Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Blackett – 8 Jun 1733

To Mr Wr. Blackett Esqr.                                       Newcastle the 8th June 1733

Hon[ou]rd Sr.

      Doct[o]r Noble quitted Allenheads last week upon my telling him the law would oblige him to pay double Rent & that it would be Insisted on for the time he continued after May day, I am surprised they should apply for Rich[ar]d Allgoods having the D[octo]rs House: if he were to quit his Employment for it it would be a wrong thing to let him have it, as being now John Armstrong’s Son in Law, but the request is still more <unusuall> as he is concerned in the Works. I was bid yesterday £10 for the House by me Farbridge a very sober <man>  who has an Estate of about £60 a year, & would I beleive have kept a very regular House, but Mr Allgood says he has been bid £14 a year for it by some other Person. The Doctor <&> Mr Lowdon paid no more than £8 per year.

      The proceedings at Moohope does not any way take off from the other groves were no Endeavours I believe are Wanting, the same number of Men are rather more being still employed, but all groves will <…> better, & worse. On Wednesday last wee impounded a Draught for going over Rothley Moore to a Limestone Quarry belonging to Mr Fenwick’s Estate at <Greenleighton>, he lives at Darlington, & I am told.  <I intend …..> to you as you come into the country for Way Leave; I desire you will please not to make him any promise <until> you Enquire into the matter, for wee have received some unneighbourly Treatment from him or his Tenants in <doing no> Wayleave etc & you have a Limestone Quarry in your own Grounds which will yield you about 60 <£/Gn> a year if you don’t grant him Leave to his, but will produce nothing if you do, I don’t find that Mr Montague has wrote to his Agents here tho they are all seemingly in your Intrest. I apprehend a reservation for  Mr Carr. Wee have secured all the Freemen in Mrs Crowlys Works, & the three Arthurs begin to <comply>. I will wait upon Mr Richardson at Sheilds but it must be in the most private manner for fear of giving offence to him, I am      etc        JR