Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 13 Apr 1742

To William Corbett Esqr 				Ravensworth Castle April 13. 1742



Sir

      We rece.d yours with the Boards Minutes of that date which we duly observe & in answer thereto Mr Ricardson is possess’d of a Freehold estate called Lowhouses in the Chappellry of Garrygill within the man[o]r of Aldstonmoore & Claimes a part of the Common as Lord of the Mannor of Lowhouses bounding upon a Ryvulett called Garrardgill als Garrygill Burn from which we Suppose he calls it his mannor of Garrygill. – Bentyfield Lead Mine lyes on the South Side of the above mentioned Ryvulett & is now Extending into what Mr Ricardson calls his Common on the North side of it or rather Inclining to the No[rth] East, but whether he has a right or not we cannot Judge. What we alledge is that this Common is apart of the mannor of Aldston moor, that the mine called garrygill burn old Grove has been many years agoe wrought under the Derwentwater family, altho it lyes in the middle of what is now Claimed by Mr Richardson & that Mr Ricardson has no right there but to the Herbag & as a Freeholder. He Claims upon an Antient Deed produced on a Dispute his predecessors had with the Derwentwater family upon which Councells opinion was taken, who gave it in favour of Mr Ricardsons predecessors, but we do not find that till of late any Claim was made of the Royaltys, nor no <badges> of a manner appear to us Except that of taking up Waifs & Astray which they did soon after the late Rebellion when the Estate remaind without any or very little Inspection. Thus much we know of the Affair in Dispute, but as Mr Richardson is Willing to shew his title we will Informe our Selves farther with respect to the foundation of his Claim, & report to you our further proceedings & in the meantime we are

      Sir Yours &c

      Walton & Boag





A Coppy of Mr Chr. Ricardson’s [Richardson] Letter to the Board, 26 March 1742



      Randall Holme 26 March 1742

Sirs

      Being seized of the Manner of Gerardsgill otherwise Garragill adjoining to the manner of Aldston Moor, I apprehend the Lessees under the Honourable Comiss[ione]rs of Greenwich Hospital are likely to come into my liberty in a Grove they are Carrying on called Bentyfield, And  on Tuesday last I waited on Mr Walton at Alstone to offer to have the same Amicably Settled, but he advised me to apply to you for that purpose and Accquainted me that he would not meddle therein in any Shape without directions from the Hospitall, so that is the reason of my troubling you. And I hope you will be so kind as to Order my Title to be laid before some Councell in the North either at Newcastle or Durham whom I leave to the Hospitalls own Choosing as I believe my Title there will be found very good and was allow’d by the late unfortunate earl of Derwentwater. And after my Title hath been examined into that you’ll give further directions therein. Mr Walton saith both he & Mr Boag will Write to you about this affair, but lest they forget I must beg you will call on them. I should have desired any Agent in Town to have waited on you, but Mr Walton advised me to follow this method in applying my self. I hope Sir the Honble Comiss[ione]rs will not be for Law, till they have Councells advise, and I will readily wait upon any one with my Title that they will order . I can add nomore than to beg the favour of an Answer which please to direct to me Attorney at Law at this place near Penrith in Cumberland and remain Sir

      Your most humble Servt

      Chris Ricardson



The Original sent William Corbett  Esqr the 16 Apr 1742