Letters – Joseph Richmond to Walter Calverley – 23 Jun 1732

To Sr  Wr Calvorley in Golden Square			Newcastle 23 June 1732

Honrd Sr,

      Mr Blackett sett forwards for Calverley  on Wednesday last, that morning he called upon Mr Grey but met not with him, being in the Country, as soon as he comes to Town w[hi]ch I expect will be tomorrow I will wait on him, and let you know his Answer about the Bill.

      On Monday Mr Blackett was to wait upon the B[isho]p at Auckland who agreed to renew the two Lives in Kilhope & Welhope for £200, & also add a new life & change another in Lintsgarth for £20, & gave orders to his secretary to draw up the leases accordingly with Mr Blackett & Mrs Blacketts Lives, he still Insists on the old Rent for the Lot or to have it in kind, and of £11.10 fine for adding Mr Blacketts Life in the Lead mines, & renewing the Lease of the Inclosures for 21 Years, w[hi]ch Lease was suffered to expire in 1727, tho[ugh], Mr Allgood says the late B[isho]p would have renewed it without a Fine, when the Agreement was made with him in 1725 for the Lot Oar, if Sr Wm had thought there had been anything in that Lease worth renewing, however, the truth be it was certainly a great neglect not to renew that Lease, especially if it could have been done without a Fine, for tho[ugh] in 1727 no groves were wro[ught] in the Inclosures, they did not know what discoverys might be made therein afterwards, at this time there are severall Tacks let in the Inclosures & the B[isho]p has discharged all the Tackers, but none of those Tryalls are of any Value  except one, and that we think we shall be able to defend, for tho[ugh] its Inclos'd ground, it is a common undivided pasture, w[hi]ch we think won't fall under the Lease or Years, & therefore resolve to keep possession, & try if he'l[l] venture to serve Ejectments; but I hope all matters will be accommodated, for Mr Blackett offered to produce his Books and also try let B[isho]p view the groves, by any Person of Judgem[en]t & Integrity, & he seemingly agreed to be determined thereby both with regard to fine & Rent. Mr Blackett has given orders for filing a Bill, to examine Witnesses about Hexham Boundary, w[hi]ch he propose to ride Imediately after Hexham Sessions, w[hi]ch will be the 12th next month, In the meantime Mr Armstrong is upon his Survey of that Boundary & collecting what evidence he can, There was an old Boundary Book in the hands of Mr Thos Allgood formerly a Bailiff of Hexham w[hi]ch if forthcoming will help to clear up all Disputes. I have just now been w[i]th Mr Grey who says the present Bill will do very well, with the amendment of that part only w[hi]ch calls Mr Allgood to acco[un]t.  I am etc  J.R.