Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 22 Apr 1737

To Wm Corbett Esqr

      Ravensworth Castle  April 22d 1737

Sir

	We reced yours with the Boards Minutes of the 13th Inst which we duely observe, as all so a Letter Signed by Reynold & Thos Corbett complaing of Allerwash being lett to other persons & of the hard usage they have mett with from us

	In answer thereto Wm Watson, John Watson, Thos Dodds, Reynd Corbett & William Corbett Confirmed Tennants of Alerwash Township at the Generall Court of the 4th Novr last & the 18th of that Month they with Thos and John Corbett & Wm Henderson (who are at present Farmers of a part) mett at Newcastle in Expectation to have had each of ‘em a part in the Sd Farmes, & tho’ it was Confirmed to the five first Mentioned it was recommended to them to be concerned Joyntly as they had been old Tennts to wch they wd not agree but Consented to admit Thos Corbett only.  in this way it Continued for some time till we desired to know how they had Settled their Shares.  & whether they intended to enter into Lease Joyntly or Seperate, upon which they dissagreed in the Division & tho’ we have used all the means possible we have not been able to Determine it.  To us it appears very plain that no person is entitled to a Share but those to whom the Generall Court were pleased to Confirme it, and that it may in the Same light appear to you we send you Inclosed their petition after Mr Loraine had Offered £165 upon which they had the preference as being old Tennts and Loraine a Papist.  By this Sr you have a true State of the Case from which we Doubt not but the Directors will by returne of the post give proper Directions, that it may be here before mayday.  Wm Watson & Thos Dodds we think are, nay we are well assured are entitled by their ability to the greatest Shares, yet they are Content to take their proportion or 2/5th parts  John Watson 1/5th  & Reynold & Wm Corbett 2/5th , & we think the most reasonable and Just way of Settling it, is that they Each enjoy their present Farmes, at Such a Rent as shall be adjudged reasonable by persons Indiffrently Chosen and that the Shares of John & Thos Corbett & Wm Henderson shall be equally divided and the Rents Sett by the Sd persons into 5 parts the whole to make up £165 as follows

	Wm Watson  1/5  £33

	Thos Dodds       33

	John Watson      33

	Reynold Corbett  33

	Wm Corbett       33

                    £165



	This Sr we only give as our opinions of which the Directors will be pleased to Judge and give such Directions as they think proper & we hope they will upon the whole observe how far we have been from acting impartially in the Affaire as we do assure you that tho’ it appears to us that none has a right but the 5 above mentioned, yett we have used all the means imaginable to make a reconcileration amongst ‘em so that they might all have a Share.  It wd be tedious to enlarge (as we very well have roome) upon the false assertions of Messrs Corbetts therefore we we begg leave only to Say that the whole Charge is Unjust & that we have not Mirited Such Usage from them or any person whatever

	Mr Errington of Beaufront has produced his Lease from Edwd Earl of Darwentwater dated 25th Day of March 1699 for 99 years from the day of the date thereof of a Lead mill & 5 Acres of ground at Thorngill at Blagill Burne at the yearley rent of 10s payable at Michs and Ladyday in Each year; & his Agent Says the Late Recers Reced the Sd rent wch you will observe is not in the Rentall.

	You were acquainted the 24th of Octor last wth the possession of a Farme at Lightbirks by John the Son of Wm Todd who has produced no Title thereto, but on the Contrary has turned Tennt for one year at £2-10  It may be worth near £4 a year but that the man might become the Hospitalls Tennt we tho’t it better to Accept of £2-10 to putt an End to the Dispute as we shall have it in our power to advance the next year & hope the Directors will approve thereof what rents of that Farme have been due so that Shou’d be pd to the Hospitall Since the Forfeiture, we are humbly of opinion shou’d be forgiven but in that the Directors may be pleased to doe as they think proper.

	There is a piece of ground abot an Acre & a Cottage in the possession of an Old man at Meldon who has Occupied the Same many years without paymt of Rent alledging that it was a gift by the D’water family & we have now an offer from Wm Bruce to Farme the Same & we believe he will give 30s per Ann for it.  the poor old man who now enjoys it is a Gardener & tho’ he is upwards of 70 years of Age acquires a mentainance from it wch otherwise must fall upon the Tennts of Meldon wch they wll think hard & we humbly think if the Directors have no objection that the poor old man Should be be alowed what he now enjoys paying a Small acknowledgemt during his life in wch we desire they will be pleased to give us their Directions

	It is a proper time of the year to Sell the lead Dues in the Mannor of Alston Moore for this present year in wch we should be glad to know if the Board approve & are Sr Your Most Obt Servts

      Nichos Walton     Hugh Boag





To the worshipfull Comissrs Goverrs & Stewards of his Majestys Royall Hospitall at Greenwich of the Estates of the late James Earl of Dwatr



      The Humble petition of Thomas Dood William Watson Jno Watson, Reynold Corbett & Thos Corbett whose forefathers and Selves has been Tennants and Farmers of Alerwash time out of mind also admitted [scratched out: ‘time out of mind also admitted’] as Tennts for the Future at Newcastle by Mr Boag being than the best bidders knowing nothing neither any fear but Shou’d Enjoy’d our Farmes now the report is that Robert Loraine has gott them from us wch Constrains us to apply to the Comissrs to know whether So or not, not out of any malice or Disgrace to Mr Loraine knows him not able to manage such Farmes we leave our grievances entirely and the rent to your goodness Consideration and mercy if we so Envyed.

	Further begs your answers so that we may not be disapointed and Family of Some being the Sd Loraine & partners Grand Roman Catholicks & Deserve to be exposed for serving their Neighbour so now at this time offering to Lett the Said Town Ship out of <perills>

	The said Robert Loraine has Neither House nor Family & wt we Conjecture is only to ruine us & Familys making us equall to himselfe wch we rather pray and wish migt by providence be prevented.