Description:Mrs. Doncastle was Sir John’s housekeeper at Leicester House in Middlesex. A number of letters in Sir John’s papers demonstrate that Sir John and Mrs Doncastle shared a close relationship, Mrs. Doncastle playing a central role in the domestic life of the household.
In one letter Sir John directs Mrs. Doncastle to assist in ‘paying out shares of my Sister Anns Legeasee’. He writes to Mrs. Doncastle stating ‘having heard my Lady Gower desired to leave the towne in a few days, I beg madam you will interseed with my Lady to pay my share to my Cosen’.
Sir John adds further directions, writing ‘if you pleas to send any body with it, a morning early will be the best time to find eather him or his Lady att home’. Mrs. Doncastle was evidently a reliable housekeeper, entrusted with family business.
Other letters written to Mrs. Doncastle feature in the Sutherland Papers from a variety of people passing their good wishes through Mrs. Doncastle to Lord and Lady Gower ‘& to the Rest of the Nobelity at Lesester house’, reflecting her close relationship with the family.