Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 13 Apr 1740

      Ravensworth Castle  April 13th 1740

To Wm Corbett Esqr.



Sir

	We reced. yours wth the Boards Minutes of the 2d April Inst in Ans. to which we reced. no proposals from any Person for taking any of the Lead mines which were advertized to be lett except that made by Mr Abraham Watson the agent of the Gov.r.& Compa. for Smelting down Lead &c which we sent you. We observe duly the rest of the Boards Minutes wch shall be pursued according as they direct.

	Inclosed herewith you will receive a Petition from the Tennants within the Bar[ony] of Langley, concerning the Boundery of Langley South Common in wch Mr Blackett is now and has been some time working high Stublick Colliery. It is realy very hard upon Mr Downs the present Ten.t of the Colliery under the Commiss.rs of the Hospitall, & shoud Mr Blackett prevail against us, it wou’d be a verry great hardship upon the rest of the Tennants of the Hospital. It is a great Inconvenience that we get so Slowly forward in these proceedings, for had the Injunction been obtain’d  as we advised we believe it might have put a Stop to & ended the dispute. Be pleased also Sir to put the Board in mind of the Ovingham estate.

      We Inclosed herein send you out Cash accot. for last month on wch is a ball. of £199.4.11 ½   in favour of the Hospital. We are going upon the rece<ip>t of the Rents the ensuing week thro’ the whole estate so that we hope to be able to make you pretty large remittances. & are Sr Yr most Hble Servts

      Nich. Walton Hugh Boag



In a slip in this letter:	Mr Corbetts Oates will be bought & sent by the George the next Voyage, but we have not yet reced. the sacks, the Ship not being come in.





To the honourable Commissioners or Governours of his Majestyes Royal Hospitall for Seamen at Greenwich The Humble Petition of the Tennants or farmers under the Hospital  within the Manor or barony of Langley in the County of Northumberland



     Humbly shew unto your Hon.s that your Petitioners at present Labour under great opression, and wrong by the late unjust pretentions & claims of Walter Blackett Esqr. and his Lessees touching the boundary of the South Moor or Common belonging to the manor or Barony of Langley aforesaid. The said Walter Blackett Esqr.& his Lessees at present Claiming above one Thousand Acre of the best & puerest bround in the said Moor or Common and in order to Confirm their pretended right thereto the farmers or Lessees of Low Stublick Colliery have com’d on to Stublick edge alias High Stublick hill, and will not admitt of the least controul or hinderance and now are & for some time past have been Working of Coales there. The absolute right and property of the Hospital as your Petitioners verily believe and hope to make appear by many Credible wittnesses, and if not timely prevented such unjust proceedings will unavoidably touch your petitioners very sensably <with respect to> their farmes and their several stocks thereon.

      May it therefore please your honours to grant your petitioners such redress in the premises as is agreeable to Comon Equity & Justice & if your petitioners may have & enjoy such right of Common & other privilidges as are appurtenant & of right belong to their several farmes within the manor or Barony of Langley aforesaid. And your petitioners as in Duty bound shall forever pray

      John Atkinson, George Thompson, John Coats, Mall’ Brown, Nich Glenwright (his mark), Jos. Maughan, John Wright, Joseph Todd, Robt. Wear, Mich. Maughan (his mark), John Parker, Edwd. Ridley, John Todd, Jos. Teasdale, John Coats, Thos. Robson, Jno. Dobinson (his mark), Edwd. Brown, Henry Wallis, Thos. Foster, John Bell, Henry Maughan, John Robson, John Parker, Cuth. Heaslop, Cuth. Robeson (his mark).