Letter – Henry Richmond to John Bell – 27 Mar 1764

To Mr John Bell at Mr Rich[ar]d                                  Newcas[tle]  the  27th March 1764 

Ellis’s in Hexham



Sir    

I have acquainted Sir W[alte]r Blackett of all you have wrote me about the Corfrods, cut in his Estate at Anick grainge; and as the thing was done in a clandestine manner, without permission, and you have sufficient proof by Thomas Bewick, besides the Man’s own Confession, Sir Walter orders that Complaint be made before two Justices, or at the Sessions ; if they happen to be held at Hexham within six months from the Comitting the Offence. You will see in Burn, under the Title Wood Section the 7th, how you are to proceed. As to the Man’s saying Mr W[ilia]m Errington set him to work that may only be an Cause, or hopwever true it may be, it is no Satisfaction or Security to Sir W[alte]r, who wants to prevent such practices for the future; and therefore he chuses to have the Offender examined and the Fait proved and then let the Justices do as they think the Nature of his Offence deserves. But previous to this it would be well if you can get the Man to show you which are the 6 bunches that he cut in Mr J[o]n[atho]n Errington’s Estate that they may be carried back to the place they were taken from.But if he cannot or will not do so much then 6 of the best bunches out of  19 wch Rob[er]t Bell brought away should be carried back.

Inclosed herewith I send you your Appointm[en]t executed by Sir Walter, and wish you joy of it.

As to the Bill of Costs against the Offenders against the Mills amounting you say to £24.12.4 it is to be divided equally among the whole Number of the Def[endan]ts in the Cause; and those who submit are only to pay their own part of that Sum. You know the Number of these Def[endan]ts exactly, as the Subpeenas were sent to you.. And you have the form of the Submission to be signed by them. And one must be prepared for each of them that are peaceably inclined. & put two or three Questions in my Lre  of the 18th inst[an]t wch I should be glad to receive some answer to. For Sir W[alte]r will certainly proceed against the Offenders against the Mills. And in order to this, after you have got such as are willing to sign the proper Submission you are to let Mr Widdrington and Co know the Names of such of the Def[endan]ts as have not submitted, you will also let them know the Name of the present Miller, and caution him not to give discharges to the people who are to be continued Def[endan]ts in the cause otherwise they will alledge that in their answers : which will appear strange, as the Bill is to be brought in his Name.

Also those who now sell Flour and Meal in the manner you mentioned I desire you will write Mr Widdrington & Co whether they are resiants that do so, or  only Servants of foreign Millers that cannot be supposed to consume any part of their stock within their own houses; and it will be proper that you should send the Names of three or four of the principal of these Innovators that you suppose may use any Flour not Ground at the Mills and in the mean time you are to go and discharge them all from selling Flour & Meal as it is contrary to the Custom of the Hexham Mills and a great injury to the Lord of the Manor & tell them that if they will continue to do so Sir Walter will be obliged to prosecute them. This is what Mr Widdrington advises to be done directly. And as this Cause is put into his hands you are to correspond with him & partner about every Matter that relates to it as that will be the better way than writing to me about them. P.S. When the 6 bunches of Corfrods are carried back you should go & acquaint either Mr W[ilia]m Errington or his Steward Mr Donkin of it and pray let me know whether Rob[er]t Bell took them away out of Mr W[ilia]m or Mr J[o]n[atho]n Errington’s Ground. I am etc                                           H R