This ledger belonged to the Otley attorney John Ward and records transactions with his clients in summary form, c.1740-72. It has 575 pages of which pp. 467-75 are blank. The names of John Chippindale of Otley, carpenter, and William Chippindale of Farnley, among others, are listed in the index. The John Chippindale referred to may have been Thomas Chippendale's father (who died in 1768) or his stepbrother (born in 1729); the ledger records that in Easter Term 1740 he owed 12s 6d to John Ward for legal work connected with a suit against one ‘Wrigglesworth'. William Chippindale of Farnley was Thomas's cousin, a carpenter and joiner who worked throughout the locality and who in 1770 supplied a chest for documents to Burnt Yates school which remains at the school today (illus. Gilbert, 1978, fig. 27). In 1745 he owed 10s to John Ward for legal work in connection with a suit brought by ‘Sampson, barber'.
This item is owned by The Chippendale Society. Explore the Society’s website and collections by clicking the external link below.