Lease – John Wilkinson to William Ramsay – 6 Feb 1708

This Indenture made the Sixth day of February in the Sixth yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Anne by the grace of God of Great Brittaine France & Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith ec. Between William Davison of Beamish in the County Pallatine of Durham Esqr.& John Wilkinson of the Towne & County of Newcastle upon Tyne Merchant of the one parte And William Ramsay of the sd. Towne & County of Newcastle upon Tyne  Esqr. of the other parte Wittnesseth That the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson for and in consideration of the Covenants hereafter in & by these pr.sents mentioned to be performed by the sd. William Ramsay, his Execrs Admins & Assignes As alsoe for diverse other good causes & Considerations  them the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson thereunto severally moveing have & each of them hath Demised Granted & to Farme Letten & by these pr.sents doe & each of them doth Demise Grant & to Farme Lett unto the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs. Admins. & Assignes One Third parte (the whole in three partes equally to be divided) of 



All that Lead Myne or vein of Lead or Lead Oare called Ireshopeburn vein boundering from the river Wear westward to Ireshopeburne att Barbary Level foot as the vein goes & Twenty yards on each side of the sd. vein in breadth (in all Forty yards in breadth) & all their whole parte of the said Lead Myne or vein of Lead or Lead Oare which is not in partnershipp, One third parte (the whole in three parts equally to be divided) of All that Lead Myne or vein of Lead or Lead Oare called Greenhill or Bolehill boundering from the Burne att Elmford foote to runn westward as the vein goes to the East end of Todstone tack & Twenty yards on each side of the sd vein the breadth in all Forty <yards> in breadth) with liberty of Lonsdales <Shaft>  <One> third part (the whole in three partes equally divided) of all that Lead Myne or vein of Lead or Lead Oare att a place called <Stope>Slitt boundering from the Cragg to the Hedge & twenty yards on each Side thereof in breadth in all Forty yards in breadth And alsoe One Third parte the whole in three partes equally to be divided of that Lead Myne or vein of Lead or Lead Oare called Greenwell vein boundering from Ireshopeburne eastward Soe far as the partnershipp bounder goes & Twenty yards on each Side of the sd. vein in breadth in all Forty yards in breadth all which sd. Lead Mynes lye within the parish of Stanhope & County of Durham together with full & free liberty to & for the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs. Admins. & Assignes to digg & sinke Pitt or Pitts Shaft or Shafts & to drive Drift or Drifts Levell or Levells within or without the boundaries aforesd. & to erect Houses Hovells & Lodges within the Boundaryes aforesaide & to doe whatsoever else is or Shall be needfull or requisite to be done for in or about the winning workeing or getting of Lead Oare or Ure within the limitts & boundaryes aforesd. 



To have and to hold All & every the Sd. Lead Mynes & pr.misses hereby letten with their appurtenances unto the sd. William Ramsay, his Execrs. Admins & Assignes from the day of the date of these pr.sents for & dureing the term & space of nineteen yeares from thence next ensueing if Sd. William Blackett of the Towne & County of Newcastle upon Tyne aforesd. Bart. Elizabeth Blackett & Frances Blackett his Sisters for whose lives the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson hold the office of Moore-man or Moor-master of the Lord Bpp of Durham or any of them Shall Soe long live as fully amply beneficially in every respect as the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson hold & enjoy the Same Provided this pr.sent Demise or anything therein contained doe not obstruct or interfere with former or other Grant or Lease of Lead Mynes  or Lead Oare made by Sr. William Blackett late of the sd. town & County of Newcastle upon Tyne  Bart deceased in his life time or by the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson or any of them to any person or persons whatsoever 



And The sd William Ramsay doth for himself his Execrs. Admins. & Assignes Covenant & Agree to & with the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs. & Assignes & every of them by these pr.sents in manner & forme following (that is to say) that he the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins or Assignes Shall & will within the Space of Two Months next ensueing  the date hereof begin & Sett on work<e> & use his & their best & utmost endeavours for the Speedy & effectuall winning obtaining & recovering of all the sd. Severall Lead Mynes within the boundaryes aforesd. and From thenceforth dureing all the term of nineteen yeares Shall not discontinue workeing att the sd. Severall Lead Mynes att any time by the Space of Two Months together nor bring nor wittingly nor willingly suffer to be brought any <Thrust> upon any Pitt Shaft or Levell belonging to the pr.misses but shall & will from time to time worke the sd. Lead Mynes fairly according to the <course> of working Lead Mynes dureing the sd. term 



and att the end & expiration or other Sooner determination thereof Shall and will leave one Shaft well timbered & in good repaire upon the Foreheads or Fronts of the sd. Lead Mynes & Shall then alsoe deliver up the quiett & peaceable possession of all other the pr.misses to the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes and That neither he the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs or Assignes or any of them Shall or will Assigne over or dispose of <all>  or any parte or partes of the pr.misses to any person or persons whatsoever without the <Licence> of the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson Their <Execrs> <&> Assignes  <by> or in writeing under their or Some or one of their  <hands> <&> seales Signifieing the Same first had & obtained and that he the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs. Admins. & Assignes Shall & will make reasonable  <Satisfaction> from time to time  dureing the sd. term to all persons who <Shall> have Spoile of Grounds by workeing the sd. Lead Mynes hereby letten or any parte thereof who shall loose any Goods by the not filling up or <fencing> of any Pitt or Pitts Grove or Groves within the boundaryes aforesd. 



and Further alsoe that he the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs. Admins. & Assignes Shall & will upon Demand of the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs <Admins> or Assignes or their or one of their Stewards Servants or Agents from time to time deliver to them or some of them all the Lead Oare well washed dressed & fitt for Smelting that dureing the sd term Shall be digged wrought or gotten out of the sd. Lead Mynes hereby letten as aforesaide And att the end of every month dureing the said terme give and deliver to the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes if requested a <just> & true account in writeing of the number of Bing Loads of Lead Oare that in & dureing the preceeding Month have been wrought & gotten forth & out of the sd. Severall Lead Mynes  or any parte thereof & permit & suffer the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes or any of them to inspect the books of account of the Stewards of the sd. Lead Mynes the better to be informed of & to know what quantity of Lead Oare hath been wrought & gotten out of the same in every preceeding Month or months dureing the sd. term and shall & will alsoe permitt & Suffer the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes & their & <either> of their Servants & workemen att their or any of their wills & pleasures to ride or descend into all or any the Pitts or Shafts of or belonging to the sd Lead Mynes or any of them to view & Inspect the <course> <of> <workeing> thereof & after Such inspection peaceably to returne 



And The sd William Davison and John Wilkinson for themselves their heires Execrs & Admins & every of them doe Jointly & Severally Covenant & Agree to & with the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins & Assignes by thse pr.sents in manner & forme following (that is to say) That he the sd William Ramsay his Execrs Admins & Assignes <duly> & <truely> performeing all the Covenants Clauses Provisoes & Agreemts. herein contained on his or their parte <to> be performed Shall & may dureing all the sd. term of nineteen years if the sd. Sr. William Blackett Elizabeth Blackett & Frances Blackett or any of them Shall Soe long live lawfully peaceably and quiettly Have Hold & enjoy all the sd. Lead Mynes & pr.misses hereby letten or mentioned or intended Soe to be without the Lett Hinderance or Disturbance of them the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their or either of their Execrs or Assignes or any of them and That the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson  their Execrs & Assignes Shall & will take & carry away the sd. Lead Oare gott out of the demised pr.misses Soe Soon as the Same can conveniently be carried away and That they the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes att the end of every three Months after the Lead Oar gott of the demised pr.misses is delivered to the servants of the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes Shall & will well & truely pay or <cause> to be paid unto the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins or Assignes the Sum of Twenty Shillings of Lawfull money of Great Brittaine for every Bing load of the best Oare well washt & drest & fitt for Smelting that Shall be gotten out of the sd. Lead Mynes or <any> of them & <which> Shall be delivered to the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes or to their stewards Servants or Agents as <aforesd.> <xxxxx> Sum of Tenn Shillings of like Lawfull money for every Bing load of Waist Oare or Cutting Oare well washt drest & fitt for Smelting & which Shall be delivered aforesaide each & every of the sd. Bing Loads  of Lead Oare <comprising> the Great  weight & to containe Sixty Four Stone comprising Fourteen pounds to <every> Stone besides the Poakes or Sacks which are not to be parte of <nor> <reckoned> <into> the sd. weight and The sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execs & Assigns Shall & will alsoe according to the true <intent> & meaneing of these pr.sents discharge the <pr.misses <of> <&> from all Lott Oar Tyth Oar Rents <Taxes> & Impositions <whatsoever> to be charged upon or <issueing> <or> payable out of the pr.misses dureing the sd. term 



provided Allwayes & it is hereby Covenanted declared & agreed upon by and between the sd. partyes to <these> pr.sents  for themselves their heirs Execrs Admins & Assignes & every of them that the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes or either or any of their Servants or workemen Shall & may dureing the sd. term have Liberty to use any of the Shafts Levells or Water Courses to be made within the boundaryes aforesd. & att their or any of their pleasures to Drive Drift or Drifts within or through the <sd> boundaryes for or in order to the winning or workeing any other Lead Mynes of or belonging to the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson or either of them  their or either of their Execrs or Assignes then the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes makeing Such Satisfaction to the sd. William Ramsay, his Execrs Admins or Assignes for all damage <by> them or any of them to be done or occasioned <to> the sd. Shafts Levells Drifts or Water courses within the demised pr.misses as by two Arbitrators the one to be named by the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes the other to be named by the sd. William Ramsay <his> Execrs Admins or Assignes Shall be thought fitt & reasonable & paying the Same within three months next after the Same Shall be appointed to be paid by the sd. arbitrators 



provided Also & upon Condition & it is the <true> intent & meaning of these pr.sents & of the sd. partyes hereunto that if the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins or Assignes Shall att any time dureing the sd term desist or discontinue the winning or workeing any of the sd Lead Mynes hereby Letten for the Space of Two Callendar months together That then this pr.semt Demise of the sd. Lead Myne or Lead Mynes soe <discontinued> to be won & wrought by the Space of the sd. Two Callendar Months Shall be void And that it Shall & may be Lawfull for the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes <into> the sd. Lead Myne or Lead Mynes soe discontinued to be wrought  as aforesd. to reenter the Same to Have againe & enjoy as in their first & former estate Anything in these pr.sents contained to the contrary <notwithstanding> provided Alwayes & upon Condition that if the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins. & Assignes Shall faile or neglect duely to performe any of the Covenants Clauses <or> Agreements herein contained on his or their partes to be performed 

That then & in every Such case these pr.sents to be void And it Shall & may be Lawfull to & for the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execs & Assignes into all the pr.misses above mentioned to reenter & the Same to Have againe Repossess & enjoy as in their former estate.   

Anything herein contained to the contrary hereof in any wise Notwithstanding 



provided Alsoe & it is hereby further Covenanted & Agreed upon by & between the sd. partyes to these pr.sents That if the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes be att any 

time or times dureing the continuance of this pr.sent Demise unwilling to pay the sd. Sums of Twenty Shillings for every Bing load of the best Oare & Tenn Shillings for every Bing load of waist Oar gott out of the demised pr.misses according to the Covenants comprized in these 

pr.sents & thereof give notice in writeing to the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins or Assignes upon any day appointed by these pr.sents for the payment of the sd. Lead Ore That in Such case & as often as the Same Shall happen that the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & assignes Shall be and continue discharged of & from the payment of the sd. Severall Sums of Twenty Shillings p[er] Bing load & Tenn Shillings p[er] Bing load untill such time as the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes give notice that they will receive againe the Lead Oare gott out of the demised pr.misses under the Agreements aforesd 



and It is further agreed by & between the sd. partyes to these pr.sents that dureing such time as the said William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes  refuse to take the sd. Lead Oare it shall be Lawfull for the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins & Assignes to take the sd. Lead Oare without makeing any payment for the Same to the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes other than the Lott Oar & Tyth Oare due out of the sd. Lead Mynes It being agreed by & between the sd. partyes to these pr.sents that dureing the said time or times the sd. Lott Oare & Tyth Oare Shall be paid to the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs and Assignes Anything in these pr.sents contained to the Contrary Notwithstanding provided Alsoe & upon Condition & it is hereby further Covenanted Declared & Agreed upon by and between the sd. partyes to these pr.sents for themselves their heires execrs Admins & Assignes & every of them that if the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson 

their Execrs or Assignes Shall Surrender the sd. Office of Mooreman or Moormaster to the sd. Bpp of Durham or his Successor Then & in Such case this Demise of all or Singular the pr.misses Shall be void & of none effect And the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson for themselves their heires Execrs & Admins <&> <Assigns><and every of them> <doe> joyntly & Severally Covenant & Agree to & with the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs & Admins by these pr.sents That the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes  or Some of them Shall & will within the Space of Six Months after the Surrender of the Demised pr.misses 

By the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins & Assignes to the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs or Assignes procure a New Grant of the sd. Office of Moore-master from the now Lord Bpp of Durham or his Successor to the said William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs & Assignes dureing One Two or Three lives & within Twelve Months after the sd. New Grant is procured as aforesaide the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson their Execrs and Assignes Shall execute allow Grant of the sd. Lead Mynes within the boundaryes  aforesaide to the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins & Assignes dureing all Such residue remainder & term of yeares as of the sd. term of nineteen yeares herein before mentioned Shall be <still> to come & unexpired & with upon & under the Covenants Provisoes & Agreements as are contained in these pr.sents and that untill Such Grant Shall be made as aforesd the sd. William Ramsay his Execrs Admins & Assignes Shall peaceably & quiettly Hold & enjoy the demised pr.misses without the Interruption of the sd. William Davison & John Wilkinson or either of them their or either of their Execrs or Assignes or <any> <cl>aimeing by from or under them or any of them In Wittness whereof the sd. partyes to these pr.sent Indentures have interchangeably Sett their hands and <seales> the day & yeare first above written Anno<xx> D<mi> 1707

 

[on folded outer cover:] 

Lease / Mr Davison & Mr. Wilkinson

To / Mr Ramsay

Of Ireshope Leadgrove

R

Febry 1707

[R is probably Joseph Richmond.]