Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 24 Oct 1736

To Wm Corbett Esqr

      Hexham the 24th Octor 1736

Sr 

	After having finished the attending the holding New Lds Haydonbridge & wark Courts I had a recet Yeasterday at this place of the Langley Barrony rents & other Estates in this neighbourhood & I shall to morrow proceed to Aldstone & to Keswick on Wednesday.

	The want of the modern Court Rolls for the Severall Manours has been an Inconvenience to the Courtkeeper tho’ I hope by the Help of some very Antient ones that was found at Dilston nothing of moment has slipt our Observations

	At the Several courts held at Newlands Haydonbridge and wark the Jury presented Mr Aynsley upon my Complaint of his Detaining the Court Rolls & at the Latter Courts they presented him for his Severall Incroachmts tho’ it was wth difficulty I prevailed upon them the Grand Jury at Wark also presented Robt Algood Esqr for Severall very Large Incroachments on wark Fell or Common wch you will have a particular Accot Afterwards

	I find the great Authority Mr Aynsley Excersised amongst the Tennants has made such Impression upon them that they are Terryfied to oppose him in any affairs tho’ I cannot Say but after using a little Spirit amongst them at Haydonbridge I found them better Disposed at wark.

	I find there is a Farme at lightbirks in the Barrony of Langley now possessed by Jno the Son of Wm Todd and Grandson to Jno Todd Late Bayliff for that mannor who during his being bayliff had this Farme given him by Sr Francis Radcliff during his life & wch as it is sd the Family of the sd Jno Todd has Ever Since Enjoyd wth out paying any rent at all al tho’ (by the accot I have) it ought to have been returned to the Derwentwater Family I have Seen the man & he gives me a very Indifferent accot of his Title but has promised to shew wt title he has

	I took an opportunity when I was at wark to talk with the persons who have been in possession of Tarrent burne Colliery wth whom we expected a Law suit but after Sometimes Conversation wth em they Consented to give up their Right or Claim to that Royallty & to become Tennants ofwh Both Mr Grey & I thought much better than Entering into a lawsuit you will observe in the proposalls sent you herewith James Dodds proposes for that Colliery at the Yearly rent of £10 & I have made him a promise he shall be Tennant wch I hope the Directors wll Confime as it is undoubtedly greatly Strengthning their Title that the very person wth whom the Dispute has been Shoud become Tennant

	Mr Radcliffe who Farmes Radcliffe Closes was wth me yeasterday Earnestly Desireing the Compassion of the Directors that he may Continue upon his Farme at £9 per Ann wch is as high an Offer as any he is an Oldman has been many Years at Dilston Tho’ he is a roman Catholick is Quite Inoffensive to all the Neighbourhood.

	George Thompson of Langley Castle is Dissatisfied wth the offer he has made for that Farme on wch Accot his partner Browne Came to me Yeasterday & Declared he wd not be Concerned with it.  wch Still Shews the great necessity of Early Confirmates of Agreements, & as there is yet Severall Farmes not offered for or at Least not Such Rent as those Farmes are Computed to Deserve, I Should Advise an Advertisemt to be made thereof Incerting the name & Quantity of Acres in Each & by whom now possessed.

	It is not possible to Send you the places of Abode of Each Offerer for farmes till I come home from Keswick but I hope you will have no want of it As Mr Boag wll be able to Informe you of the most of em.

	I am Sr Yours Verry Humble and mos Obt Servt

            	Nichos Walton