Letter – John Bell to Henry Richmond – 9 Mar 1764

Sir                                                                                      Hexham 9th March 1764



	I have consulted Mr Ellis touching the Owners of the Estates in Anick having a right to dispose of the Royalties there and he tells me that he remembers to have seen a Copy of the Grant of Anick that there were several purchasers that the whole Town was purchased about the 8th of King James the First from Holford and Sey who were purchasers of Salter and Williams who were patentees of the Crown that the Royalties were granted to them and that they have always wrought Anick Fell Colliery.

      As to Harwoodsheel and Spittle Mr Ellis cannot say whether they were purchased from the Crown before the purchase of the Manor of Hexham or they were sold off by the Lord of the Manor if they were there has been no Rents reserved to the Lord upon the Sale but be it which way it will there is no saying what Right the Owners of these Estates may have to the Royalties without seeing the Title Deeds - There is not the least Doubt but Sir Walter Blackett is intitled to all the Royalties within the Manor of Hexham under both Freehold and Copyhold Estates unless the purchasers of such Freeholds have them (the Royalties) granted by the Crown if the Estates are purchased from it or granted by the Lord of the Manor if purchased from him - Mr Ellis thinks the Owners of Bishopside have not the least pretence for claiming their Royalties for he says there are no Freeholds in Allendale save little trifling things which were made such as he believes by the Lords of the Manor themselves and most if not all Bishopside is Copyhold - It has been a great Oversight in the Lords when they enfranchised any Copyholder or sold off any part of their own Freehold Estates that no Counterparts of such Deeds of Enfranchisement or Sale were kept.

	Last Tuesday one Will Lee Owner of a Copyhold Tenement in Allendale called <Correyhill> in Right of his Wife bid me the old Rent £100 a Year, with much to do, for Allendale Tithes but he propses to have them for Nine Years for that Rent and to be free at the End of three or Six Years on giving Six Months Notice which is the very same Agreement the present Tenant made they all seem to be satisfied with a three Years Trial for they generally give Notice to quit them at the End of that Time - Lee bears a very good Charecter in the Country but a £100 a Year is a great Rent and if he should die before his Lease be expired it is to be remembered that his Estate is only in Right of his Wife and that a Copyhold Estate too therefore I apprehend you will desire Security  I proposed Tuesday come a Week for giving him an Answer whether he is to have the Tithes or no you’ll therefore please to let me know before that Time what Security is expected and whether I must agree with him for a Lease of these Tithes on the above Conditions

      We have no Records older than Queen Elizabeth’s Time and Mr Ellis says that in all the Searches he has made he never saw any paper touching the Custom of Hexham Mills

      I am Sir, Your most obedt hum Servt

      Jno Bell



[On reverse:] 

To Mr Henry Richmond

at his house in Pilgrim Street

post paid           Newcastle



[annotated by HR:]

9th March 1764

John Bells Letter about the Royalties of Anick & other places in the Manors of Hexham & Anick grange