styled Lord Grey. At his father's death on 23 May 1819 he succeeded as the 6th Earl of Stamford, 2nd Earl of Warrington and 2nd Baron Delamer of Dunham Massey.

On 23 December 1797 George Harry Grey married Henrietta Charlotte Elizabeth Charteris, eldest daughter of Francis, Lord Elcho. He died on 26 April 1845 at Enville Hall and was buried in Bowdon parish church. His wife died at Bath on 30 January 1838, aged 64. Pre-deceased by his eldest son and heir presumptive George Harry Grey (1802-35), Lord Grey of Groby, he was succeeded by his grandson George Harry Grey (1827-83) as 7th Earl of Stamford. Sources: G.E.C., Complete peerage, vol. 12, pt. I, p. 225; Doyle, Official baronage of England, vol. 3, p. 402.

The archives of the 6th Earl of Stamford have survived in considerable quantities. There are large amounts of material relating to the Earl's official functions as Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Cheshire Militia and Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, to financial and estate matters, and to the Earl's involvement in local affairs, charities, churches and schools. Regrettably almost no personal or family correspondence has survived. The papers of the 6th Earl of Stamford contain the following series:

  • EGR4/2/1: Patents and Commissions, 1786-1837
  • EGR4/2/2: Papers relating to the Royal Regiment of Cheshire Militia, 1784-1823
  • EGR4/2/3: Papers relating to the Lord Lieutenancy, 1817-1842
  • EGR4/2/4: Papers relating to the Commission of the Peace, 1830-1840
  • EGR4/2/5: Political and Electoral Papers, 1812 & 1841
  • EGR4/2/6: Financial and Legal Papers, 1784-1845
  • EGR4/2/7: Estate Papers, 1815-1843
  • EGR4/2/8: Papers relating to Churches, Chapels and Benefices, 1807-1841
  • EGR4/2/9: Papers relating to Schools, 1811-1843
  • EGR4/2/10: Papers relating to Charities and Local Affairs, 1804-1843
  • EGR4/2/11: Personal and Family Papers, 1784-1843
  • EGR4/2/12: Miscellaneous Papers, 1780-1842

Related Material

University of Nottingham: Portland Collection, correspondence and papers of William Henry Cavendish Bentinck (1738-1809), 3rd Duke of Portland, and of Dorothy, Duchess of Portland: Pw F 4493-4496, 4 letters from George Harry Grey (1765-1845), Lord Grey, later 6th Earl of Stamford, to the 3rd Duke of Portland, 1776-95.