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Local Lives and Local People

The Leveson-Gower family were one of the leading families in Staffordshire with estates in the North and South of the county. Many letters survive in the Sutherland Papers written by local people associated with the family and their estates.

Click on the links below to learn more about the lives of Staffordshire people in the Sutherland Papers

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Staffordshire Life

Extensive landowners in county, the Leveson-Gower family received many letters from people living on their estates concerning issues such as housing repairs. The family also received letters from people wishing to sell their lands and seeking justice for unfair treatment. All of these letters tell us a great deal about the everyday lives and concerns of Staffordshire people in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Click here to see documents relating to Staffordshire Life in the Sutherland Papers

Misfortune & Money in Staffordshire

Many Staffordshire people living during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries experienced hardship and poverty, particularly the elderly and those who had been widowed and left with families to support. Without means to provide for themselves or their families, many people wrote to the Leveson-Gower family describing their situation and appealing for assistance.

Click here to see documents relating to misfortune and money in Staffordshire

Patronage in Staffordshire

Many Staffordshire people wrote to the Leveson-Gower family asking for their help to obtain professional employment or to secure the family's influential support for local projects. Such letters appealing for patronage tell us about the lives of local people and the sort of local projects taking place in Staffordshire during the nineteenth century.

Click here to see documents relating to patronage in Staffordshire