Journal Entry – William Hooper – 29 May 1833

Wednesday May 29th 1833



Messrs Deans, Carr, & Co of the Hexham Iron Works came to see me this morning, and I finally agreed to sell them the Lot of Wood in Dipton Plantations, Numbered 4 in the Sale of the 23rd April last for £183, to be paid for by a Bill twelve months after date, drawn by Mr Carr in behalf of himself and partners, and made payable in London – Mr Carr, from what I have ascertained, is in himself satisfactory security.



I was engaged the whole of this day in receiving rents – Many, and loud, and I fear just, were the complaints of the total inadequacy of the produce of last year’s crops to pay the rents, and all I could do was to cheer them along in hopes of better times.



Mr Holt of Buteland made some unreasonable demands upon me which I was obliged to resist – He wanted compensation for his improvements, and the payment of five or six Bills of various amounts, from one pound to five, for work done, evidently by his own order, and for his own convenience, and such as the tenant ought to pay. The Thrashing Machine, valued at £106 I could have nothing to do with, but I allowed him the value of the Machinery at Broomhope Mill, which Mr Spencer claimed as belonging to the Estate, and which in Equity he is entitled to – the amount of this is £71.2.8. Mr Stott paid me £246.10 of his arrears, and gave me six months Bills which he had taken at the sale of his stock, for the remaining Balance – I gave him a receipt for the Money, but for the Bills I only gave a memorandum, to carry the amount to his Credit when paid. – I had a very long and difficult contest with Messrs Benson and Leadbitter of Dilston farms, as to their claims on the Railway, and at length settled with Mr Benson to pay him £31.16.0, which I did up to the 22nd of Novr last, the time to which the rent is now paid, and that he is to be allowed £31.16.0 a year, or £15.18.0 deducted from his rent every rent-day – With Mr Leadbitter I can scarcely say I settled, but I paid him £51.0.0 as the amount of compensation to the 22d November last, and agreed to his being allowed at the rate of £51.0.0 a year, or to have £25.15.0 deducted from each half-years rent during his Lease. He consented to all but the present compensation which he thought insufficient, he claiming a whole year’s allowance for the Land up to November, whereas no part of it was taken before February, and the bulk in May – I allowed nine months, and it would be gross injustice to the Railway Company to allow more.



Mr Snowball again advanced his claim for ten pounds for damages in winning Stones from Wharmely for the buildings at Coastley Farm, and as I could not allow this to remain longer unsettled, I paid it on the Hospital account – I shall in a few days have occasion to enter more fully into this case, when I will distinctly state my opinions upon it. I refused to allow Mr Snowball some claims he made for Hoeing Whins etc and also for damages in boring for Coal, in all about ten pounds, and he gave me some of the low abuse which he is so capable of bestowing – the admission of his demands is quite out of the question.



We had a very large dinner party, which passed off with great good humour.