Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 13 Aug 1804

John Ibbetson Esqr				Newcastle 13th August 1804



Sir

	On Monday and Tuesday last the sixth and seventh Instant the Commissioners appointed by an Act of Parliament of the 44th Year of his present Majesties Reign for inclosing Lands in the Parish of Simonburn pursuant to Notice given in the News Papers published at this Place proceeded to inquire into the Boaundaries of Thorneyburn Common, Greystead otherwise the Eals Common otherwise Stokoe Fell, and Stanners burn Common, being the several Commons, Moors, or Wastes by the said Act intended to be divided and allotted and on making this inquiry it appears that there are four pieces of Common in dispute containing by estimation 103 Acres vizt

                 Acres	

Joining Redheugh    50 }

        High Field  30 } Thorneyburn Common

        Hawkup Fell 15 }

        Rough Side   8   Greystead Common

                   103 Acres 

                     computed to be worth little more than £11p Ann

 

      On Wednesday the eighth Instant, we attended by several of the Common Righters of Tarretburn otherwise Blackburn Common and others, rode or perambulated the Boundary thereof and soon after we begun we were overtaken by Mr Simon Dodd an Agent of His Grace the Duke of Northumberland who discharged us from proceeding in riding the Boundary saying that he had his Graces direction so to do and that His Grace claimed the Common as belonging to his Manor of North Tindale but we denied the Claim, insisted upon the Hospitals right of possession which the Commissioners and Governors of Greenwich Hospital had been in & in the Use of and that we would not take a discharge immediately after which we proceeded and Mr Simon Dodd left us without any one of our Company joining him. We were afterwards interrupted by Foster Charlton Esqr who claims about 100 Acres of Ground joining the Combe otherwise the Kame Estate computed to be worth about £10 pAnnm but we had no discharge and proceeded. After this we were interrupted by Mr Thomas Crowe Agent of and James Thompson Tenant to John Davidson Esqr who claims about 70 Acres of Ground joining Garretshield Estate computed worth about £5.5.. p Annm? but we had no discharge and proceeded in the perambulation till we finished the same.

      On the 9th Inst we caused a description of the Boundary or Bounder Roll to be engrossed and got it signed by the several of the Persons who attended us and as soon as the necessary number of Signatures are obtained we will transmit it to the Board in order that it may be safely lodged in the Record Room. We are

      Sir Your most obedt Servts

      Nichos Walton Joseph Forster