Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 29 Jul 1737

To Mr Corbett Esqr

                                                                                  Ravensworth Castle  July 29th 1737

Sir

	We wrote you the 22nd Inst about the discharge given to the persons Imployed by George Liddell Esqr & Partners, at Tarrett Burn in Tindale within the Manour of Wark & therein acquainted you that we would make enquiry & give you a particular Accot of the whole Affair

	We have accordingly made all the enquiry we had an opportunity of doing, & have Examined the old papers at Dilston & from the whole we cannot find whether the Mine in dispute was let by the Derwentwater family or not.

	By the Grant it appears that all the Mineralls within the Manour of Wark were granted to the predicessors of the Derwentwater family, & this place being within what is Called Tindale, is undoubtedly the right of the Hospitall, tho’ the great distance of time Since the Mine has been wrought, & the want of foot steps to trace it makes it very difficult to find it out.  We have been upon the Premisses & have examined Severall old people who Say they always believed & it was reputed that the Royaltys belonged to the Der----r family, that the Mine was wrought about 60 years agoe by One Curtis & afterwards by Alderman Ramsey, but that they do not know by whom authorized, but believes by the Lord <Derw.r> we have therefore to presume rights of the Hospitall (where it may probably be of great Consequence to them) Ordered Workmen to begin work & keep possession which we hope the Directors will approve of.

	We find the possessors Severall Small Estates in Tarrett & Tarrett burn who call themselves freeholders have agreed to Try the Hospitall rights to the Royallitys in these parts & have Sett the Workmen to Work a Colliery in Terrett burn adjoyning the Hospitalls Tennt James Dodds & also another Colliery in Blackburn within the sd Manour of Wark, both which we have putt off work by discharging Gilbert Milburn & others at the former, & James Robson & others at the latter place we not only discharged these persons, but threw the Ropes & other work tools at each place downe the pitts, in the presence of the parties which we hope the Directors will approve off, & indeed unless what we have done be followed with vigirous proceedings in the Law the Hospitalls Libertys will be greatly infringed upon

	We are greatly concerned to be informed by Mr Airey that no provision is made so as to have Tryall with the persons Claiming Haydon Town Farme the next Assizes, as it not only gives these persons an Oppertunity of Continuing upon the Farme another year, but greatly encourages that Sett of people whose View it is to distress the Hospitall in all their Affairs.  We therefore earnestly begg the Directors will consider how much their Interest Suffers by these delays.  & we begg to assure them that no Stone shall be left unturned to Support their Interest by     Sr  Yours etc

      Walton & Boag