Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbertt – 8 Jun 1736

To Wm Corbett Esqr



Sr                                                                                  Ravensworth Castle  June 8th 1736

	In obedience to the command given us Relating Mr Pearson Bailiff at Keswick we wrote to him the 25th of May last that he had been charged with permitting abuses to be committed in the Estates under his care to which he has given his Answer dated the 29th which we Send you Inclosed as Also a Coppy of ours to him.

	We wrote to the Reverd Mr Christian Vicar of Crosthwaite in the Mannor of Derwentwater which is a Gentleman of good Character & understanding to desire he would make enquiry into the truth of the Charge, & he is So kind as Send us a Certificate Signed by himself his Curate the Desenting minister of Keswick and Severall more of the Substantiall Inhabitants, on the behalf & in Justification of Mr Pearson Conduct & we Send you Inclosed Mr Christians Letter & Certificate

	From the representation Mr Christian makes from Mr Pearsons own defence & from the opinion we have of the man we are of Opinion the charge against him is groundless.  Whatever blown Wood Should happen or was upon the Estate when we were at Keswick we gave him directions to Sell to the best bidders for the use of the Hospital & we doe not Doubt but he has so done, nor doe we believe he has done more

	As to the removal of the Cottage we know so much of that as to acquitt Mr Pearson of Neglecting his Duty; he wrote us the 13 of March last that a Leaseholder within the Mannor or Derwentwater had presumed to Sell & attempt to remove a Cottage off the premises which he discharged him from & which we approved of, as the man we apprehend was presentable at the Next Court.

	We were favoured with Mr Hornes of the 3d Inst which Conveyd to us the Minutes of the Directors at Salters Hall the 2d Inst in Answer to which Messrs Aynesley Simpson & Thompson have done no busyness for by our Directions Since we have had the Honr to be concernd for Greenwich Hospital, as to the other particulars we will Informe our Selves, & give you the best Information we can & As Speedily as possible

      We are Sr Your most Obedt & most Humble Servts

                         Nichos Walton	Hugh Boag





A Coppy of Mr Thos Christians Letter to us

Gentlemen

	Yours of the 25th past I reced, & in Complyancee therewith have made Strict Enquirey into the Severall matters complaind of and Charged upon Mr Pearson your Bayliff at Keswick & cannot find that he is in the least Guilty of any Pt of that charge, but on the Contrary that if there was any roome for a Complaint it would be for not indulging people in their Demands for wood & other Small favours as was ussuall Some Years agoe.

	For my own part I am fully persuaded that his beheaviour in that office is unquestionable & that no other person in the Neighbourhood is So Capable of & well quallyfied for it in every respect,  Upon this Considerat[ion] I have Signed the Inclosed Certificate together with some of the principall Inhabitants of Keswick & which I send you as further Confirmation of what I have before asserted,  If I can be Serviceable in any kind to you in this place you may with much freedom command

                                                   Gentlemen    Your most Obedt Servt

Crosthwaite  June 2nd 1736                                                Thos Christian





A Coppy of Mr Thos Christians Certificate for Mr Pearson

	Whereas Complaint has been lately made to the Comissioners of Greenwich Hospital that Mr Jos Pearson Bayliff of Keswick has Sufferd Severall people particullerly George Allason William Grave & Anth Sharpe to Cutt down Timber & other wood & permitted the Same to be carryed of & also a Cottage to be pulled down & carryed away from the Sd Mannor & that other Damages & abuses have been committed on the Said Estate.

	We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed doe Certifye that we verryly believe that the Sd Complaint is groundless & Malicious & that the Said Mr Pearson is intirely clear of every pt of the Said charge & hath in all things relating to his office as Bayliff of Keswick aforesaid behaved himself Justly & honestly as Witness our hands this Second day of June 1736.

	Thomas Wilson  Curate                  Thos Christian  Vicar at Crosthwaite

	Hen Addeson  Officer Excise         Isral Bennet  Minist Keswick

	Danl Fisher                                      John King  Attorney at Law

	John Grave                                      Nicks Grace

	Wm Jackson                                     Miles Wilson

	Timothy Todhunter                         Fran Hodgskon

	Edwd Nicholson                              Fran Fisher

	Joshua Scott                                    Thos Fisher

	Manecall Wilson                            George Fisher

	Wm Banks

	John Wilson





A Coppy of Mr Pearsons Letter to us             Keswick the 29th May 1736

	I reced yours and am not much Surprised with such a large & of a list Information against me Since Mr Blackwells been at London Since Easter and I Supose is there yet.  The people of Keswick was apprehensive that much of his bussines to the said place was to Treat one Ill for the benefit of my place etc when my Conduct doth not deserve it  I humbly Relinquish and wish them Peace & profit of it that is better deserving, but beggs youle prevail to let all the Accusations be Try’d I am Charged with & if I prove Guilty let me Suffer.

	The first Charge is Timber disposed of to George Allason William Grave & Anth Sharpe which I utterly Denay that ever any of them had one Stick of Timber or any other person Except the Miller of Wantwaite mill a few towards repairing his Mill Troughs and Mr Wilson Jnr Crosthwaite & Lawt Penny the foreman wood to make them ach a new Gate and I hope in a little time youle Se my frugality in Setting forth Such Necessary wood.  The three men named and 4 more is in all Ive Sold the blown wood to that you did see when at Keswick according to your order which was Birch & dead Sapling Ashes with the two tops of the Stoln ashes, I Sold them by Auction to the highest bidder and hath preserv’d a list of the names of the Buyers and every deviduall tree and New prices Anexed to them and all to pay to you at your Next Colection at Keswick Since they are not allowed me as former perquesites, if in any time I conceal one Stick to the value of 2d or one <6..> in Money from you not Accounted for Every Such default that is made to you appear, Ile pay to the Royall Hospitall a Guinea

	And for the Second Charge which is called the Cottage house I gave you a particular Accot in one of my Letters which youle find by you its a leasehold & Still the dwelling house is Standing & in better Repaire then it formerly hath been it was an old barne that the Lessee Sold who I discharged before Witnesses from taking away and Also the people that brought the Stones & timber, I have have never as yet either told you or writt to you a falisity and if ever let me Exposed and never again Credited

	Dear Srs its hard upon me to be So frequently used after this Manner by Mr Blackwell without the least reason Except what is Related before my little office, for he hath been Trying all Experements when Information faild then he fell upon my Reputation which Ive opertunity to Shew him for but being acquainted with his Circumstances made me for bear Neither would I give a handle for any to Say Ime Seeking Revange, I have bred up a family which I Should not be a disgrace to Nor they to me, Ive 4 Sons the Eldest of which hath been in the Excise in YorkShire 12 years Another now at <Ponlack> in London where he hath been Eleven years is Name is Henry Pearson a third Sett up his Trade at Cockermouth in Cumberland - Dyer & fuler 8 years agoe  Thee 4th is at home now Ready to goe into the Excise by the Interest of Sr Jos Pennington who’s member of Parliament for the County of Cumberland he is now at London & if Required will Show my Sons Certificate this is all matter of fact and which you always Shall find from Dear Srs Yor Obedt Humble Servt

      Jos Pearson