Letter – Nicholas Walton to Shaftoe Downs – 23 Feb 1736

To Mr Shaftoe Downs

      Ravensworth Castle  February 23d 1735/6

Dear Sr                                                               

	We Reced both yours dated the 9th & 16th Inst Wherin we observe your good offcies in preventing the Tennants for comitting waist, but we are Surprised David Brown who is the greatest offender Shou’d not come nigh you

	You woud have had our Answer Sooner but that we were as we now are at a Loss in whose name to Comence Actions Notwithstanding we have had Mr Grays advice.  We apprehend that as the Estate is now vested or Appropriated to the use of Greenwich Hospitall that all Actions must be Comenced in Some one or more of the Comissioners thereof, but we have wrote to them to be throughly Inform’d as to that point in the mean time we think we must Comence no Suits but we may Nevertheless threaten hard & we desire another Threatening Letter may be Sent David Brown for he Seems not yet to be awake.

	We are Inform’d that Ralph Readhead & his under Tennant are Tearing out fresh ground & that he has practised & now practices Winning & Leading off Stones from the Estate he farmes of the Hospitall & Converts the Same to his own use, by which Shou’d we have Ocasion to build Tennants housing not one Stone will be left for our own use.  We desire you will therefore write a very threatening Letter to him & acquaint him that you have directions to bring an Action for Such waist as he has Committed, We have the directions of the board of Directors to See that Justice be done them with Regard to the 60 Deales brought to Readheads House therefore pray Consider in what way we are to proceed against him.  Will it not be proper to acquaint him that you have Orders to bring an Action against him in case he cannot give an Accot how they were disposed off pray doe So if you approve of it.

	As to Mr Wood of Needless hall we cannot tell how to Stop Mr Aynesleys procedings against him as the Directors allow him to have been putt in possesion for last years Tyths; but we are not fully informd abt it & therefore till we are we cannot doe more than we have done, Mr Moore we are afraid will prevaill against Mr Wood for the Petty Tyths; but we are doing all we can for him.  We are informed that Mr Moore farm’d the Gleeb Lands of Hartburne Vicaredge for Seven years on Lease & if So they were Tytheable & Mr Wood may Comence a Suite against him for them Wou’d it not be proper for Mr Wood to doe So as it may Stop the proceedings in the other Cause

	The Lead Mines in Alston moore will not be lett for Six Months but will be imeadially advertized  We are Dr Sr yor most Humbl Servts

      Nichos Walton		Hugh Boag



To Mr Downs