Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 13 Jan 1758

To Sir Wr. Blackett Bt. MP. at his ho[use] in St james's Street London

Newcastle 13 Jan 1758

Hon Sir

	I herewith inclose Mr Perrotts Opinion & Letter. The Case is stated f[ro]m Mr Ellis's extract from the court rolls at Anickgrainge.  He says he beleives Ovingham is a Court Leet as well as Anickgrainge, & as one Leet cannot be within another it is strange how Kirkheaton comes to answer to Ovingham. The Kirkheaton tenants say they have always served on the jury at Anickgrainge & are toll free at Hexham as being within the manor; but that they were never summoned to serve at Ovingham till April last. when L[or]d North[umber]land's Bailif summoned Jno. Morraley, one of the Kirkheaton tenants, & told him he wo[ul]d be fined if he did not appear; to avoid wch he went & was put upon the jury. There are 8 Farms said to be in Kirkheaton, & each farm has always p[ai]d 2 pence a y[ea]r to L[or]d Northumber]land Bailif, but the tenants cannot tell what it is for  -  Jno. Dixon of Hawkwell says, he well remembers his father, who was tenant at Fenwick has often told him, that he was employ'd by Mr Lan. Allgood Bailif of Hexham to take up Waifs & Strays, & that he took up a whye in Kirkheaton liberty & th[a]t nobody having claimed the same in the time limitted by law Mr Allgood gave it him for his trouble & expence of keeping it  -  I also send herewith inclosed copy of what is in the Black book relating to Kirkheaton, & also an extract f[ro]m the copies of sev[era]l Inquisitions, Lres Patents & Grants, the Originals being in Mr Dentons Custody Bundle 8 f[ro]m which I apprehend may be discovered whether the manor of Anickgrainge was not granted back to Sr. Jno. Forster by Qu[een] Eliz. in as ample manner as it was held by the Priory of Hexham before the dissolution of the Monastries, or whether there is any exception with regard to Kirkheaton    I am etc   JR

PS. Since the finishing my lre Mr Colpitts sent for me & desires me to acquaint you th[a]t Mr Fenwick of York has applied to him by Mr Sunderland ab[ou]t the purchase of  Green Leighton, wch he declares to me he has no thoughts of buying for himself therefore will give no ans[we]r till he has yo[u]r opinion wch he desires by the return of the post, Whe[the]r you judge it right for him to make some small advance to the 4000 guineas you have offered, or to say he declines any further treaty ab[ou]t it, having dispos'd of his money other ways.   JR