Letter – Richard Jackson to Thomas Richard Beaumont – 20 Feb 1796

Sir

      I beg leave to inform you that the Children left at Britton Mill have been advis’d to give up their situations, from an Idea, that from their Youth and consequent inexperience, they could not manage so great a concern - The Mill has been offer’d to one Joseph <Kay> a Man 70 Years of Age formerly tenant to Sir Thos. Blackett but lost his situation for suffering his Mill to go to ruin for want of repairs.

      The Children are very desirous to stay at their old home, which has been enjoy’d by the family for near 60 Years, Your goodness and humanity will no doubt Sir interest you in the cause of three young Girls left to the wide world without a Protector, the Parent who should direct their footsteps is gone! Bereft of that fostering hand & turn’d to the wide world without a friend might probably involve them all in ruin and destruction.

      The Plan Sir which I wish to submit to your consideration & better Judgement is this, we would put the Children out till they are at Age. A respectable Person capable of managing the Mill has propos’d to the Trustees, to undertake the Mill till the Girls are capable of managing it, and over and above the Rent to allow them 30£ a Year for the expence they have been at in improvement and repairs and as soon as they come of Age to deliver them possession again and if in the mean time sickness or any other misfortune should befall them, it should be a home to them as before.

      If this proposal Sir should meet with your Approbation, & you will have the goodness to interfere in their favour, it will render an essential service to three helpless orphans the near relatives of an old tenant, they will be enabled to retain a situation they much prize and which their Ancestors have at great expence kept in good repair, & thereby probably avoid the dangers they otherways would be expos’d to if turn’d out to the wide world without a Protector.

      I beg leave to subscribe myself Sir

      Your most obedient & Very humble Servt. 

      Richd. Jackson

Wentbridge

Feb ry. 20. 1796