Sir Samuel Hellier, 1736–1784, was the son of Staffordshire landowner and barrister, also Samuel. His father had amassed substantial estates in Staffordshire and Worcestershire, including the new family residence, The Wodehouse in Wombourne. Having no heirs, Sir Samuel bequeathed the entirety of his estates to a long-standing friend, Reverend Thomas Shaw, who, in 1786, changed his surname to Shaw-Hellier as a stipulation of Sir Samuel's inheritance.
Sir Samuel was interested in gardening, music, and landscape, and was an avid collector of sheet music and musical instruments, fossils, coins, and books.
This website presents the letters as a resource for those interested in society and culture in eighteenth-century Britain. They bring to life the daily workings of a provincial estate and the passions, personal fortunes, and habits of a member of the landed gentry: the administration of his country estates whilst working as a barrister in London during the season; disagreements and negotiations with tenants; love and marriage; the relationship with his grandmother and the frustrations of not receiving more inheritance from her own incomes; his standing among his local communities and within his land-owning neighbours; his love of music, gardens and architecture; and his sometimes unappreciated philanthropic pursuits.
Visitors to this site can browse the letters chronologically, by theme, sender, recipient, or location.
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