Letter – Nicholas Walton to Richard Horne – 23 Nov 1739

      Ravensworth Castle  23 November  1739

To Mr Rich. Horne

	We reced yours of the 17 Nov Inst and are surprised at the Impudence of Pigg after we have Repeatedly told him that John Atkinson has a writing under Sr Fran. Radcliff & the late Ld Derwentwaters hand shewing that they acknowledged hee had Leases but makes no particular Mention of their Comencem.t or Determination 

	Mr Walton of the 11 Dec 1736 when I was at London writes concerning them thus to me vizt.



	‘John Atkinson of Haydon Bridge is possessed of three Tenamts or farmholds of Land calld Broomhill Peelwell & Whittfields Tenamants. The Leases some Yrs agoe appear to be lost but there Appears an Instrument under the hand of Fr. Radcliff and the late earle acknowledging such Leases to have subsisted & that those Lands were on Lease for the same Terme of the barony of Langley. In our Rental you observe we reckon these Leases to be out in 1752 and Mr Atkinson Reckons them to have yet to Expire Viz Whittfields Tenam.t 34 years & Broomhill & Peelwell  44 years, the latter of wch being the same of Rattenraw old Leases, some people say Mr Atkinson ought not to Injoy these lands at all on Lease which you may acquaint the board with & show them a Copy of the Instrument under the hand of the late earle whcih you have Inclosed.He says he made his Claim upon the Instrument at the Rebellion which was allowed off’ 

  

	The Copy of this Instrument Mr Atkinson has I deliverd the Board 9 Feb 1736/7 as you will please to observe by the Minutes of that day. Mr Atkinson has been acquainted of that Minute but believes he cannot produce any thing further Unless he can procure the original Leases from the Derwentwater family wch by the writing he has they acknowledge they have in their possession. If you have not a Copy shall send you one.

	We doe not Rem[embe]r Thos. Piggs offering any sum for Atkinsons farmes till this year but Rem[embe]r very well he always threatened that if it was to let he would bidd for it.

	We verryilly believe John Atkinson has had Leases and for the Terme of some of those old ones in Langley Baroney but for what Terme we cannot tell it being left out in the writing he has of the time of their Commencement but this we submitt to the Board . I am for Mr Walton & Selfe

      Dr Sr Your very Hble Servt

      Hugh Boag