Publications
The missing half of a letter by John Fuller on the iron mines in the county of Sussex, by Richard Saville, published 1979 in Wealden Iron Research Group (First Series No. 16, article, pp.17-20) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506558] Download PDF
Income and Production at Heathfield Ironworks 1693-1788, by Richard Saville, published 1982 in Wealden Iron Research Group (Second Series No. 2, article, pp.36-62) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 16400] & The Keep [LIB/506559] Download PDF
This analysis covers several aspects of the operation of Heathfield blast furnace and gun-boring plant from 1693 to 1788.1 It is based on papers in the Fuller family collection, lately held by the Sussex Archaeological Society and the East Sussex Record Office and now housed together in the record office in Pelham House, Lewes. Several of the papers have only recently been discovered and are discussed here for the first time. The family records have been supplemented by the details of payments for iron ordnance and shot purchased by the Board of Ordnance, the records of which are kept in the Public Record Office at Kew and Chancery Lane, London.
Gentry Wealth on the Weald in the Eighteenth Century: the Fullers of Brightling Park, by R. V. Saville, published 1983 in Sussex Archæological Collections (vol. 121, article, pp.129-148) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 8902] & The Keep [LIB/500308] & S.A.S. library
The Fuller Letters, 1728-1755, by David Crossley and Richard Saville, published 29 April 1991 (vol. 76, 345 pp., Sussex Record Society, ISBN-10: 0854450378 & ISBN-13: 9780854450374) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 13074][Lib 11098] & The Keep [LIB/500453][Lib/507859] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries View Online
Abstract:"I am afraid you do not keep copyes of your letters; if you do not it will be impossible to keep up a Regular Correspondence. And you being entrusted with so many People's Business you ought to do so" wrote John Fuller of Brightling to his son, Dr. Rose Fuller of Jamaica in 1734.
This letter book is one of the most important collections of business and social correspondence from a leading eighteenth century county family to be published in recent years, It records the rise to wealth and influence of the Fuller family of Brightling Park. Originally from humble beginnings in an inhospitable and forested part of the Weald of Sussex, they had in the eighteenth century - diversified into slave owning in Jamaica, expanded their iron founding and gun-casting in the Weald and greatly enlarged their Sussex estates, and by mid-century held significant holdings in London stocks. The letters explain how these business interests worked, and give the reader unique insights into the life of an eighteenth century landowner.
The letters also contain the only major surviving record of the charcoal iron industry to include substantial comment on the technical problems, how furnaces were operated, how guns were cast, and where they were sold. The Fullers were one of the major gun producers for the Navy and the Army at this time; their products were in demand as far away as Sardinia and the Austro-Hungarian - Empire.
There is much information on Wealden weather and road conditions, on the difficulty of running a Jamaica sugar plantation, and the problems of involvement in the London sugar-refining trade. There is extensive comment on Wealden agriculture, based as it was on one of the more intractable soils in southern England, on how tenants were dealt with, and the crops they grew. As befitting a county family there is material on political affairs - the Fullers were Tories - on social and educational questions and the arrangements made for sons to go into business. Of interest to all who want to know more about Sussex history, this volume will also stand on its own as an important contribution to our knowledge of gun casting and ironworking, Wealden agriculture, the Jamaica sugar trade, and how eighteenth century landowners organised their estates.
Review in Wealden Iron Research Group: Bulletin 11, 1991:This letter book is one of the most important collections of business and social correspondence from a leading eighteenth century county family to be published in recent years, It records the rise to wealth and influence of the Fuller family of Brightling Park. Originally from humble beginnings in an inhospitable and forested part of the Weald of Sussex, they had in the eighteenth century - diversified into slave owning in Jamaica, expanded their iron founding and gun-casting in the Weald and greatly enlarged their Sussex estates, and by mid-century held significant holdings in London stocks. The letters explain how these business interests worked, and give the reader unique insights into the life of an eighteenth century landowner.
The letters also contain the only major surviving record of the charcoal iron industry to include substantial comment on the technical problems, how furnaces were operated, how guns were cast, and where they were sold. The Fullers were one of the major gun producers for the Navy and the Army at this time; their products were in demand as far away as Sardinia and the Austro-Hungarian - Empire.
There is much information on Wealden weather and road conditions, on the difficulty of running a Jamaica sugar plantation, and the problems of involvement in the London sugar-refining trade. There is extensive comment on Wealden agriculture, based as it was on one of the more intractable soils in southern England, on how tenants were dealt with, and the crops they grew. As befitting a county family there is material on political affairs - the Fullers were Tories - on social and educational questions and the arrangements made for sons to go into business. Of interest to all who want to know more about Sussex history, this volume will also stand on its own as an important contribution to our knowledge of gun casting and ironworking, Wealden agriculture, the Jamaica sugar trade, and how eighteenth century landowners organised their estates.
The Letterbook of the Fuller family is the single most important document relating to the Wealden iron industry in the eighteenth century. In it is correspondence on all aspects of the Fullers' business in casting; supply of raw materials, technical aspects of gunfounding, letters to agents, purchasers and other ironfounders. In addition, though of less relevance to the study of the Wealden iron industry, are the other subjects covered by this volume, namely the management of the family's estates in Sussex and in Jamaica. Also there is much family correspondence, and letters which give insights into the political scene in Sussex during the first half of the eighteenth century; the Fullers were Tories although, towards the middle of the century, economic expediency made their views less extreme.
. . .
This excellent volume deserves to find a home on the bookshelf of any serious student of the Wealden iron industry, and all who want to partake of a unique view of eighteenth century life. It is a pity that the opportunity was not taken, however, to complete the picture, at least as far as the iron industry was concerned, with the publication of the letters which form part of the Fuller papers but which were written after the end of the Letterbook.
. . .
This excellent volume deserves to find a home on the bookshelf of any serious student of the Wealden iron industry, and all who want to partake of a unique view of eighteenth century life. It is a pity that the opportunity was not taken, however, to complete the picture, at least as far as the iron industry was concerned, with the publication of the letters which form part of the Fuller papers but which were written after the end of the Letterbook.
The Letters of John Collier of Hastings: 1731-1746, edited by Richard Saville, published October 2016 (vol. 96, lxiv + 435 pp., Sussex Record Society, ISBN-13: 9780854450787) accessible at: W.S.R.O. [Lib 18952] & The Keep [LIB/509273][Lib/509274] & West Sussex Libraries & East Sussex Libraries View Online
Abstract:"Being all alone this long evening and in a very pensive mood on the losse of our dear child, and the necessity I was under of comeing from you, and as the post will convey this to you tomorrow evening, I could not devote the time better than in writing to you; and itt's a pleasing satisfaction to me, and I hope not dissagreeable to you"
John Collier to his wife after the death of his son, John, 8th February 1733
The Sayer MSS comprise one of the most important collections of business and social correspondence involving a Sussex family in the 18th century. The papers describe the rise to affluence and political and social influence of John Collier (1685-1760), five times Mayor of Hastings. Originally from an Eastbourne inn owning family, he trained as an attorney and, when only 20, became town clerk of Hastings. As well as his work for the Corporation, appointments followed as solicitor for the Cinque Ports, clerk of the port militia and commissioner of the Land Tax for Sussex. In addition he developed a legal practice in London and the port which brought contacts with leading officials and politicians of his day. His legal acumen, negotiating skills and boundless energy gave him a key place in the politics of the Cinque Ports; and under the care of the Duke of Newcastle and Henry Pelham he was later appointed Usher and Cryer of the King's Bench, and received lucrative offices in the Customs of Kent and London in organising the prosecution of smugglers. Collier acted also for the Duke and the Whig interest in elections and in local Corporation policy. Diverse incomes from office and legal practice enabled the family to buy lands in and around the port and considerable holdings in government and company stocks.
The letters in this volume explain how his legal and government work was organised and give the reader a vision into the range of work of this Sussex lawyer during the era of Walpole, Newcastle and Pelham.
The correspondence offers valuable insight into the business partnership between Collier and his brother-in-law, William Cranston, located in London. Cranston, also an attorney, managed their London accounts and settled business when Collier was in Hastings. Their letters show the crucial role of a wider network of associates and landowners. Most of the surviving Collier letters during law terms were destined for Mary Cranston, his second wife, who organised much of his affairs when he was away from Hastings. Their correspondence also offers up much on their social life and illustrates the tragic side, the sufferings of childbirth and the death of children, the effects of disease and ailments, the constant worry over relatives, as well as the wear and tear during the weeks of separation. Schooling looms large in these letters and the details of the five Collier girls who survived into their teens and went to Elizabeth Russell's girls' boarding school in Hampstead are of especial value in illustrating their upbringing and that of their contemporaries. Beyond school the girls' life in East Sussex underlines the upward mobility of the family by the 1730s, with the girls moving between the great houses, organising dances and games, meeting those of similar standing, going on country walks, finding out about servants and managing staff - all this with an insistence on the latest fashions and accessories to be bought by their father or uncle.
As expected from the offices held, political life was rarely far from Collier's concerns. Promoting the Whig interest in East Sussex was a particular concern; and the letters here add to our understanding of how the Whigs advanced their cause in the 1730s and 1740s. Letters also cover weather conditions, travel over the Weald, the connections with London, the social season at Bath and Tunbridge Wells and the effects of legislation upon Hastings townsfolk, notably the troubles caused by the smuggling trade.
Richard Saville is an economic and financial historian who has published on Britain from the mid-seventeenth century onwards. His previous publication for the Society was The Fuller Letters, Guns, Slaves and Finance 1 728-1 755 (edited with David Crossley) SRS vol. 76, 1991.
John Collier to his wife after the death of his son, John, 8th February 1733
The Sayer MSS comprise one of the most important collections of business and social correspondence involving a Sussex family in the 18th century. The papers describe the rise to affluence and political and social influence of John Collier (1685-1760), five times Mayor of Hastings. Originally from an Eastbourne inn owning family, he trained as an attorney and, when only 20, became town clerk of Hastings. As well as his work for the Corporation, appointments followed as solicitor for the Cinque Ports, clerk of the port militia and commissioner of the Land Tax for Sussex. In addition he developed a legal practice in London and the port which brought contacts with leading officials and politicians of his day. His legal acumen, negotiating skills and boundless energy gave him a key place in the politics of the Cinque Ports; and under the care of the Duke of Newcastle and Henry Pelham he was later appointed Usher and Cryer of the King's Bench, and received lucrative offices in the Customs of Kent and London in organising the prosecution of smugglers. Collier acted also for the Duke and the Whig interest in elections and in local Corporation policy. Diverse incomes from office and legal practice enabled the family to buy lands in and around the port and considerable holdings in government and company stocks.
The letters in this volume explain how his legal and government work was organised and give the reader a vision into the range of work of this Sussex lawyer during the era of Walpole, Newcastle and Pelham.
The correspondence offers valuable insight into the business partnership between Collier and his brother-in-law, William Cranston, located in London. Cranston, also an attorney, managed their London accounts and settled business when Collier was in Hastings. Their letters show the crucial role of a wider network of associates and landowners. Most of the surviving Collier letters during law terms were destined for Mary Cranston, his second wife, who organised much of his affairs when he was away from Hastings. Their correspondence also offers up much on their social life and illustrates the tragic side, the sufferings of childbirth and the death of children, the effects of disease and ailments, the constant worry over relatives, as well as the wear and tear during the weeks of separation. Schooling looms large in these letters and the details of the five Collier girls who survived into their teens and went to Elizabeth Russell's girls' boarding school in Hampstead are of especial value in illustrating their upbringing and that of their contemporaries. Beyond school the girls' life in East Sussex underlines the upward mobility of the family by the 1730s, with the girls moving between the great houses, organising dances and games, meeting those of similar standing, going on country walks, finding out about servants and managing staff - all this with an insistence on the latest fashions and accessories to be bought by their father or uncle.
As expected from the offices held, political life was rarely far from Collier's concerns. Promoting the Whig interest in East Sussex was a particular concern; and the letters here add to our understanding of how the Whigs advanced their cause in the 1730s and 1740s. Letters also cover weather conditions, travel over the Weald, the connections with London, the social season at Bath and Tunbridge Wells and the effects of legislation upon Hastings townsfolk, notably the troubles caused by the smuggling trade.
Richard Saville is an economic and financial historian who has published on Britain from the mid-seventeenth century onwards. His previous publication for the Society was The Fuller Letters, Guns, Slaves and Finance 1 728-1 755 (edited with David Crossley) SRS vol. 76, 1991.