Letters – Joseph Richmond to John Fenwick – 19 May 1758

To Mr Jno. Fenwick

Newcastle 19 May 1758

Sir

I have the favour of yours of the 4th inst. wherein you write that Mr Ward is ready to convey as soon as I pleased & that you would take upon you to satisfie him & you desire whatever you have to execute relating to the Estate Mr Douglas may first peruse & send them to you. On the 17th instant Mr Richmond & I waited upon Mr Douglas in order to have matters settled with regard to Mr Sparrows interests so as to have the writeings (which are all finishd) sent to you for you & Mrs Fenwick & Mrs Ward to execute, but to our great Surprise Mr Douglas produced a Letter from Mr Ward wherein he writes he will not execute the Conveyance of Green Leighton Estate till Mr Douglas advises him that he is safe as to his annuity, by which it appears contrary to my Expectation that this affair is yet unsettled between you and Mr Ward, & untill that is done the Conveyances will not be executed. As to the settling this Affair Sir Walter is no way concerned in it, all he is to do is to pay Mr Sparrow his Principall & intrest out of the purchase money & to give you Security for £2000 & intrest from this 12th of May at 4 p[er]cent & to pay you the overplus so as to make up £4200 which is the whole purchase money. The security Mr Douglas seems to propose for Mr Wards security is that the money that is to be left in Sir Walters hand, shall by an Agreement by you & Mr Ward be declared to be security for the payment of Mr Wards annuity so long as he lives if you so long live & if you die before him that it shall be subject to the payment of £600 to him which is according to the Agreem[en]t made between you & Mr Ward with regard what he is to have in case the money shall so long continue in Sr. Walters hand, but if the money shall at any time after be called in then it shall be let out again for the same uses & subject to these uses the overplus money to be paid to you. How far this may be agreable to you I cannot say, but is certainly in your Intrest to have this Affair settled as soon as you can, & for that purpose it will be necessary for you to go imediately to Mr Ward & settle matters with him & if you will send me a Lre signed by Mr Ward & you that you are both ready & willing to execute the Conveyances ( which have been laid before Mr Douglas and approved of by him, the writings shall be imediately sent to you, & as soon as they are executed the money will be paid, which will be as soon as you can have the £200 which you desire Sir Walter to let you have. I hope to hear from you by the Return of the Post, & if I do, please to direct for me at Newcastle but after that, please to direct for me at Alwick. I desire you will let me know to whar time Mr Sparrow's intrest is paid.  I am etc   James Scott