Letter – Ralph Archbold to John Airey – 2 Jul 1742

A Coppy of Mr Ralph Archbolds Letter to Mr John Airey



Sir                      							Alnwick   July 2d  1742



      High Buston in the parish of Warkworth lives one of James Harrigates Daughters who is wife of one [space] Graham an able Farmer, sixty years of age.  She sayeth her father & Widw. Todd Farmed the North Demain & the wide open and that she knows the Goose Close verry well that it lye between the Main & the Wideopen Grounds and that there was a Runner run through the said Goose Close and she says she is Surprized that they should have Claim’d any Ground that belong’d to the Mains at that part because that Close bound on with the Wideopen grounds  this she told before Severall people in my House.  I desired She would make an Oath of it. She said She did not Chuse to make Oath Except she was oblig’ed to it <Jno> Richardson She says has often threatened her he would oblige her to be a Witness she told him if he did it would goe against him upon which he never more Spoke to her.  You are Sensable I cannot make people take an oath Except as they please, in this Manner Mary Harrison Widow of Thos. Harrison about Seventy years agoe says that after She had Milked her Cows She always went to the Runner & washed her hands & they dam’d or Cutt holes in the runner for Cows to drink in but as she is blind I thought she could be of little Service.  She has a memory very perfect and is not Dead & risen again as one of there Witnesses has done.   I am Worthy

      Sir your most Hble Servt       Ralph Archbold



NB     Richardson threatens every body that should offer to be a witness for the King but am sure never Such Oath was taken as they have done no not by the vilest of men and you are very Sensable most or all of them would be sett aside if Faithfully Examined, in shorte time there will more witnesses appear for the King.