Manuscript Location

University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Kislak Center for Special Collections - Manuscripts

Place of Origin

England ➔ Sussex ➔ Wadhurst

Date of Composition

perhaps ca. 1840-1860

Description

This is likely a just-begun collection of recipes and remedies, as the volume of 56 leaves contains only 11 pages of recipes, with some additional items laid in. Recipes include sauces, desserts, stewed pigeons, and India pickle. The recipes were written by a single individual. At some later point, a second person wrote pencil notes adding directions and evaluating recipes.

The author of the recipes is presumed to be Anna Courthope (1817-1897) based on a signature in the volume and on the fact that two recipes refer to Whiligh, the Courthope family estate in Wadhurst, East Sussex, where Anna Courthope lived.  Born Anna Deacon, she married George Campion Courthope of Whiligh in 1841. The couple had eight children. The notebook is watermarked 1828, but presumably Anna Courthope wrote her recipes somewhat later, perhaps just prior to or during the early years of her marriage.