Letters – Joseph Richmond to Christopher Denton – 29 Mar 1757

To Mr Chris. Denton Grays Inn London

29 March 1757

Dr Sr

	I return you herewith inclosed & under another cover by this post, the notes you sent me in your Lres of the 15th relating to Hexham Division, w[hi]ch I hope will now pass muster, & you receive inclosd a certificate of w[ha]t the improvements are by the division of Gunnerton Hexham & Shildon (viz. £340 a year) so th[a]t I hope no objection will be made to the allowing Sir Wr. the money he has laid out.

	I rec[eiv]ed the Abstract of the deed f[ro]m Halsay & Morgan to Sr Jno.Fenwick of the Coal in Kirkheaton under a rent of 6s8d w[hi]ch I cannot find was ever p[ai]d. The Tenants of the Estate answer to Anickgrainge Court & do suit & service there: & therefore its clear th[a]t the royalties & suit of court were reservd w[he]n Sr.J.Fenwick sold the estate to Heron, f[ro]m whom it came to Sr.Rd.Stote. In the Copy of an Inquisition taken in 1299 of the lands belonging to the Priory of Hexham this Estate is mentioned & in the Black Book in 1479 Kirkheaton is mentioned to belong to Hexham with all Royalties Services fines wards Escheats &c whatsoever. In 1575 it was granted by Q[uee]n Eliz[abeth] as appendant of Hexham & Anickgrainge to Sir J.Forster in as full and ample a manner as the same was enjoyed by the Priory of Hexham: From Sr.J.Forster it came to Sir J.Fenwick, who married his daughter: But then I cannot reconcile how Halsay & Morgan should have the colliery to sell to Sr. Jno. Fenwick in 1605. However this matter is worth looking into.

	As to the Charges in your bills about the £40,000 & transfering the whole mortgage from the hospital to Mr Lascelles I can give very little acc[oun]t of them. for there are sev[era[l of your bills, w[hi]ch were never delivered to me by Sr.Wr.  When Mr Daewin was here he examined all the bills that I have & took out w[ha]t he thought proper, & was to collect wjat was wanting from y[ou]r own books in London. So that you are the only person, that can make appear what you have rec[eiv]ed on these accts. & on the other accts., w[hi]ch properly belong to the Trust estate.  I am etc  JR