Letter – Henry Richmond to John Bell – 6 Oct 1769

To Mr John Bell at Mr Ellis’s in Hexham                                             Newca[stle] 6th Octor 1769

Sir

Sir Walter Blackett has made me the Trustee for the payment of the two annual sums I wrote you about, namely, Ten pounds a Year to Matt Lee and Seven pounds ten Shillings a year to Edward Fenwick during their respective Minorities and for their use and behoof respectively; with power to assign the payments, & therefore as you think the Mothers of the young Men are proper persons I have no Objection to Sir Walter’s making the payments to them, while you think they make a proper Application of the Money, in maintaining and Educating the young Men.

As the Mothers live near you it will be the properest for you to pay those Sums and charge them in your Rental; and you may make the payment half Yearly or quarterly as you see occasion. When Lee comes at Age he will be intitled to Two hundred pounds and Fenwick, when he is at Age, to One hundred and fifty pounds out of Sir Walter’s Estate. If you should at any time see occasion to discontinue the payments to the Mothers you will please to acquaint me of it. The first quarter’s payment of each of the said Sums will be due on the 23d November next.

As to the Surrender of the Ferry boat and Boat rake Mr Wilson thinks it should be made to Sir Walter directly, without a Trustee, and that Sir Walter should afterwards, the sooner the better, surrender It to some person in trust for himself. Sir Walter named Jno Erasmus Blackett Esqr of this Town in Case one was wanted. On the other Side is a Copy of the Opinions, as you desired; but I wish it may not be published; lest it should be an Objection to Mr Fawcett’s being a Refferee, if one should be wanted. I am etc    HR