To Mr Xpher Denton Newcastle 7th June 1734
Sir.
Inclosed is a State of the Case with the King of Denmark, the amount brought down to 1731, & a Schedule of what papers wee have relating to that affair, by w[hi]ch you will see it has been sollicited in almost every Reign without obtaining any Satisfaction & I therefore doubt wee are likely to receive none now, I hear nothing from Mr Greive, only Mr Steele has received a letter from him desiring the Execution against Cook may b
To Mr <Armorer> Newcastle 9th June 1734
Sir
Yesterday Mr Bulman was here, & showed Mr Steele & me, a Division Deed made in 1619
of the Ground & Royalty in Dispute between Morton, & Unthank executed by the then top Gentlemen in the County w[hi]ch wee look upon to be a good Deed, & for further Satisfaction he is willing to have it laid before any Council. It appears thereby, that Unthank is Intitaled to two fifths & Morton to three fifths of the Collie
To Mr Denton Newcastle 11th June 1734
Dr Sir
Inclosed is Mr Abr[aha]m Dixons bill on Mr Jno Still for the sum of two hundred
& twenty pounds, w[hi]ch I desire you will advise the Receipt of, & mention that it is to pay Mr Groce so much due to him from Mr Blackett, so that your l[ett]re may be a Voucher to me for so much money. I hope this will make all Matters easy for the present, for times are so bad, that there’s no money stirring for any thing here. I received
To Mr Harry Hopper Newcastle 12th June 1734
Sir
If Dr Watts will be at home on Friday the 28th of this Month, I will call upon him at Wolsingham by Ten a Clock that morning in order to consult whats to be done with regard to the Grove now working by Mr Hutchinson. I desire he will against that time try what Result he can bring the Landholder to, for tho. the Bp, I believe will lend us no assistance Mr Blackett will defend his Rights, if the Dr & Landholders will enter into
To Wr Blackett Esqr Newcastle 16th June 1734
Honrd Sr
Nothing materiall has offered since my last, here has been the least company I ever saw, few of the Northumb[erlan]d Gentlemen being at the Races. Your two Plates were carried from the Towns hall, & attended by a few friends that thought fitt to go out with them without any Invitation, so that there was not the least Noise or bustle about <th..> w[hi]ch would have been Inavoidable if you had been in Town, & I
Mr Peart Newcastle 18th June 1734
I rec[eiv]ed yours with March account which runs very high, the Oar got in that, & the former
Qua[rte]r costs Mr Blackett more than he can sell it for, for lead now is not worth more than £12 & I don’t believe any Body will give that for a large Quantity. All the lead wee have got down this Year is unsold, & no body will buy at any price, you must therefore shorten your hand, & what will not work at 22s or 23s a Bing all charges
To Wr Blackett Esqr Newcastle 21st June 1734
Honrd Sr
It is my opinion that your coming to Town three Weeks or a Month hence, if most agreable to your self, will be altogether as well as coming just after the Races are over. if anything happen that may make your presence necessary before that time, I will Imediately let you know. Mr Fenwick of Bywell having served Spanton of Sheilds with a speciall writ for making too free with his principles & Character Mr Carr in order t
To Aldm Ridley Newcastle 24th June 1734
Sir
Having fixed the pays of our Milns for next Thursday, & expecting Mr Hunter (here) to morrow for the money, I desire you will please to let me have £200 in part of the last Years Ballance. I have applyd to Mr <Crowe> without Effect, w[hi]ch obliges me to give you this Trouble. I doubt not but you will be pleased to excuse it, & order the sum desired on this Emergency by Sr Yours etc JR
To Chas. Joye Esqr Newcastle 25 June 1734
Sir
Inclosed are three bills for the sum of six hundred pounds, as above, in part of the last <half>
Years Interest on the late Sir Wm Blackett’s mortgage, the Receipt of which I desire you will please to advise. This Remittance falls short of what I did expect to have made you by this time, but its all I can at present do. The Remainder shall be returned you will all possible Expedition by Sr Yrs etc J R
Newcastle 1
Newcastle 25th June 1734
To Messrs Cook & Abell
Sirs
I sent you on Saturday last by Laycock the Carrier five hundred forty six Ounces fine silver, as below, for w[hi]ch I desire you will Credit the late Sr Wm Blackett’s Ex[ecu]tors & advise me on your Receipt thereof. I have allowed you one Ounce, w[hi]ch I hope will make good the Deficiency you complain of in the last p[ar]cell, I have this day drawn on you for One hundred fifty nine pounds, three shillings, & se
To Mr Denton Newcastle 30th June 1734
Dear Sir
I have before me yours of the 25th & agreable thereto I inclose you my Article with Sr Wm Blackett w[hi]ch I desire your Care of, & that you will advise the receipt. I believe you are well enough acquainted with all the hands at it, As to the Sheriffs return Mr Steel had the Execution the 3rd day after I rec[eiv]ed it, & I believe sent it away Imediately but for the Satisfaction he says he will send by next Post his C
Mr Richmond Augt:14:1734
Inclosed I have sent you a draught of a part of Fallowfield Groves vizt. how much deeper that water Level is, than the drift wch. goes through Acomb fell wch. you’l find by the draught to be 25 fathm., to give you a draught of all the Sumps, drifts, & workings &c under this Level, is of no use because wrought out where any ore could be got, Some of the under drifts Run together others Drown’d wth. water, and therefore wd only perplex your notion, as
Abraham Bunting of Hexham in the County of Northumberland Gentleman one of the Bailifs or Agents under the present Receivers of the Estate late Lord Derwentwater’s taketh Oath that sometime in the Month of December last past he this Depon[en]t being then acquainted by Thomas Laidler with the matters & things Contained in the affidavit of John Slater and the said Thomas Laidler & hereunto annexed this Depon[en]t Sometime in the beginning of this instant Month of January went to Woodall
<H>ew No. 79 - 23 April 1735
Edward Oxleys Affidavit.
Worked & Sold a Parcell of Wood lately bought in Dilston Park, & seen sev[era]ll Carryages loaded wth other Wood for sev[era]ll Parts of the Country s[ai]d to be sold by Bailiff Redhead. Hath seen a great many Trees lately cut, & the Stoves cover’d up wth Earth. Shewed Mr Watsons Bro[ther] one of them. And further that H. Ridley Cut sev[era]ll Trees now lying there. And further that he hath Daily seen Sev[era]ll Per
Thomas Green &c on L[or]d Darwentwater Lease
To the Honor[a]ble the Com[mission]ers of Inquiry
The Claim of Thomas Green and Thomas Howden both of Haydon in the County of Northumberland Yeom[an]s
Sheweth
That on or about the twenty ninth day of January one Thousand Six hundred Eighty three Your Claimants Fathers William Green and John Howden with one George Pescodd did agree with Sir Francis Radcliffe Grandfather of James Earl of Darwentwater lately Executed for high Tr
Sr/
Since my Last to you I am Creadabley Informed that Readhead has sold upwards of 700 Oake Siplins cut of one place and has Cutt Maney of them a yeard above the ground and has Cutt in other places I se this day at Hexham Sr. Wm. Midelton and he tells me that those that Cutt the Wood is to be brought before him and other two Justices on Monday nixt upon Mr Watsons Account and Not Required by the Goverment he thinks these Examination Will be to Little purpose because they are not Impowered by
S[i]r/
I sent you two Letters before this and has not had a Answer; which makes me think thay have not comed safe to hand, or yours to me have Miscarri[e]d, I have Continued to make Enquiry into that affare, and Still discovers More and More Reedhead has built three houses and Imployed two Men to Cutt him oak for to build his houses, in Thornbrough Wood thay Cutt the Wood, in the afternoon, and brought the Wood home in the Night this I can prove and I am told there was Wood Cutt with Candle Li
Extract of a Letter from Colonel Lydell to Mr Holden, Dated 8th June 1735 followed by one dated 23rd October 1735
[Note in Margin:] There has been sad mismanagement upon the Estate. Thinks some Gentlemen should be appointed to enquire into it
You will see what villainous Work has been committed, by the Negligence (to say no worse) of the Receivers, and the Knavery of their Deputies - I am satisfied there are not half the Malpractices come to light, nor will, without there be an Order to so
An Abstract of Mr Watsons Memoriall to Thomas Corbett Esqr 18 July 1735 relating to the Lead Mines
That proprietors either work them or grant Tack Notes and Leases to adventurers who pay no Certain rent but 1/5 1/6 or 1/7 Dish or bing of all well washed Oare but the latter Method was generally practised by the Derwentwater family; on 1/5 for dues pd to their Moor Master whose business it is to receive the same and to See that the Mines be duely wrought according to Covenant and If they O
In the Exchequer at Westminster
Abraham Bunting of Hexham in the County of Northumberland Gentleman Edward Oxley of the Birks in the said County of North[umber]land Yeoman and John Oxley of <Howtley> Yeoman make oat[h] and first these Deponents Edward Oxley and John Oxley Severally Make oath that they these Deponents have for these Twenty Years and upwards been concerned in and followed the Business of Viewing and Cutting of woods and are very well Skilled and Experienced in the same
Septemr 29 1735. Daniel Wrens Accot & Opinion of the Severall Mines open in the Alston Moor, as also of Such Places as are promising for adventuring.
[In the margin:] Redgroves at Ninth No 1
Has been lately Husht by Mr Aynsley & the Receiver within these 3 Months by which the upper Sills, are now become of little Value It lyes on the No[rth] side of Nanth[ea]d & Mr Blacketts Collcleugh further North, & is yet untoucht in the lower Sills, which are very hopefull, b
Observations on the Affid[avi]ts & Informations. Abstract No. 1
Wm. Elliots Affid[avi]t No. 3 - That he bid Dalton the Bayliff £35 for cut wood at Capon Clough, & told Mr Watson that he was willing to stand to it at that prise. But soon after Mr W_ sold it to Bayliff Atkinson for £27. And a little time After Elliot bid Atkinson £9 profit for his Bargain wch tho he would not take he complain[e]d to Mr W_ of the badness of his Bargain who allow[e]d him to take <8> more Oak Tr
Copy of Mr. Wm. Leighton’s Letter to Mr Abraham Bunting
My friend
I was wth. Mr Boutflower Yesterday at Whittonstall, & he tells me Mr. Watson has writ to him, that he has tried the advantage of having a Limekiln abo[u]t Farnley before the Lds, & desires him to make as near an Estimate as Possible of the Charge every way Compared, wth. the Price of the Lime they now get. I understand Mr Boutflower Doubts not but to furnish Whittonstall Chappellry wth. Lime 12s per fo
Copy of Mr Abraham Buntings Letter to Mr. Jos. Ledgard
Mr Ledgard
I have sent you this Acc[oun]t & what Remarks I make from this is Mr Boutflower has an Estate at the Rideing & would get all the fallen Lime to Improve his own Estate wth. & also they Propose to break up a Coll[ie]ry at Whittonstall to Burn this Lime, wch will be a Prejudice to the Gray Mare Coll[ie]ry, to have them both open’d together, & Whittonstall is further of then the Gray Mare; if this
23d Octor 1735
The 7th instant the moment I had sent mine to you to the Post I recd an Accot that my only remaining Bror who was some Days before seized with a Palsy, was very dangerously ill, which occassion'd be [me?] to sett out the next Morning, and in the Afternoon I met an Express, with Melancholy News of his Death; and he having made his Younger Son (who is a Dragoon Officer and confined by Indisposition at Hereford) & his3 Daughters Execrs; I was obliged to stay to help them