Letter – Reid to Diana Beaumont – 1 Jul 1823

In the Year 1763 Sir William Wentworth Bart. Died & left all his Estates which were situated in the County of York to his only Son Thos. Wentworth who was never Married, there was not any occasion for Recoverys being suffer’d yet he chose to do it in the most complete Manner, which has been proved by The Heirs at Law having made various attempts to gain possession of Property &c - in the Year 1777 Sir Walter Blackett Died & Sir Thos. Wentworth became possessed of Estates & Lead Mines in the Counties of Northumberland & Durham in <Right> of his Mother Diana Blackett, who was Married to his Father Sir Wm. Wentworth in 1720 – he changed his Name to Blackett on the Death of Sir Walter Blackett, & suffer’d the necessary recoverys wh. was proved by attempts to take the Property from Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont on the Death of Sir Thomas Blackett in 1792 who left all his Estates in Northd., Durham, Yorkshire &c also his Lead Mines, to them for their Joint Lives (his Eldest Daugr. Diana Wentworth having Married Thos. Richd. Beaumont in 1786,) he left the power of appointing an Eldest Son to the Survivor, wh. [inserted text: power of] appointment has since been barr’d under the advice of Mr. Sugden & others which was taken in 1816 & afterwards completed, the Deed of Settlement is in the Evidence <Room> at Bretton Hall, also the Recoverys they suffer’d & Mr. & Mrs. Beaumonts Marriage Settlement <are there.> Sir Thomas Blacketts Will made in 1792 is in London under which Will Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont take all their Property. Sir Thos. Blackett left all his Personalty to Thos. Richd. Beaumont, who has settled the whole of his Personal Property on Mrs. Beaumont if she survives him by his Will made in 1805 which is in London, & in that Will he leaves £150,000 to his Younger Children, which Sum was in 1818 & 1820 given to Mr. Wentworth Beaumont to purchase the Estate of Bywell &c with an understanding that [inserted text: the same] Sum for his Brothers & Sisters Fortunes should be settled on the Yorkshire Estates & [inserted text: . It is proposed that] a further Sum of £500 p. Ann: on each of the 3 Daugrs. as long as they remain unmarried, & the House in Portman Square, & these provisions to take place after the decease of Mrs. Beaumont, there is a Lease remaining of about 40 Years of that House, Mr. & Mrs. Beaumont have not a Mortgage on their Estates in Northd. Durham or Yorkshire; there are 2 Payments of £3000 p Ann: each to Mrs. Lee, & to Mrs. Clifford, the latter it is believed will cease & fall in to the Property being forfeited at her Death, She is now in the 50th Year of her Age, if Mrs. Beaumont survives her Husband she will have the power of making her Will & leaving the Personal Property as she chooses, but which it is to be supposed will be left to her Eldest Son, knowing the absolute necessity there is that a very large Sum of Money should always be at the command of whoever is in Possession of the Lead Mines, & it has always been her wish to leave her Eldest Son perfectly free from any Debts or embarrassment of any kind whatever, & hopes there will be sufficient in the Funds to answer the demand of £150,000 for the Younger Childrens Fortunes yet she considers it right to prepare against all Contingencies –



[The document then appears to continue in a different & less legible hand]



Col. Beaumonts <wish> to remain as before 500£ per ann. to be settled on the daughters with the House in Portman Square [inserted text: as long as each shall remain unmarried] in addn. to their respective shares in the 150,000 £- the 500 £ per ann. to commence when their [inserted word: Younger] Brothers fortunes become due on Col. B’s decease – 



All the settlements to be made upon the Yorkshire property <Ld.> Mines, if <requisite> for sufft. & ample <security> - The Northumbld. estates to be unencumbered – 



The Mortgage on Bywell to be paid off – 



The arrangement contained in the paper delivered in by Mr. Reid to be completed -