[Manuscripts] Partnership agreements, 1825-1929

Fifteen partnership agreements (indentures, memoranda, articles of copartnership) relating to the London banking firm of Thomson Hankey & Co., dating from between 1825 and 1929.Having traded with Jamaica, Antigua and the Leeward Islands in partnership with John Houblon. Captain Samuel Hankey commenced in business as a City of London banker-goldsmith in 1685. The firm prospered to such an extent that his son Henry owned Jonathan's Coffee House in Exchange Alley, the precursor of the London Stock Exchange, and was knighted in 1732. Its fortunes continued to flourish with the slave trade, and by the early 1820s its headquarters at 7 Mincing Lane in the City of London handled the accounts of a number of prominent proprietors of West Indian plantations, including William Beckford. As an indication of the family's continuing prosperity, the wealth of Thompson Hankey senior (1773-1855, grandson of Sir Thomas Hankey) was stated at his death to be 'within province' of the fabulous sum of £140,000.The present collection of fifteen items documents the changes within the firm over the course of a century, and includes details of business and financial arrangements and capitalization. There are references to estates in West Indies in the following items: One (Robert Henry Church's Grenville Vale Estate and William Foreman Home's Waltham Estate, both on Grenada, an island with which the Hankey family had a strong connection), Two (Grenville Vale) and Eleven (Duckinfield Hall sugar plantation, Jamaica, and Craignish Estate, Trinidad).The collection consists of twelve manuscript items - two of which (Three and Four) are on vellum - two printed items (Thirteen and Fourteen, with two copies of the latter) and one typewritten item (Fifteen). The collection is in good condition, on aged and worn paper. One of the vellum indentures (Item Three) is slightly damp-stained, and Item Six has been repaired with archival tape.ONE (1825): Memorandum of agreement of 'heads for a copartnership to serve till regular partnership articles shall be executed'. 30 June 1825. Signed by Thomson Hankey and witnessed by Richard Henry Jones. ['Whereas Thomson Hankey of Mincing Lane London hath for some years been engaged in business as a West India Merchant and having agreed to admit his nephew John Alexander Hankey as his partner in his said business, the undermentioned heads for a co-partnership to serve till regular partnership articles shall be executed have been agreed on between them and to commence on the 1st. July of this year 1825 under the firm of Thomson Hankey & Company. […] The Co-partnership shall assume as partnership debts the amount due by Mr. Robert Henry Church to the said Thomson Hankey on Mortgage of his Estate of Grenville Vale in Grenada and also the amount due by Mr. William Foreman Home of Paxton NB Proprietor of Waltham Estate in Grenada'. Wrapped with the following item in a piece of paper marked in a contemporary hand 'Partnership Agreements'.TWO (1826): Memorandum of agreement between Thomson Hankey and John Alexander Hankey that 'Thomson Hankey Jnr. shall be admitted as a Partner on and from the first day of July 1826'. Signed by the three and witnessed by Richard Henry Jones. [As with the last item, Thomson Hankey is said to have been 'for many years Trading under his own name as a West India Merchant'. Mention is also made of 'the loan made to Mr. Church on Mortgage of Grenville Vale']THREE (1837): Indenture: 'Articles of Copartnership Between Messrs: Thomson Hankey the Younger John Plummer and William Wilson'. 17 March 1831. 'Deed poll (endorsed) on George Hankey Esqre being introduced into the Partnership of Messrs. Hankeys Plummer & Wilson dated 29th. March 1837'. On four vellum skins, with endorsement on reverse of first skin. Signed and sealed by all parties, with the usual stamps and ribbons.FOUR (1840): Indenture between John Alexander Hankey, Thomson Hankey the younger, William Wilson and George Hankey, all merchants of Mincing Lane in the City of London, stating the twenty-five terms by which 'they the said John Alexander Hankey Thomson Hankey William Wilson and George Hankey and the survivors of them will become and be Partners and Joint Traders in the Business of Merchants from the thirtieth day of June now last past'. 31 December 1840. On three vellum skins, folded and stitched to make eleven pages of folio size. Signed and sealed by all parties, with the usual stamps. [Mention is made of 'Beaumont Hankey the brother of the said Thomson Hankey and George Hankey'.]FIVE (1840): 'Epitome of Deed of Partnership dated 31 December 1840 between John Alexander Hankey, Thomson Hankey Junior William Wilson and George Hankey'. [Term relating to Beaumont Hankey marked as 'Not wanted'.]SIX (1840): 'Memorandum made the thirty first day of December One thousand eight hundred and forty [31 December 1840] Between John Alexander Hankey Thomson Hankey Junior William Wilson and George Hankey Esquires'.SEVEN (1868): 'Heads of Articles of Partnership [George Hankey, Rodolph Alexander Hankey, Richard Musgrave Harvey, Walter Hankey]. 1868.EIGHT (1868): 'Memorandum as to future division of Shares [between George Hankey, Rodolph Alexander Hankey, Richard Musgrave Harvey, Walter Hankey].' 31 January 1868. Signed by the four parties.NINE (1896): 'Heads of Articles of Partnership [Rodolph Alexander Hankey, Richard Musgrave Harvey, Henry Grey Gurney]. 6 July 1881. With Legacy and Succession Duty Office 'Memorandum' following H. G. Gurney's death, 1896.TEN (1896): 'Heads of Articles of Partnership [Rodolph Alexander Hankey, Richard Musgrave Harvey, Cyril Gurney]'. 19 June 1896.ELEVEN (1897, 1900): 'Agreement and Covenant supplemental to Articles of Partnership [Rodolph Alexander Hankey, Richard Musgrave Harvey, Cyril Gurney]'. 11 January 1897. With ALS from Gurney, 24 July 1900, and two receipts, both from 1900. ['Whereas the basis of terms stated in the principal Agreement was a certain Balance Sheet including amongst other assets the Estates of Duckinfield Hall and Craignish both in the West Indies the value of the former Estate being therein stated at Ten thousand one hundred and seventeen pounds eighteen shillings and eight pence and the value of the latter Estate being therein stated at Ten thousand four hundred and nineteen pounds three shillings and five pence. […] each of the three Partners are satisfied that the said Estates were over valued and have determined that their respective values at the date of the principal Agreement shall be estimated to be Seven thousand five hundred pounds only'.]TWELVE (1900): 'Heads of Articles of Partnership [Rodolph Alexander Hankey, Cyril Gurney, Lionel Musgrave Harvey, Henry Alexander Trotter]'. 2 July 1900.THIRTEEN (1903): Printed 'Articles of Partnership [Rodolph Alexander Hankey, Cyril Gurney, Lionel Musgrave Harvey, Henry Alexander Trotter]', drawn up by Bompas, Bischoff, Dodgson, Coxe & Bompas, 4 Great Winchester Street, London EC. 2 November 1903. Signed and sealed by the four parties.FOURTEEN (1928): Printed '[Copy] Articles of Partnership [Henry Alexander Trotter, Christopher William Gurney, Stephen Trevisa Sale Clarke]', drawn up by Baker & Nairne, 3 Salters Hall Court, Cannon Street, London EC4. 25 October 1928. 2 copies.FIFTEEN (1929): Typed 'Draft BOND of surviving partners [Henry Alexander Trotter, Christopher William Gurney] in THOMSON HANKEY & CO: to secure payments of the share of the deceased [Lionel Musgrave Harvey] and for Indemnity against the Partnership Liabilities'. Drawn up by Williams & James, Norfolk House, Embankment, London WC2. By this bond we Henry Alexander Trotter and Christopher William [corrected from 'Cyril W.'] Gurney of 7 Mincing Lane in the City of London Merchants and Bankers bind ourselves jointly and severally to Richard Musgrave Harvey of King William Street House Arthur Street in the City of London Esquire and Adelaide Musgrave Buchanan of Corsewall Stranraer Scotland Widow for the payment to them of the sum of £42,000'. 1929. [The three partners are described as having 'carried on business in partnership as West India and General Merchants Bankers and Agents under the style of Thomson Hankey & Co.']