State Paper Office: Williamson Collection of Transcripts, etc

Description and record details

Reference	PRO 31/16
Title	State Paper Office: Williamson Collection of Transcripts, etc
Date	John - Henry VIII
Description	A collection formed by Sir Joseph Williamson, the Keeper of the State Paper Office, 1661-1702, consisting chiefly of transcripts from the Chancery records then preserved in the Tower of London, and miscellaneous notes, extracted from the records. These relate to the King's prerogative, jura regalia, tenures in ancient demesne, the Cinque Ports and other matters. It includes a transcript of the Red Book of the Exchequer and of the Return of Knight's fees, etc, known as 'Kirkby's Quest'. There are also some transcripts of charters and Irish pedigrees.
Related material	Many other transcripts collected by Williamson are in SP 9 .
Held by	The National Archives, Kew
Legal status	Public Record(s)
Language	English
Physical description	70 bundle(s)
Custodial history	Most of the records in this series were once part of a large collection of manuscripts bequeathed to the State Paper Office by Sir Joseph Williamson, who was keeper of state papers from 1661 until his death in 1702. That collection came into the custody of the master of the rolls, as keeper of the public records, when the State Paper Office became a branch of the Public Record Office in 1854.
Unpublished finding aids	A key to former references of documents in this series is available on open access. Please speak to staff at the Map and Large Document Room enquiry desk for the precise location.

Note: Not all documents are available and options will vary.