Journal entry – John Grey – 18 Sep 1833

Wednesday 18th September 1833



Heard from Mr Parker, in answer to my application expressing his willingness to act on behalf of the Hospital in fixing the average quarterly price of Lead, but informing me of the Death of Mr Crawhall, in consequence of which nothing can be done in the matter until Messrs Wilsons appoint another Agent. 



Fewster the tenant of Newlands Haugh Farm, came to me today to enquire if I thought if there was any likelihood of the Commissioners cancelling the Arrears still standing against Him and his brother.  Those Arrear, he states, were not contracted by the , but in their fathers time, & they would willingly have paid them off, had not the adverse times & high rents with which they have had to contend, put it wholly out of their power.  The existence of those arrears, he states, stands in the way of their obtaining the assistance of certain friends who would advance them Capital sufficient to undertake the occupation of the Town Farm, along with their own, could it be had at such a rent as they think it worth, so that the Hospital would save a good deal in Building & they are leading, but who will not come forward to help them so long as the arrears stand against them.  These circumstances certainly do seem to give them some claim to be considered with lenity - and I told him that  I should report his application & the grounds of it to the Board.  Should it be found practicable however to effect the saving of new buildings on the Haugh Farm, by uniting  and the Town farm in one, the part of the latter which lays on the west side of the brook, should be annexed to the Mill Farm, to which it would be a more valuable appendage than to the other.  



Rode to Westwood & Highwood to examine the Thrashing Machines, the condition of which is a matter of complaint with the Tenants.  As Westwood Farm is to be let this year, I trust an arrangement may be obtained, for getting quit of the Machine and finding an examination that a few days of a Millwright, to wedge the loose Axles & fix the Wheels in their proper sets, would prevent further injury & fit it to thrash the Crop, I directed the Tenant to get that done, for which he should be allowed, on condition of his keeping and leaving it in repair.   At Highwood I had previously engaged to allow £5 for covering anew the horse wheel which is not yet finished- as for the Machine itself, it is hardly worth repairing, & must thrash on as long as it will.  I am sorry to see the Crop upon this farm so very shabby.



West Boat

The Blacksmith at West Boat applied again about the addition which he proposed to make to his house, but as yet I have not received the Boards answer to his application.  In wet weather the house is scarcely habitable, & of course, the timber of the roof is sustaining injury.  An application was made to me for leave to take gravel from the bed of the Devils water, for the railway to which I assented on condition of having a written undertaking, that the tenant should be indemnified for damages should any occur in removing it, & that the bank of the river over which it must be carted, should be sufficiently secured against further injury by floods.