Henry de Bourbel papers

The Henry de Bourbel Papers consist of correspondence, legal documents, financial papers, and family papers related to Henry de Bourbel, a French émigré in England during the French Revolution, and span the years 1791-1814. The papers are housed in 2 boxes (including 1 oversize box) and have been organized into four series: Correspondence, Legal Papers, Financial Papers, and Family Papers.

Series I, Correspondence , is arranged alphabetically by correspondent in folders 1-44. The bulk of the correspondence is letters to Henry de Bourbel, but it also contains three letters written by Bourbel and a few third party letters.

The correspondence is almost entirely related to business matters, especially regarding Bourbel's credits and debts following the dissolution of Senecé & Roumare. Major correspondents include Bernard de Senecé, Charles Des Essars, Richard Watts, and J. W. Cooke.

Correspondence filed under Senecé & Co. includes letters from both Senecé and his partner Des Essars. Their correspondence begins after the dissolution of Senecé & Roumare, and primarily relates to settling debts with Bourbel, who had been bought out by Des Essars. Their letters are written in French.

Richard Watts was a lawyer and steward of the Spence family estate. His correspondence concerns debts that he helped Bourbel negotiate, in particular a debt owed to Jean François, who left a sum of money in the hands of Senecé & Roumare in 1795.

J. W. Cooke was a London merchant who wrote to Bourbel concerning a purchase of farm machinery. One of his letters, Aug 27, 1800, includes a printed list of "Cooke's Newly Invented and Greatly Improved Patent Implements and Machines."

Unidentified correspondence includes summaries of Bourbel's accounts with various merchants, including Senecé and Des Essars.

Series II, Legal Papers , is arranged chronologically in folders 45-47, and 65-70 (oversize), and consists of documents related to Henry de Bourbel's business interests, including articles of association and dissolution for Senecé & Roumare, insurance policies on voyages taken by the ships Rebecca, Patriot, and Sophia, declarations of trust between Hartsinck & Co. and Henry de Bourbel, a power of attorney for Charles Des Essars, and an agreement regarding debts.

Series III, Financial Papers , is arranged chronologically in folders 48-62, and 71 (oversize). Financial papers from 1795-1797, during which Henry de Bourbel was an active partner in Senecé & Roumare in London, consist of bills and receipts for various merchandise, receipts for bills of lading for the ships Rebecca, Patriot and Sophia, and bills for legal services from William Stacey and Moses Hoper. Merchandise purchased by Bourbel included household furniture, locks, silk cloth, gold plate, rice, scissors, cork screws, tweezers, and pen knives.

Financial papers from 1798-1801, after Bourbel left London, consist of accounts and receipts, most of which relate to the settling of debts between Bourbel, Senecé, and Des Essars, including a debt owed to Jean François. Undated financial papers include two itemized receipts for the purchase of household furniture and supplies.

Series IV, Family Papers , consists of two items in folders 63-64. The first is an acte de brevet issued by Jean Dominique de La Rochefoucauld, Cardinal of Rouen, March 31, 1791, giving permission for the erection of a chapel on the estate of Henry de Bourbel's grandfather, Emmanuel Raoul Antoine de Bourbel (1708-1787). The second is a receipt, May 23, 1796, for a fine levied on the families of émigrés paid by "Citizen Bourbel of Heugleville," Louis de Bourbel, Henry de Bourbel's father.