Blackett of Matfen papers (catalogue reference NRO ZBL)

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The Blackett family of Matfen Hall are descended from the 17th century Blackett family of Newcastle. We are grateful to Sir Hugh Blackett for granting free access to the contents of these papers, which expedited their transcription.  Their manuscripts include a few papers which survive from the early generations of Blacketts (ZBL 2, 193, 273/12), three copy letterbooks of Sir Edward Blackett, 2nd baronet, (1649-1718) kept between 1709 and 1715, with some gaps (ZBL 189-191), and one kept by his son John Blackett (1683-1750) while he was a merchant in Rotterdam from 1708 (ZBL 192). ZBL 195 contains some matching inbound correspondence from other merchants and a variety of other papers in the collection of John Blackett.

Many of the later letters were received by John Erasmus Blackett (1729-1814) or sent by him, and filed either by him or a later resident at Matfen: ZBL 205-26. He was part of the Blackett Matfen family and for many years also chief agent to the Beaumont family, whose papers are in the Allendale Estates collection (NRO 672/2762). This branch of the Blackett family was active in the lead industry in its own right, and a number of accounts relating to mines and smelting at Fallowfield near Acomb (north of Hexham) can be found amongst the ZBL papers held at Woodhorn. The ZBL 231 file also includes a single short letter extracted from ZBL 232, from Sir John Trevelyan to JEB informing him of the death of Sir Walter Blackett. ZBL 260 is a collection of miscellaneous letters, many to JEB. ZBL 84/10 contains miscellaneous items related to the Fallowfield mine, owned by the Blacketts of Matfen.

Document Downloads

NRO ZBL 208 Letters Hunter of Dukesfield to JEBlackett 1792-99
280.7 KB
NRO ZBL 209 Letters to JEBlackett 1783-99
325.3 KB
NRO ZBL 211 Letters to JEBlackett 1783-1802
313.9 KB
NRO ZBL 215 Letters L Noble to JE Blackett 1783
243.3 KB
NRO ZBL 224 Letters Diana Beaumont to JEBlackett 1793-1804
493.8 KB
NRO ZBL 226 Miscellaneous letters to & from JE Blackett 1781-1802
387.9 KB
NRO ZBL 223 Letters Beaumont to JEBlackett 1792-1807
466.9 KB
NRO ZBL 2 9 Mowbray to Blackett 1674
239.8 KB
NRO ZBL 222 Crawhall to JEBlackett 1794-8
277.4 KB
NRO ZBL 225 Letters mostly from John Bell 1792-9
287.7 KB
NRO ZBL 207 Letters Joshua Straker to JEBlackett 1794-98
271.2 KB
NRO ZBL 231 Letters E&W Blackett to & from JE Blackett 1773-1807
409.9 KB
NRO ZBL 218 Letters Misc JEBlackett 1740-97
275.6 KB
NRO ZBL 213 Bishop of Durham vs Beaumont case papers 1798-1807
359.5 KB
NRO ZBL 193 misc letters to Wm Blackett 1671-79
424.1 KB
NRO ZBL 205 Letters Walker Fishwick to JEBlackett 1789-99
329.2 KB
NRO ZBL 192 John Blackett Letter Book 1708-13
679.9 KB
NRO ZBL 195 Letters & Misc Papers to John Blackett 1709-49
472.2 KB
NRO ZBL 260 2 Blackett misc letters 1652 to 1804
355.3 KB
NRO ZBL 84 10 Misc Fallowfield papers 1734-98
323.7 KB
NRO ZBL 191 Edward Blackett letters 1714 1 - 1715 12
952.1 KB
NRO ZBL 190 Edward Blackett letters 1713 Aug - 1714 Aug
910.4 KB
NRO ZBL 273 12 Letter WB to EB 1676
229.7 KB
NRO ZBL 189 Edward Blackett letters 1709 5 - 1711 6
2.2 MB
The Dukesfield Smelters and Carriers Project aimed to celebrate and discover the heritage of the Dukesfield Arches & lead carriers' routes between Blaydon and the lead mines of Allendale and Weardale. A two year community project, it was led by the Friends of the North Pennines in partnership with Hexhamshire and Slaley Parish Councils and the active support of Allendale Estates. It was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generous support of other sponsors. Friends of the North Pennines: Charity No:1137467