Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1780-1972 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.4 cubic metres (14 boxes)
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Both Baker and Gabb were old Catholic families from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. The Baker family claimed descent from Sir Roger Vaughan of Bredwardine, Herefordshire, and had held large estates in Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. The earliest deed relating to a member of the Baker family of Abergavenny is dated 1590. The family believed (probably wrongly) that David Lewis otherwise Charles Baker (1616-1679), a Jesuit priest and 'pretended bishop of Llandaff', was a member of the family. The Gabb family also owned property in the Abergavenny area. The earliest Gabb deed (of Grosmont, Monmouthshire) appears to be that dated 1660. The families were joined by the marriage of John Gabb (d. 1690) of Goytre, Grosmont, to Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry Baker of Bailey Baker, Abergavenny.
Thomas Gabb founded a solicitor's practice in Abergavenny in 1760. The firm of Gabb & Co. still practices out of the same offices in Abergavenny. Thomas Gabb practised on his own until 1781, when he was joined by Baker Gabb the elder (d. 1821), and in 1808 by his son, Baker Gabb the younger (d. 1858). There was a member of the Gabb family in the firm from 1760 until 1921.
From the 1850s, most family members seem to have either used Baker as a last christian name, or used a hyphonated Baker-Gabb surname.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Both Baker and Gabb were old Catholic families from Abergavenny . The Baker family claimed descent from Sir Roger Vaughan of Bredwardine, Herefordshire, and had held large estates in Monmouthshire, Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. The earliest deed relating to a member of the Baker family of Abergavenny is dated 1590. The family believed (probably wrongly) that David Lewis otherwise Charles Baker (1616-1679), a Jesuit priest and 'pretended bishop of Llandaff', was a member of the family. The Gabb family also owned property in the Abergavenny area. The earliest Gabb deed (of Grosmont, Monmouthshire) appears to be that dated 1660. The families were joined by the marriage of John Gabb (d. 1690) of Goytre, Grosmont, to Elizabeth, the daughter of Henry Baker of Bailey Baker, Abergavenny.
Thomas Gabb founded a solicitor's practice in Abergavenny in 1760. The firm of Gabb & Co. still practices out of the same offices in Abergavenny. Thomas Gabb practiced on his own until 1781, when he was joined by Baker Gabb the elder (d. 1821), and in 1808 by his son, Baker Gabb the younger (d. 1858). There was a member of the Gabb family in the firm from 1760 until 1921.
From the 1850s, most family members seem to have either used Baker as a last christian name, or used a hyphenated Baker-Gabb surname.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by Iain Paterson in 1984
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Family and estate records of Baker-Gabb of The Chain, Abergavenny, and papers relating to Gabb & Co., solicitors of Abergavenny, including estate rentals, 1876-1918, including the Grovefield and Latham estates, [both in the parish of Abergavenny?], and the Ffawyddog estate in the parish of Cwm-iou, Monmouthshire; papers, 1908-1918, relating to the Grwyne Fawr reservoir in the parish of Llaneleu, Breconshire; family and household papers include registers of meteorological readings (thermometer, barometer and rain gauge) at The Chain, 1881-1947, which also contain numerous diary entries; newspaper cuttings and other ephemera of local and family interest; cellar books, 1884-1932; diaries of tours, including to the Austrian Tyrol, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Sicily, Switzerland, 1893-1908; papers relating to the Monmouthshire Polo Club, 1872-1888, to Patrishow church, Breconshire, 1856-1963, and to St Mary's Church and Priory, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, 1925-1949, and papers, 1902-1960, relating to the history of the firm of Gabb & Co., solicitors.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records deposited at NLW have been retained.
Accruals
Accruals are not expected
System of arrangement
Arranged into: estate records; Gabb & Co.; personal papers; papers relating to churches; sport; ephemera, and printed material.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright laws apply
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Hard copies of the catalogue are available at NLW and HMC. An online catalogue can be accessed.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Baker-Gabb, R., A memoir of the families of Baker of Bailey Baker and Baker-Gabb, Abergavenny (Aberystwyth, 1903).
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
GEAC system control number
Access points
Subject access points
- Meteorology -- Wales -- Abergavenny
- Law firms -- Wales -- Abergavenny.
- Administration of estates -- Wales -- Monmouthshire
- Reservoirs -- Wales -- Llaneleu
- Switzerland -- Description and travel
- Ireland -- Description and travel
- Italy -- Description and travel.
- Tyrol (Austria) -- Description and travel.
- Norway -- Description and travel
- Sicily (Italy) -- Description and travel
- Grwyne Fawr Reservoir (Wales)
- Llaneleu (Wales)
- Scotland -- Description and travel
Place access points
Name access points
- St. Mary's Priory Church (Abergavenny, Wales) (Subject)
- Partrishow Church (Wales) (Subject)
- Chain (Abergavenny, Wales) -- Archives (Subject)
- Grovefield Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Latham Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Gabb & Co. (Subject)
- Ffawyddog Estate (Wales) (Subject)
- Monmouthshire Polo Club (Wales) (Subject)
- Chain Estate (Wales) (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
This description follows NLW guidelines based on ISAD(G) Second Edition; AACR2; and LCSH.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
April 2001
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Stephen Benham.
Archivist's note
The following source was used in the compilation of this description: Baker-Gabb, R., A memoir of the families of Baker of Bailey Baker and Baker-Gabb, Abergavenny (Aberystwyth, 1903).