Letter – Henry Grey – 1 May 1719

The Answer of Henry Grey Esq to the Charge of Robert Stoddart Gent & Jonathan Maughan Gent

The said Henry Grey for Answer saith that he hopes (and most h[um]bly insists upon it) he has a Right to work 300: yards of each side of Jeffrey’s Grove by vertue of his lease untill the 2 February 1719.



       The said Henry Grey further saith that ab[ou]t 3 Y[ea]rs agoe he left the original Lease with Mr Slaughter at Newcastle who had it in his custody some days; which Lease the said Henry Grey saith was left in Mr Slaughters possession for his perusall and information And saith that he never had any disturbance in the working of the said Grove And that the Agent or Agents to the honorable the Com[missioner]s of the forfeited Estates, did from time to time as he or they see occasion, view & inspect the working of the said Grove and took an Acc[oun]t of the Duty Oar as usuall without complaining or mentioning of any unfair working.

       And further the said Henry Grey saith that the sume of £1200 mentioned in Mr Stoddards charge (for damages done to the said Grove by unfair working of the said Grove and of pulling down houses) is a very unjust charge, as the said Hen: Grey hopes to make it appear by severall affid[avit]s to which the said Henry Grey begs leave to referr himself: And saith that there was only a little Cover made over the Engine which was built by his Brother and which was all the Buildings upon the Premises that was pulled down, And saith that there was left standing at the expiration of the Lease one Storehouse, two Smith Shops and one house which the said Henry Greys Brother built, but was not obliged to leave that standing at the expiration of the Lease as he humbly conceived And he hopes he shall be allowed £20 for them they being worth the same as he believes.

       And further saith that he conceives there is noe Coven[an]t in his Lease to oblige him to leave the said Grove at the expiration of his Lease in good and sufficient repair, But saith and doubts not but to make it appear to the said Hon[ora]ble Com[missioners] that the same were left in good order and in a much better condition than most of Lead Mines are left, at the expiration of Leases. And he saith he has a power, by his Lease to remove his Engines Worktools etc Six Months after the expiration of the Term for working of the Mines; and further saith that he has orders from the said honorable Com[missioner]s for the removeing of the Engines etc before last Midsumer day which the said Henry Grey did accordingly. 

       [signed] Hen: Grey