Manuscripts, in multiple hands, of letters and documents, mostly relating to George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle. The papers primarily concern the management of the family estates in Ireland and Holland; financial affairs and legal disputes, especially those arising from Albemarle's conduct as governor of Havana in 1762-1763; and drafts of the will of Admiral Keppel, Albemarle's brother. Vol. 1 contains 65 items dated between 1704-1786, primarily letters to and from Albemarle's agents and lawyers, especially Joshua Sharpe, William Cooper, and Mark Whyte, concerning lawsuits in which he was involved over lands and estates in Ireland. Many of the letters concern the contested estate of Carbery and the difficulty with tenants at Castle Robertmore and Phillestien; other documents mention Albemarle's lawsuits with John Earl of Kildare and the Duke of Lienster. The volume also contains a legal document granting Henry Keppel the office of Searcher, Packer, and Gauger in the Port of Limerick. Laid in at the end are two drafts of a declaration of trust, to be endorsed on Laura Keppel's marriage settlement. Vol. 2 contains 31 documents, primarily legal documents, regarding the contested sale of the Voorst estate by Albermarle to Otto Frederic, Count Lynden in 1755-1756. The volume contains documents contesting the will of Sir Arnold Joost van Keppel, 1st Earl of Albemarle, by his children William and Sophia, in regard to Sophia's share of the land and furniture of the Voorst estate; documents signed by Albemarle's siblings Augustus, William, Frederic, Caroline, Elizabeth, and Henry, declaring their consent to his sale; summaries of the case; and documents from Count Lynden confirming the sale. Many of the documents are in French or Dutch. Vol. 3 contains 49 letters dated between 1770-1785, many of them dealing with business left unfinished by the death of George Keppel, 3rd Earl of Albemarle, in 1772. Numerous letters concern the maintenance and guardianship of his infant son, especially by his mother Lady Albemarle and his uncle Admiral Augustus Albemarle. Other letters concern disputes over duties on flour in Havana; the acreage of Durhams and its estate; and the tenancy of Castle Robertmore; as well as a letter from Augustus Albemarle in 1778 concerning his will. Vol. 4 contains 50 letters, dated between 1762-1786. Many letters refer to the suit brought by Walton against Albemarle concerning duties on flour during his governorship of Havana. Other letters concern the contested Carbery estate; Count Lynden's purchase of the Voorst estate; a survey of the acreage of Castle Robertmore and Fillisteen; and other leases of Albemarle's Irish estates. Vol. 5 contains 61 items, dated between 1755-1763, all regarding the contested sale of the Voorst estate in Holland. Many of the letters are written by R. Wolters, Albemarle's agent, and concern the demands of Lady Sophia Thomas, the daughter of the late 1st Earl of Albemarle, on her share of the estate and furniture; the other letters discuss the negotiations of the sale of the estate to Otto Frederick, Count Lynden. The volume also includes copies of legal documents by the Keppel siblings declaring that they concede to the sale of Voorst. Several of the documents are in French. Vol. 6 contains 82 letters, dated between 1722-1754, relating to Albemarle's lawsuits over estates in Ireland, including the contested Carbery estate and the lands of the Earl of Kildare. The volume also includes a number of letters regarding the amount of rent paid by Mr. Keating, as well as several letters inquiring about the time of the Duke of Richmond's death as it relates to a contested will. Vol. 7 contains 78 letters, dated between 1739-1769. Several letters concern the sale of the Voorst estate contested by Sophia Thomas, including a letter from her explaining her position, and a letter from Albemarle to Thomas. The volume contains numerous other letters written by Albemarle, including letters concerning his governorship of Havana. In 1763, he writes a letter explaining his position in a lawsuit regarding his exercise of the governor's power to grant "an exclusive liberty for the importation of blacks" into Havana, providing reasons why it was his duty as governor to prevent the general importation of slaves. He also explains why he laid an embargo on the exportation of flour out of Havana. Elsewhere, he defends to his sister Caroline the care with which he studied his father's will; negotiates the purchase of the Quidenham estate; lends money to Lord Bolingbroke; and is approached about becoming involved in a lawsuit over a Spanish ship taken when Havana surrendered to the British forces under Albemarle's command. Vol. 8 contains 48 items, dated between 1723-1778. Numerous items are letters requesting payment of rents from Lord Carbery and Mr. Keating, including two from Lady Albemarle. The volume also includes a letter from Albemarle explaining his contracting decisions as governor of Havana, and two printed forms certifying the baptism of Henry Keppel and Elizabeth Keppel. Vol. 9 contains 5 items, dated between 1778-1782. The items include a letter by Augustus Keppel listing changes to his will; a draft of his will dated 1779; an undated list titled Legacies intended for the present will; and a draft of Augustus Keppel's will dated 1782. The volume also includes empty marbled covers labeled with Phillipps 14863.
