Carr Family scrapbooks, 1699-1890

Large bound book labeled "Scrap Book, Vol. I" on the spine. Pages are heavy paper, colored (or discolored?) pinkish, some yellowish. Documents have been pasted, stapled or laid in. First half largely contains legal documents, ordination certificates, passports, etc. from the lives of Thomas William Carr (1770-1829) made Solicitor of Excise in 1805, his son the Reverend Thomas William Carr (1801-1840), Rector of Teddington?, and his son Reverend Thomas William Carr (b. 1830), Rector of Barming. It seems likely the scrapbook was assembled by Rev Thomas William Carr of Barming, and that he collected manuscripts from friends, family, etc. One newspaper clipping, for instance, is reported as having been found in an old cabinet in the Eshott Heugh estate.

Some of the documents (such as a 1699 lease from the Palatinate of Durham regarding some Carr family properties) have paper or wax seals affixed to them. Others (such as the Confirmation of Arms and Grant of Crest to Gayus Dyxon in 1565) are colored, photolithographed copies of much older documents (photoengraving techniques, pioneered in the 1850s, had developed greatly by 1880).

The documents don't seem to follow any particular order, although they are grouped more or less by document type and time period. In a very, very rough scheme, the groupings move through:

(1) Sale of Eshott Heugh estate (2) Documents from lives of Rev Thomas William Carr (of Teddington) and Rev Thomas William Carr (of Barming), including when they were ordained curates, rectors, etc., certificates of examinations passed, declarations of subscribing to the 39 Articles and the Liturgy of the Church of England. Many of these have the Episcopal Seals of various bishops attached (particularly the Bishop of Peterborough and Archbishop of Canterbury). (3) Travel passports allowing travel on the Continent; some sheets seem to have been issued by French government and stamped/signed by notaries or officials of different countries visited. (4) One large, elaborate declaration on vellum headed "George the Third by the Grace of God," apparently appointing Thomas William Carr a Solicitor of the Excise in 1805. (5) Painted images and photolithographed copies of coats of arms and Carr family genealogies (6) "Fac-similes" of historical documents and newspaper articles from historic events (7) Documents surrounding the death of Major Mark William Carr when the steamer General Outram was lost off "Rutnagherry" in India. A Carr Compassion Fund was established in 1871 (?) in Major Carr's honor, to aid police officers' widows. (8) Turn-of-the-century greeting cards, Christmas cards, Valentines, many with colored images and personal messages. (9) Sketches and photos of memorials and sarcophagi of Carr family tombs. Include photos of tombs of William Ogle Carr (Rev TW Carr of Barming's uncle) and Rev Thomas William Carr (of Teddington, labeled "my father's grave," presumably by TW Carr of Barming). Also letters, death notices, etc. regarding Carr family burials. (10) Notecards and engravings of various churches associated with Carr family. (11) Copy of Carr family pedigree.

Large albums with spine title: "Scrap Book, Vol. I[-II]." Volume II is entirely blank. Some of the documents are affixed to sheets of the album; many others are laid in (on stubs). The first half of the album comprises legal documents, ordination certificates, passports, etc. from the lives of Thomas William Carr (1770-1829) made Solicitor of Excise in 1805, his son the Reverend Thomas William Carr (1801-1840), Rector of Teddington, and his son Reverend Thomas William Carr (b. 1830), Rector of Barming. It seems likely the scrapbook was assembled by Thomas William Carr of Barming, and that he collected the scrapbooks material from from friends and family. One newspaper clipping, for instance, is reported as having been found in an old cabinet in the Eshott Heugh estate.

Some of the original documents, such as a 1699 lease from the Palatinate of Durham regarding Carr family properties, have paper or wax seals affixed to them. Others, are facsimiles (many photolithographed) of much older documents.

There is no apparent ordering scheme, although they are grouped very roughly by document type and time period. These groupings include the following: