Letter – Henry Richmond to Walter Blackett – 5 Dec 1761

Hon[ou]rd Sir      A Dispute has arisen between your agents in Weardale & Mr Bacons, wch like most others has some things clear & some involved in obscurity.

The Groves in Welhope Fell are all your own, & in Kilhope Fell adjoining there is a partners[hi]p mine called Cowhaust wch is what is called a Float, & wch as it has no Che<e>ks Mr Bacons agents claim an unlimited width for, while it continues in Kilhope Fell, but further, the boundary of these two Fells is not well ascertained. So that the points in dispute are the Boundary of the Fells & the width of Cowhaust mine. Again in Welhope Fell your Agents are working a Grove called Lingyhow, wch also is not a regular vein, but some what of the Float likewise: & as you are working it up tow[ar]ds this disputed boundary, Mr Bacons agents directed a shaft to be sunk to intercept these workings as soon as they sho[ul]d come into Kilhope fell & this shaft was sunk so far wide of all Cowhaust former workings as your agents think Mr Bacon cannot justify. & therefore it was ordered to be thrown in, to the end that Cowhaust mine might not hereafter be deemed to extend to so great a width, & because, upon a view of all your mine stewards, Lingyhow Grove is adjudged to be distinct f[ro]m Cowhaust & consequently Mr Bacon could have no right to sink the s[ai]d shaft upon the random of it, even in Kilhope Fell. Mr Bacons agents by way of reprizel, in the night, took away about Ten bings of ore f[ro]m Lingyhow Grove, at a place wch your agents say they can prove is in Welhope Fell. Upon this Mr Maughan was sent to Mr Bacon to learn whether he ordered the s[ai]d ore to be taken away, who said he knew nothing of the matter. but Mr Geo Davison, his chief agent, has since owned that it was so done by his (Davison’s) order. However he has so far admitted the illegality of this proceeding as to agree that the s[ai]d ore shall be bro[ugh]t back to the Grove. And upon their doing this it is this day proposed among us, that, if it meets with your approbation, the other points shall be refered to Mr James Elliott Grove Steward to L[or]d Darlington on your behalf & to Mr Thos. Tweddle Grove Steward to the Quaker’s Comp[an]y on Mr Bacons. If this is agreeable to you, you will please as soon as convenient to get his Lords[hi]p to write a Line to Mr Elliott allowing him to attend this reference. I imagine you will hear from Mr Bacon about this.

I shall enquire if any clergyman hereabouts wants a curate. I don’t know of anything that requires your coming into the North at present. I have given Wm. Ireland directions abo[u]t the pineplants for Mr Ridley & am etc   Hen Richmond