Special Collections & Archives: William Rathbone III (1726 - 11 Aug 1789)

William Rathbone III (1726 - 11 Aug 1789)

"no man here has before or since contributed more powerfully to maintain the upright character of a British merchant at home abroad" - Dr John Rutter, in a letter of 1835 (RP I.1.4)

Eldest son of William Rathbone II and Sarah (née Hyde), baptised on 24 Jul 1726 at Liverpool St Peter. He was a Liverpool merchant and ship-owner, a devout Quaker, and committed opponent of the slave trade.

m. 1. (1750) Rachel Rutter (d. 4 Feb 1761). Six children:
Sarah (1751-1827) m. (23 May 1781) Robert Benson
Ann (1754-1756)
Elizabeth (1756-1798)
William Rathbone IV (1757-1809)
Rachel (1758-1769)
Ann (1760-1761)

m. 2. (1761) Margaret Fletcher (1730 - 17 Jan 1793). Five children:
Margaret (1763-1767)
Benjamin (1765-1767)
Fletcher (b. + d. 1768)
Fletcher (d. young)
Jane (1766-1767)

William Rathbone III in the Rathbone papers

RP I: The papers of William Rathbone III are a small group dating from 1721-1789, and include:

• RP I.1 - Correspondence (4 items)
• RP I.2 - Deeds (6 items)

Bibliography

• Rathbone, William VI, A sketch of family history during four generations, compiled from old letters and papers, and rough notes written by William Rathbone the Sixth Privately published: Liverpool, 1894. Chap 1, pp 1-8: 'William Rathbone (III)'
• Nottingham, Lucie, Rathbone Brothers: from merchant to banker 1742-1992 Rathbone Brothers Plc, 1992. Chap. 2, pp 8-14 'William Rathbone III, 1726-1789'

Finding and using

• Rathbone Papers home
• Rathbone Family Tree
• Rathbone Business Papers
• Rathbone Properties
• Finding aid for the Rathbone Papers

• Finding aid for RP XX: Rathbone Property records
• Finding aid for RP XXIII: Early Business Partnerships of the Rathbone family
• Finding aid for RP XXIV: Business Records - Rathbone Brothers and Co.
• Finding aid for RP I: Papers of William Rathbone III
• Finding aid for RP IV: Papers of Richard Reynolds
• Finding aid for RP II: Papers of William Rathbone IV
• Finding aid for RP III: Papers of Hannah Mary Rathbone I
• Finding aid for RP V: Papers of William Rathbone V
• Finding aid for RP VI: Papers of Elizabeth Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP VII: Papers of Richard Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP VIII: Papers of Theodore Woolman Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP IX: Papers of William Rathbone VI
• Finding aid for RP X: Papers of Emily Rathbone and the Lyle family
• Finding aid for RP XII: Papers of Elizabeth Paget
• Finding aid for RP XIII: Papers of Hannah Mary and John Hamilton Thom
• Finding aid for RP XI: Papers of Samuel Greg Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP XVI: Papers of Theodore William Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP XVII: Papers of Maria Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP XXV: Papers of William Gair Rathbone VII (father of Elena)
• Finding aid for RP XV: Papers of Hugh Reynolds and Emily Evelyn Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP XIV: Papers of Eleanor Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP XVIII: Papers of May Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP XXV: Papers of William Rathbone VII and descendants
• Finding aid for RP XXV: Papers of William Gair Rathbone VII (father of Elena)
• Finding aid for RP XVB: Papers of Reynolds and Sybil Rathbone
• Finding aid for RP XVC: Papers of Henry Gair Rathbone (Harry)