Bates, Edward, And Sons

The major part consists of carbon copies of the daily letters written privately between 1878 and 1902 by Edward Percy Bates from Liverpool to his father Edward Bates in Hampshire and his brother Sydney in London. When he was away from Liverpool the letters were written by another brother (usually Gilbert Bates) and later by his son Edward Bertram Bates. The letters contain information on all the family's business interests, including ships' movements and cargoes, the sale of cargoes and the state of the various markets. As well as personal matters, the correspondence reflects the close-knit circle of shipowners in Liverpool during this period. Records of ships include: a disbursement book, 1902 to 1914; a movements book with details of cargo, 1908 to 1916; cargoes, 1870 to 1896; ships' expenses at different ports, 1869 to 1902. In addition there are copies of correspondence between Gilbert Bates and Edward Percy Bates while the latter was on a trip to India, 1887 to 1888; a small duplicate letterbook records the business and personal letters written by Gilbert Bates 1880 to 1881 (including a visit to India) and continued by Edward Percy Bates, 1883 to 1884, when most of the letters were written to Sydney while he was on a visit to India; copies of letters sent from Liverpool to Bombay, 1879 to 1881; a few loose letters addressed to Edward Bates during the period 1852-1867; letters from the Bombay office, 1861-1865; and letters by masters of the ships, 1862-1877. There are the carbons of letters written by Colonel Denis H. Bates (1886-1959), mainly to Sydney E. Bates, Percy E. Bates and Aubrey Brocklebank, 1919-1924. There is a carbon copy of a diary of a visit to India kept by H.G. Wilson, chief accountant of Brocklebank's, and sent to Colonel Bates; carbons of reports sent by Wilson from India to Brocklebank's, the Anchor Line and Ellerman's, 1920-1921; and a few papers of Sir Percy Elly Bates on shipping and transport, 1916-1919. The Collection also contains personal correspondence between Sir Percy Elly Bates and Rudyard Kipling and Carrie Kipling.