Letter – Henry Richmond to William Darwin – 13 Mar 1765

To Mr William Alvey Darwin                      Newcastle 13th March 1765

Grays Inn London



Sir    Inclosed is my Bill on Plumb and Browne for two hundred and eighty pounds to enable you to pay Messrs Vince & Glover’s and Mrs Sambroke’s ½ Years intr[es]t of their mortgage on Kenton, which will be due the 27th instant. You will please till you can send me their receipts to place this sum to my acco[un]t and advise the receipt of the bill.  Mr Johnson is of opinion that the deficiency in the Title of the copyhold part of Woodcroft, by the want of the Surrender from Dr Smith, ought to be remedied now that it is discovered and the heir of Dr Smith is known; especially as it must be done hereafter, when any Title is wanted to be made out; besides he says Mr L Allgood being dead the Lord wants a Tenant. And I doubt whenever a Tenant is offered, the Officers of the Court will require this surrender to be made from Dr Smiths Heir; But of all this you are a better judge than I can be.

As to the quere you put “what relations[hi]p there was between Sir William Blackett Merchant and Sir W[ilia]m Blackett B[arone]t cotemporary with him in 1676 and whether Sir William Blackett the Nephew and Heir of Sir W[ilia]m Blackett was not son of  William Blackett Merchant”? the best answer I can give is that W[ilia]m Blackett Merchant in Newcastle 28 Cha[rle]s 2nd was the 4th son of Sir William Blackett; that he got Woodcroft Estate by his Father’s will, and was created a Baro[ne]t 36 Cha[rle]s 2nd after his Fathers death whose Title of B[arone]t descended to the Eldest son Edw[ar]d G[ran]dfather of the present S[i]r Edw[ar]d Blackett.

As to the word Nephew, it must be a wrong translation of the later word Nepos For the Sir W[illia]m Blackett in 1712 (that is the late Sir W[ilia]m Blackett) was the Grandson of the 1st Sir W[ilia]m and Heir of the 2nd Sir William. How so many Blunders could have happened in the title of this little Estate is surprising.

I suppose you know that the Heirs of Mr L. Allgood are his two daughters Esther and Mary. The former is married to Mr William Hunter, the other is unmarried. I am etc Hen Richmond.



Newcastle 13th March 1765 £280.0.0

Twenty five days after date pay Mr William Alvey Darwin or order two hundred and eighty pounds value in amount and place the same to account as by advice from Hen Richmond

To Messrs Plumb & Browne

Goldsmiths in Foster Lane London



To Messrs Plumb & Browne Goldsmiths                              Newcas[tle] 13th March 1765     

Foster Lane London

Gentlemen    I have drawn a Bill upon you for Two hundred & eighty pounds, payable to Mr William Alvey Darwin or order twenty five days after the date hereof; which I desire you will accept and when paid place to account with Sir Walter Blackett.  I am etc Hen Richmond