Letter – John Watson – 30 May 1733

Extract of a Letter from Mr Watson to the Lords of the Treasury, Dated at Goswick near  Berwick on Tweed 30th May 1733



[Note in Margin:] Account of his proceedings in selling the Lead Ore & Oak Timber

      After advertizing the Lead Ore and the Oak Timber to be sold at publick Auction, I accordingly put up the Ore at £2..5..6. p Bing, which I thought a reasonable Price (some other Ores giving £2..7..0.) but could not bid above £2..3..0 p Byng, and am told it will not give above £2..3..6. or £2..4..0.by reason the Oar is poorer as the Mines grow worse, for want of proper Powers to work them. At the Fair at Hexham I likewise put up the Oak Timber in four Lotts at One Shilling p Foot, & procured Mr Anesly a Deputy Master in Chancery to attend to enquire into and take the Securities; but not withstanding several people came, I cou'd not be bid anything as it was put up, and found that their Intention was not to give above Eight Pence p Foot, which being so very low a Price would make but an ill Figure in an Account, Therefore would not presume to sell without first acquainting your Lordships. Thr lowness of the Price is occasion'd by the great Falls of Timber that have been of late in that Country which being remote from Water Carriage, is more than the Consumption of the Country will take off. The Articles of Sale and Methods I have pursued in order to dispose of the Ore and Timber I have inclosed to receive your Lordships further Directions therein before Winter, which prevents Carriages going into that Country and will Damage the Timber.

[Note in Margin:] Accts of Improvements he has made in the Rents

	In pursuance to your Lordships commands I have used my utmost Endeavours to advance the other half of Allerwash equal to that Farm'd by the Leadbitters, and have advanced one fourth from £27..10..0. to £40..15..6. p Ann. the other fourth being bad Ground and not so much of it as the others is not capable of being advanced. But a Farm in Elrington Tenanted by one John Coats I have raised from £7..13..4. to £15 p Ann to commence from Whitsuntide 1733.

[Note in Margin:] Case of Thomson & Giles who farm the low Grounds at Dilston

	I humbly presume to lay before your Lordships the Case of Thompson & Giles who farm the low Grounds at Dilston subject to be overflow'd Viz Some Years ago they made a Verbal Agreement (which they have now attested before a Master in Chancery) with Mr Errington then Steward, for the said Grounds at the Rent of £160. p Ann, out of which Rent they were to be allowed the Damages they should sustain by the overflowing of the River, and which Damages Mr Busby tells me have from time to time been allowed them. And they having of late suffered Considerably would have an Allowance made for the said Damage which they cannot well bear, but I would not agree to anything without further receiving your Lordships Direction.

[Note in Margin:] The Buildings are generally ruinous especially the Mills

	The Improvement of the Estate having been much neglected, the Buildings are generally ruinous, especially the Mills, the Rents of which are from £10 to £40 p Ann each, and which without some small Allowance for Repairs will go to Ruin and their Rents be lost, one of them at Wooley being already render'd useless, to prevent which, if its agreeable to your Lordships, I shall cause a low Estimate just to keep them in Repair to be taken by able Workmen, and Transmit it to receive your Lordships Approbation.

[Note in Margin:] Advertizements & Proceedings about disposing of Lead Ore

	In pursuance of an Advertizement in the Newcastle Courant of 14th April last a quantity of Oak Timber now lying at Hoffendale in the Chappelry of Haydon belonging to the Government and cut down some time since and computed to be in quantity two hundred and thirty five Tuns or thereabouts is hereby put up at Forty Shillins p Tun and to be sold by way of publick Auction to the best Bidder, Provided such best Bidder give sufficient Security to pat the Value thereof to be agreed upon (to witt) one half at Martinmas next and the other half the Whitsontide following. The Timber to be fairly measured by a skilful Person on either Side, in twenty days after the Sale thereof and at the same time Security to be given as aforesaid for the Price to be agreed upon. The Tops & Branches are before measuring to be separated from the Bodies of the Timber Trees; and every Piece of Timber which will measure to three foot, to be included in the sd 	Intended Bargain; and what will not, to be laid aside as part of the Tops of the said Timber Trees. The Buyer to have liberty to throw out any part of the said Timber not exceeding a sixth part.

	We whose Names are underwritten do Certify that the above Article having been presented to Sale on the 15th of May 1733 in pursuance to an Advertizement in the Newcastle Courant for that purpose – and we adjudging the Price too high, for which reason we declined bidding as witness our hands.

Jon Pattison / Thos Hall / Abra Watson / John Atkinson / William Elliott / Robt Marley



Aldston May the 12th 1733

	In pursuance of an Advertizement that has been in the Newcastle Courant since the 14th of April last the Dues of Lead Ore arising from Christmas 1732 to Christmas 1733 from the Lead Mines in Aldston Moore belonging to the Government are this day put up to Sale at £2..5..6 p Bing and to be sold to the highest Bidder, the Money for the said Ore to be paid on the 25th day of December 1733 for the Payment of which Security is to be given to Mr John Watson Receiver.

	These are to Certify that the above Article of Sale of the Lead was presented to us whose Names are underwritten betwixt the hours of four and five in the afternoon, but the Price at which the Ore was put up to Sale, being judged by us to be too high, for which reason we declined bidding as witnessed our hands this 12th day of May 1733.

I Geo: Mowbray bid but 43s. thinking the Price above too high.

I Abra Watson bid but 42/6 as judging the above Price too high

Teas: Mowbray / Thos Holwill     Witnesses