Letter – Henry Richmond to William Darwin – 14 Apr 1769

To Mr Darwin Greys Inn London                                                          Newca[stle] 14 April 1769

Sir

I am very glad the Com[missione]rs of Greenwich hospital are at length satisfied about the title to the Tithe of Wool & Lamb in Middleton hall in the parish of Ilderton which Sir Wr Blackett made them an Offer of about two years ago at £244 1s 3d – those tithes were reckoned at 

£8 2s 8½ d a Year & valued at 30 years purchase & the Com[missione]rs were expected to have entered upon them at Mayd[a]y 1768, that is, to have paid their Money then, & to have been intitled to all the Tithes of the Year 1768 etc, their coming to the resolution till now, made us not know to whom the £8 2s 8½ d for the Tithes of that Year was to be paid & therefore the Tenant of that Estate got them valued & then removed them; what value was put upon then I do not know, nor do I think I need enquire. For the intention having been for the Com[missione]rs to have them from Mayd[a]y 1768 they had best reckon with their own Tenant – to be sure Sir Walter loses the int[e]r[es]t of the purchase money for the time the payment has been delayed, tho perhaps They will not allow the time spent about the Title to be a delay. Their Agents here think it best to have the Conveyance Deed commence at Mayd[a]y 1768 & will write accordingly by Monday’s post & you will please to take Sir Wrs direction in this Matter.

As to the days of payment of these sorts of rents they are just as is agreed by the parties; I believe generally at the Martinm[a]s & Mayday following the time of tithing; which in this parish is so late as June, for Wool & Lamb. I am etc    HR