Letter – John Wilkinson to Edward Ridsdale – 23 Sep 1717

Cousin Ridsdale					Newcastle, 23rd September 1717, pm



This is to request your friendship and assistance in an unfortunate affair, which I suppose you must be no stranger to from the many particulars Mr. Leedam gave Cousin Thomas Davison of what hap[pe]n[e]d of it at Boroughbridge and at Ripon, and from the acco[on]t your Lady (as I was told)  gave Mrs Christian Blackett in a lett[e]r to her at that time, and therefore twould be needless to trouble you with a relation thereof, but from what hap[pe]ned there, and before, and after, tis too plain Sir William Blackett was the person that seduced and conveyed my daughter from me, tho he denys the whole, nay his even being at Ripon at that time, or his knowing anything of her and so conceals her by removing her from place to place, that notwithstanding all the searches that have been made for her (in one  of wch she narrowly escaped) she cannot be got, so that I am obliged to have recourse to the law to recover her from him and that you know will depend on proof, and therefore it will be necessary to have the affidavits of those persons that can give any acco[un]t of the matter particularly Mr Goulding of Borough Bridge, and his servant who met two of Sr Wms horses which had been at his masters for <sometime>, taken only away the Sunday before, returning from the place on the Tuesday the 21st of May the fatall day our Child left us, and the people at Ripon that can give any acco[un]t of him, in his coming this way, or in his return with her, as the house where he lighted and the house he and she lodged at, and the coach man that carried them from Ripon, and if any of those persons should refuse to come before a justice of the peace on his sending for them, or then to be examined upon Oath, the Justice I am advised by my counsel may by his Warrant compell them to both. now I being altogether a stranger in your parts, what I have to request of you, is, that you will be pleased to give me the necessary assurance, to get one of your justices that you think may be a proper person to examine them, to send for those persons, you judge can give any acco[un]t of the matter and to take their examinations upon Oath. Colonell <Notclife> was at Ripon then, for when he came here some time after, he was telling some of it, and that he see Sr William, a <Grizled> mare, that my daughter must have rid to Ripon or was left the next day at FerreyBridge [?], Cousin Tho.Davison who was there a few days after, see her, <I> with the people where they lighted at Ripon, could give an acco[un]t of the horses, pray let the people where she lodged, and the Coachman be examined to her person and clothing and if there be occasion for my sending one over to give a description of her, I shall. After all your being a relation may perhaps have some scruple in being concernd, and if so I beg youl recommend me to a person to do it, but not to tarry for my answer, but give him directions, pray spare for no cost and whatever you shall disbursse, shall be thankfully repaid as shall you for your trouble be grateified by 

      your most humble servant

      John Wilkinson



my wife joyns with me in our services to your and your Lady and Mr Ridsdale your father



[on verso:]

To / Mr. Edwd Ridsdale Junior

At his house/ In / Ripon

By Borough Bridge