Letter – John Bell to Walter Blackett – 27 Nov 1776

      Newcastle 27th Novemr. 1776

Hond. Sir

      I have inclosed you herewith a List of the Arrears due from the Wallington Tenants and also a List of the principal notes paid for Work _ as to the Arrears those due from Mark Thompson William Liddell and others wou’d have been settled and paid before now if Rev. Forster had sent in any accot. But as it is not probable that he will send in any I have desired Mr. Turner to settle them in the best way he can and directed him not to bar you from making any further Claim when you can support it but to give a Receipt on Accot. Of Money due to you and when he pays the Labourers Bills he will take care to get Thompson and Liddell’s Arrears and also Codlings and Hymers’ which last are only each one half Years Rent and then he will send me them here – Clarkes of Newhouse tho’ still more than half a Year behind the other Tenants are getting better than formerly – I expect William Lisle’s Ex.ors in about Ten days to pay some part of what remains due from them _ With respect to George Richardson as Mr. Blackett wrote you from Wallington on Monday Evening concerning him I shall only now add that Mr Ladler thinks the best Way for you wou’d be to continue him upon the Farm ‘till Mayday allowing him to keep his stock ‘till that Time he agreeing now to quit then and the Farm may be let now which he says will be better than having to distrain on Richardson’s Goods and to have the Farm to let at Mayday there being more likelihood of getting a Good Tenant at this time of the year than at Mayday because a good substantial Tenant never has a Farm to look out for when he shou’d go to it and he says if you approve of this and it can be got done you will not he thinks lose anything by Richardson as the Way-going Crop will be sown and left on the Ground – As to William Hutchinson’s Arrears he says he will pay it very soon – he called upon me last Saturday night between Eight and nine o’clock and paid me £60 – 10 – 0 which cleared off what remained due of the former half years Rent and paid £37 – 10 – 0 in part of the Rent due at Mayday last _ he said he has been waiting upon some Butchers all day and was disappointed in their not paying him the whole of what they owed him but as soon as he got his Money he would call upon me and pay up his Rent – The amount of the whole Receipt at Wallington was £2037 – 0 – 8¼ But the payments and the Allowances made the Tenants for leadings and divers other things with the money paid Mr Turner to make him to carry on the Business there amounts to £976 – 9 – 1¾ so that I only brought home £1060 – 11- 6½  tho’ this sum is more by about £280 than I brought home last year at this Season.

      An advertisement appeared in last Saturdays papers desiring a meeting of the Proprietors of Acomb Common at the Golden Lion in Hexham on Tuesday the 3rd of next Month to consider of a Division – I shall attend and write you the Result _ Mr. Darwin last week _ wrote me you were better than you had been I hope you are now got well and am 

      Hond. Sir Your most obedt. & hble Servt.

      Jno  Bell