Letter – Nicholas Walton to John Ibbetson – 6 Aug 1803

John Ibbetson Esqr				Newcastle 6th August 1803



Sir

      On Monday the 25th Ulto, & on the three following Days the Boundaries of the Alston Moor Commons, intended to be divided, were perambulated, by the Commissioners appointed to divide the same, attended by many others, and we have the satisfaction to say, that we have every expectation, that the whole of these Boundaries, will be settled without litigation. The only matters in dispute, were with Mr Ricardson, William Ord Esqr, and Sir Chardin Musgrave Bart, and that part of the Boundary between Alston Moor & Wm Ord Esquires Manor of Whitfield was settled to the satisfaction of every one present, on the 25th Ulto, since which, the Commissioners have set out the Bounder Line, and cut a Ditch thereon, communicating with the Long Ditch. The Ground in dispute with Mr Ricardson, only consists of about 8 Acres, of very bad Ground, and a give and take Line was staked out, before we left Alston moor, which we trust will be satisfactory to Mr Ricardson, but if not, it is not worth contending about. With respect to the difference of Opinion, concerning the Alston Moor Boundary joining Sir John Chardin Musgrave Baronets Manor, the Ground in difference is about 17 or 18 Acres, & from what passed on the 26th Ulto, with Sir Johns Agent, and several of his Tenants, we have reason to think, that we shall not have any trouble from that Quarter.

      On the 1st Inst the Commissioners held their first Meeting for taking in Claims, and from appearances, we cannot help thinking that there will be no little difficulty, some Claims, having been made, and others talked of, which we are of Opinion must occasion delay, we however cannot sufficiently explain these matters till after the adjournment of the second Meeting. But in the mean Time shall endeavour to get the Best information we can; one thing however we cannot avoid mentioning. In the Town of Alston there are many Buildings, which small Rents and Fines are pd for, to Greenwich Hospital, and it is presumed, that most of these if no the whole have been erected upon the Lords Waste, in consequence of Agreements with the Derwentwater Family, & we are the more inclined to be of the Opinion, because we were shown an Agreemt of the kind signed by Lord Derwentwater, and have heard that there are several more of the kind, but we fear, that there are no Counter parts in the Hospitals Possession, & therefore are quite at a loss what to do, but as we observe from the Abstracts of the Hospitals Deeds & Papers wch are in the Record Room at Greenwich Hospital, that there are said to be, 62 useless Papers, belonging to Alstonmoor, It is not only our wish, that they shd be examined, but that we shd have Copies, without loss of Time of everything wch may be found to enable us to conduct ourselves in this Business in the best manner possible for the interest of Greenwich Hospital.

      The Board will see that our Opinion is against the claimants for Common Right, who hold as above mentioned, and it is certainly so, but as the Hospital is not, as far as we know, or that any one for them, is possessed of. The necessary information, to substantiate objections, and the Claimants, in general, are poor persons, we beg leave, with the utmost deference to say, that, in our Opinion, the most perfect Delicacy shd be attended to, on the part of Greenwich Hospital, and rather that these shd be a trivial loss, than that its Affairs shd be in the least degree put to a difficulty, in consequence of objections, which may prove to be untenable.

      We are Sir Your most obedt Servts

      Nichos Walton Joseph Forster

      

PS We flatter ourselves there will not be the least occasion for the Bounder Roll. We have Copies plenty, and are easy as to disputes. The perambulating and setting out of the Boundaries took us six Days very hard Labour.