Letter – John Widdrington to Nicholas Walton – 6 Nov 1742

Gentlemen

      As you desired on the 20th day of September last I Attended at Morpeth the Commissioners Appointed to Inquire whether the Estate of the late Honourable William Radcliffe Esqr Uncle of the late James Earl of Derwentwater dec[eas]ed had not Escheated to the Crown etc but the Solicitor Concerned being unwilling I should Attend on behalf of the Hon’ble the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospitall and hear the proofs made before the Commission and Jury nothing was done that day But adjourning the Commission to 11th October in order that the Solicitor might have time to receive Instructions from his principalls whether I should be allowed to attend or not the 11th October the Commissioners wanting Instructions what Number they should Swear in upon the Jury did not do any Business that day but adjourned to next day on which day and on the 13th 14th and 15th of October I attended when the Jury was Impannelled and the Commissioners proceeded to Business and on these days Examined Seven Witnesses all of them Speaking to the Yearly Rent of the estates which was proved to be as follows



Hope House four farmes and <Hauxley> feilds Two farmes lett 

To Mr Edward Manners by Lease dated in 1714 for 31 years at 

the yearly Rent of                                          150. -. -



Togston Moor House or Low Hall Two farmes lett to Mr Anthony 

Hall and <Mr C> Hall by Lease dated in 1714 for 21 Years at 

the yearly Rent of                                          70. -. -



The Mannor of Amble 98 Boules of Bigg Called the Hall Corn 

Bigg Cunny Warren Colliery and Salt panns lett to the sd Mr 

Manners by Lease Dated 1714 for 21 Years at the Yearly Rent of                                                                            

                                                             59. -. -

NB   That Since the Expiration of the last mentioned Lease the Colliery not being wrought and the Salt panns laid in there is only the Yearly Rent of <6.-.-> paid for the Conny Warren & the 98 <boules> of <Bigg> It was also proved by the <same Witness > that the following fee farm or Quitrents are paid to the Crown for the above lands  (to wit) 



For the Manner of Amble the 98 boules of Bigg Conny warren 

and Salt pans the yearly fee farm Rent of                     9. -. -

For the Hope House the yearly fee farm Rent of                4. -. -

For <Hauxley feild> the yearly fee farm Rent of               3. 8. 2

And For Togston Moor & Houses the yearly Rent of              -.13. 4



NB   This last Rent is paid to his grace the Duke of Sumersett by the Ten’t but was not allowed out of the Rent by Mr Radcliff all the Others were.  It is also proved before the Commissioners at London by an Benjamin Bennit that William Radcliff Dyed the 6th Novem. 1732 New Stile wch is the 6th of October 1732 our Stile as apears by the Certificate and Translation thereof by the sd Benjamin Bennett.



Ann Thornton proved before the said Commissioners that the sd. Wm. Radcliffe dyed a Batchellor and was possessed of the Estates above 40 years ago



Geo. Draper of Greys Inn in the County of Middlesex, gentleman, proved before the Said Commissioners that he has in his Custody  a Lease and Release from Francis late Earl of Derwentwater to the said Wm. Radcliff Dated the 11th & 12th of August 1692, by which the premises are Conveyed to and to the use of the said William Radcliff his Heirs and Assigns forever 

He also proves a Lease and Release from the said Earl Francis to the sd. Wm. Radcliff Dated 22nd and 23rd of July 1698 by which the premises inter all are Conveyed to the said Wm. Radcliff his Heirs and Assigns forever.



NB   These two last Mentioned Releases were not produced before the Commis’rs and Jury of Morpeth but only the affidavit of Mr Draper proving them to be as above Stated  Therefore it will be Advisable for the Hon’ble the Comis’rs. of Greenwich Hospitall to have a sight of these Deeds, for if they have any title it must be under one or both of them and that in Case there should be any Intail Created by wch the premises vested in Earl James after the decease of his Uncle Wm. Radcliff otherwise ‘tis to be feared the Hospitall can have no Claim if it is Conveyed in <fee> to Wm. Radcliff as Mr Draper Setts forth but this is Submitted to the Hon’ble Commis’rs of Greenwich Hospitall.



On the 4th  November Inst. I again Attended when the Commissioners and Jury found that all of the premises had Escheated to the King and on Monday 15th Inst the Comis’rs go to Seize the primises for the use of his Majesty  

      Jno. Widdrington on  6th Nov.  1742