Janus: Messrs May, Wyborn, White and Mercer, Bankers: Letter Books and Papers

Manuscripts contains:
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MS Add.7897-7899	Henry Marten: Papers
MS Add.79	Collection of songs, poems and epitaphs compiled by a Norfolk clergymen
MS Add.7917	Jan Christian Smuts: Correspondence
MS Add.7920	Papers concerning the Paget Gormon Sign Language
MS Add.7921	Correspondence relating to the New Cambridge Modern History
MS Add.7924	Messrs May, Wyborn, White and Mercer, Bankers: Letter Books and Papers
MS Add.7928	Edgar Gaston Furtado Abraham: Papers
MS Add.7935	Letters of Siegfried Sassoon to Mother Margaret Mary; and related papers
MS Add.7937	Selden Society: Minutes, Correspondence and Papers
MS Add.7938	Correspondence of Windham Baldwin concerning G. M. Young's biography of Stanley Baldwin
MS Add.7953	David Keilin: correspondence and papers
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Messrs May, Wyborn, White and Mercer, Bankers: Letter Books and Papers

Title	Messrs May, Wyborn, White and Mercer, Bankers: Letter Books and Papers
Reference	GBR/0012/MS Add.7924
Creator	Messrs May, Wyborn, White & Mercer, Bankers
Covering Dates	1771–1829
Extent and Medium	1 box
Repository	Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives

Content and context

The co-partnership of Messrs May, Wyborn, White & Mercer was established in 1813 by an indenture dated 21 October, made between John May and James Wyborn of Deal, bankers, and William White and John Mercer of Deal, gentlemen. May and Wyborn had been in business with James Shipdem (or Shipden), and following his withdrawal, took White and Mercer into partnership for 21 years, the business to be carried on 'in certain premises of John May and John Mercer situate in Queen Street in Deal erected for that purpose'. Documents in the collection indicate that the four men became bankrupt about 1825-1826, and that a large proportion of the debts were settled from the estate of 'the late James Wyborn'.

Three letter books (1-3), a bundle of miscellaneous letters and documents (4), and a list of debts (5), together with a file of research notes.

The papers were formerly in the possession of David Joslin (1925-1970), Professor of Economic History in the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Pembroke College. Deposited in the Library from the papers of Prof. D.M. Joslin by Mrs. Joslin, 1971.

Access and Use

Please cite as Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives, Messrs May, Wyborn, White and Mercer, Bankers: Letter Books and Papers, MS Add.7924

Index Terms

Banking

Deal, Kent

Finance

Manuscripts/MS Add.7924 contains:

1-3

Letter books (outgoing letters).

Apr. 1771-May 1829

Bundle of letters and documents. Miscellaneous letters and printed notices of various dates, many 1825-6 dealing with the bankruptcy of Messrs May, Wyborn etc. There are also particulars of sale for a Manor and farm at Oxney in 1810 and 1819 (perhaps owned by John May? as there are letters addressed to him at Oxney). There are also letters and particulars, from Daniel Smith and Sons, about the sale of Manor Farm, Appleton in 1825. There are the articles of co-partnership between the four men 21 Oct 1813, and resolutions and notices of their creditors, one describing May and Mercer as `late of this town, money scriveners and solicitors' and one asking for contributions to a fund for the widow of the late James Wyborn, from whose estate most of the debts were paid.

1810–1826

List of debts. Undated list of 671 debts `proved under the commission against all the bankrupts'. Numbered entries giving name, address and profession of each creditor and the amounts owed.

1826

Research notes. File of notes relating to the collection, with details of bankers in Deal etc.