Letter – John Erasmus Blackett to William Wilson – 12 Sep 1783

Wm Wilson Esq                                                                 Newcastle  12th Septemr 1783

        Bretton



Dr Sir

	I have your Favour of the 10th instant & observe what you say with respect to Mr Geo: Anderson’s late purchase.  I have not seen him since the receipt of your letter.  I do not imagine he will think it Nesesary to have the Articles drawn up until your return, nor indeed do I see that it can be done with Propriety, till we have a Meeting together to settle that Business.  The Pews in St Andrews Church are I imagine included in the Purchase, but those in St Nichos Church I should think cannot, for they were purchas’d again by Sir Thos Blackett after the Death of Sir Walter with the Consent of the Vestry  for which a Yearly Rent of a Guinea is paid, & cannot legally be conveyed by Sir Thos Blackett to Mr Anderson: so that on the disposal of his property in Newcastle, that Gallery with fall to the Church, & the Church Wardens, or the Vestry will have the Disposal of it, & as our Family have not at present a Single Seat in any one of the Churches of this Town, I intend (with the Approbation of Sir T.B.) applying to the Vestry for the Purchase of it, paying the same Rentl.  I have not yet mentioned the Affair to Mr Anderson but have no doubt he will see it in the same light that I do.  Sir TB & I had some discourse with Mr Anderson about Building an Office for transacting Business; it will be Necessary that it should be inhabited & as Sir Thomas must Rent a house for Mr Peart or give him an Increase of Salary as an Equivalent it will be worthy of Consideration whether it may not be adviseable for him to purchase or Build a House for both purposes.  It will likewise be Necessary that a House with a School room should be provided for the School Master & the Boys of St Andrews Charity school which should properly be in that Parish.  Sir Thomas left this place so soon after the Purchase was made that we had no time to consider & talk over these Matters but as you are well Acquainted with them I must desire you will have some discourse with him on these points.   I am etc

                                                                                                                                      JEB

P.S  I have seen Mr Anderson & he is of oppinion that the Article cannot be settled till your return when we can have a Meeting.  On my Acquainting him with the Tenure of the Seats in St Nichols he is perfectly satisfied he will not have any claim to them.