Letter – Michael Blackett to William Blackett – 23 Mar 1678

Newcastle March 23 1677/8

Honoured Sir

      Before I make bold to Intimate my Request unto you (wch I hope will not be denied) I must In the first p[l]ace give you the best acco[un]t I Could Learne of all occurrences att the last pay, and to begin wth the Condition of the Severall groves they are as followeth vizt Greengill better than itt was, as allsoe Coleclugh Welhope since last notice from RM to you is very much mended Bate hill not alltogether soe good as itt was, the Slitts is Indifferent good both In the North string Eastward, and the other veine Westward, pretty good getting att the Eastend of the Levell and great hopes of its Continuance Rookhope Indifferent good Westward, but little gettings Eastward they are <…..ping> to the Low bed att Coleclugh, where there is great hopes of its proving well not a bing of oare aforehand neither washed not unwashed att the places above mentioned, putt them alltogether soe that next month you may have a pretty good acco[un]t w[ha]t is wrought att each grove In that time wch God willing you may Expect from mee.

      att the mill about 200 bing of oare aforehand and all is well there, onely this last weeke there hapned a fire att the West End of the West mill, but did noe harme att all, they now Intend to pull that Chimney wholly downe, and build itt againe wth <tile>

      Fallowfield worke very good In severall places but the Levell there Continues very hard, yett they have gott under the Stones and now hopes itt prove better shortly

      never man was soe much hated as <CC> is by one if itt were in his power to hang him, I would not be In his condition for all the world, and my takeing of his part makes the partie ten times worse, out of <…..> of malice, he Declares that absolutely he will have Jno Allsopp both out of the house, and of the works he is a poore man, hath a great Chardge workes faithfully for his wages, payes his rent dewly, soe w[ha]t Can be Allegated against him I Cannot Imagine If such a thing happen I desire that I may have the liberty to sett him on againe, but because I never meddle neither wth putting of nor setting on men, I Rather desire the businesse may be left to CC (who I really thinke will doe you noe wrong) and he to dispose of him as he findes him Just, or Guilty, for my part I did not see itt plainely, more malice than any thing Else, I would not write a word In his behalfe but as good Reason is doe w[ha]t you please, I suppose either this post or shortly you will have a letter about this businesse



the whole pay comes to                                    £659 11  3

the heads pay £267:-:2 2/3 towards wch pd Rich Mowbray    £254  -  -

Plankey pay £95:8:10 towards wch pd Jno Mowbray           £ 90  -  -

Paid att mill as p[er] particulars                        £193 19  4

pd att fallowfield as p[er] particulars                   £121 11 11

                                                          £659 11  3



for wch money you had smelted att planky mill 31 fodders 1 <p> Leed 204 p[iece]s Leed Carryed from thence to Bladon and 144 bing of oare brought to sd place from the following groves vizt

                B[ing] h[orse]

from the heads      43 1

from Welhope        40 0

from Batehill       30 3

from Reedgroves      4 2

from Greengill      10 1

from Coleclugh      15 1

  In all           144 bing



42 sackes of wood bought of Esq Whitfield att 8d p[er] sacke 145 of others att 7 ½d

349 of your owne



att Duxfield mill you had smelted Just 60 fodder Leed 235 p[iece]s Leed from the mill to Bladon

86 p[iece]s from the Cragg to sd place and from the following groves brought in thither 

                                                                                                                                              

                  B[ing] h[orse] 

from fallowfield     151 -

from the heads       160 3

from Reedgroves        3 2

from Jeffray groves   16 -

from Lunehead          7 -

from Rookhope         11 - 

                     349 1



att fallowfield about 300 bing above ground unwashed I heare Mrs Bowes is allready weary of her tenants and wishes works In your hands againe, may please to Intimate your minde to whome you thinke Convenient, now Sir my Request is Mr <B>unton of our Custom house being dead and Jno Eden takeing this nigh<t> post, to make w[ha]t Interest he Can for sd Imployment I doe Earnestly begg you will please to afford him your assistance, I Cannot question but you will use your utmost Endeavours soe leaves itt to you this being the needfull praying for your health and happiness and earnestly Craveing your blessing I remaine MB