Letter – Henry Richmond to William Darwin – 4 Jul 1764

To Mr William Alvey Darwin                                                 Newcas[tle] 4th July 1764

Grays Inn London 



Sir   I think it will be very proper to search for the Leases referred to in the Grant of Hexham Manor and which I mentioned in my Letter of the 8th ult; and if you find they contain any thing of consequence, to get copies of them. As to the search for sales of Estates in the Manor of Hexham and anickgrange made by the Crown before the Grant of the manor, Sir Walter will not stand for a little expense if you apprehend any thing satisfactory can be obtained. So you may begin with Aldum Shell, Harwoodsheel and Dotland and also Whitfield, and get copies of them, if you can meet with them. As to the rest I believe Sir Walter will scarce be satisfied without copies of them too, unless you see that the same form runs through them all. and then one may serve.

I suppose that, if you pay the 2s.6d a year for searching. Mr Rooke will allow you to take down the names of the Estates you meet with and the years they were sold in; and then we can consider further as to the copies; only the above four should be got directly. Aldum shell, which we now suppose to be Aydon Shields, with its members was in the Tenure of George Ogle in Ed[ward]: 6ths time, it was lately part of the Derwentwater Estate and now belongs to Greenwich Hospital.

I shall see Sir Walter next week and then shall learn what other council he would have employed besides Mr York. But in the mean Time, if you gets the Case ready you may lay it before Mr York. I am etc                                                                H R