Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 2 Nov 1761

To Sir Wr Blackett Bt. M.P. to be left at the Cocoa tree in Pall Mall London 

                                                                                                                    Newcastle 2nd November 1761

Hon[ou]rd Sir    It is with much concern that I find your disorder still continues attended with such violent pain: but I hope the sweating & other Evacuations, tho they reduce your strength for the present will soon procure you Ease & health. I have acquainted Dr Lambert the acco[un]t you give of your illness & he will write you in a post or two.

      I saw Mr C Forster last week & he thinks nothing satisfactory is yet obtained as to the relationship of the Fenwicks to the <Stotes>. It appears probable in deed that parson Fenwick did marry Mrs Mary Liddell & also that they were married at some place not far f[ro]m Ogle; because Sir Francis Liddell & his family never stirred much f[ro]m home, on acco[un]t of the badness of his circumstances. But if that marriage could be certified, it wo[ul]d amo[un]t to little unless that of S[i]r Francis with a Sister of S[i]r Richd. Stote co[ul]d also be proved; wch at present rests only upon tradition & the credibility of this Tradition is weakened by S[i]r R[ichar]d Stote’s making no mention of this marriage in the pedigree of his family, wch he gave into the Heralds office tho’ he therein mentions to whom two of his Sisters were married. & further by the proof of S[i]r Fran[ci]s having married the daughter of S[i]r Geo. Tonge & also the Relict of Nich[ola]s Forster of Bambrough. I desired Mr Mosley to enquire of Johnson the militia man, but have had no Letter f[ro]m him yet. I have enquired of some old people at Redheugh but with no success, & I have heard nothing yet f[ro]m Mr Ellison ab[ou]t the pedigree of the Liddell family.

On the other side is a copy of Mr Wm. Newtons opinion abo[u]t Kenton Colliery for wch no further offers have yet been made. I am etc   HR



Kenton Colliery I think is worth 15s. a ten accounting 22 wag[on]s to a ten, 19 bolls to a wag[o]n & 36 Gallons Winchester measure to the boll. Certain rent 400<g>. vizt. 200<g>. for a moiety- Such covenants as are usual in colliery Leases. Two years without any certain rent only paying for what coals are wro[ugh]t yearly in that time - it being supposed to take two years in Winning effectually.                                                                Wm. Newton

                                                                                                          Octob[e]r 30 1761

NB the above ten is the same with wch Mr Brown required all but two bolls, the above ten being 418 bolls & his 420 bolls.