Letter – Nicholas Walton to William Corbett – 29 Sep 1738

      Ravensworth Castle September. 29. 1738

Wm.Corbett Esq

Sir,

	I Reced. yours of the 21st Inst Inclosing me the Board Minutes at Salters Hall the 20th & those of a General Court at Greenwich the 21st Inst, & also your letter to Cuthbert Constable Esqr Inclosing the Minute relating paying off the Incumbrances on the Derwentwater Estate, which I sent by a Special messenger to Mr Constable, who will I expect returne this evening.

	I was at Keswick the 15 inst & 16th receiving the half years Rent of the Demesne Lands due at Last Penticost, but found Phineas Mark the Farmer of the Tolls had been broke and gone off a week before. There was due from him last Mayday £7-10-0 & will be due next Mart[inmas] the like, and 20 shillings for Rent of a shop, parts of which will be lost. I have taken care to secure all I can, & I hope the Loss will not be great.

	I find the Tennants within the mannor of Derwentwater Castleridge & Thornthwait Expect a call will be made upon them for the Rents and fines due from the Customary & Arbitrary estates, but before expect a Court  will be held, to Admitt them Tennants to the King, which to be sure is necessary before the fines are payd. We presume a fine was due and now is due on the Death of James late Earl of Derwentwater & there is allso Fines due on the death of the Tennants and on severall  Aleanations, but in the first a dispute is raised by the Tennants who say there can be no fine due as the Earl did not die a natural death. This I think is an idle objection & to be sure will not doe in Law however it wou’d not be amiss if the Directors think proper to take an opinion from the Attorney Generall upon it, & afterwards they will be pleased to give us the necessary directions for holding the Courts & receiving the Rents and fines.

      I am Sir Yrs &c

      Nich. Walton





To Mr Nicholas Walton

Sir

Yrs with the two Inclosed I recd. for Mr Constable this night in Bed half an hour after Eleven.

Gerd. Shelton



Burton Constable	Sep the 27th. 1738

Witness Richd. Morrison