Letters – Robert Mulcaster to John Erasmus Blackett – 30 Apr 1799

      30 April 1799

[annotated by J E Blackett:] Robert Mulcaster Observations about Barlow Common



April 30 1799 – Went this day to Barlow and marked out about 46 Acres of the Northwest part of the Common abuting an Estate for Sir Thos. Clavering Bart. On the West to Barlow Common on the S, to Mr. Beaumont’s farm now in the occupation of Jn.o. Richardson on the east on Barlowburn the boundary of Winlaton Lordship on the South.



May 1st & 2nd    Had two men making a hedge on Barlow Common on the line marked out preceding day.



May 2nd   Understand Mr. Ramsey Agent for Miss Simpson along with most of her tenants in Winlaton Lordship have marked out about 64 Acres of Barlow Common for Miss Simpson have not yet seen what they have done so cannot say where their intended incroachment lays.



May 6th Understand Mr. Todd, Mr. Silvertop’s agent has this day been on Barlow Common and has marked out adjoining Mr. Silvertop’s Ash Tree Estate about 30 acres of the Common.

      Attended this day Mr. Standish’s rent day at Stella. Mr. Ainsley told me he had heard what I had done on Barlow Common, said it was, circumstances considered, perfectly right as leading the way to general Division of all the commons but which he was certain could not properly be done without an Act of Parliament to which if the rest of the proprietors agreed Mr. Standish he was certain would not refuse his Assent – agreed as none of the Properties had an actual Survey of Beda Common that a survey of it with the incroachments on it should be directly set about to which on Mr. Beaumont’s part I assented the expense to every several proprietors will I understand on delivery to each of a Plan be about 2 Guineas this Common contains by Estimation about 150 acres and being although part of Winlaton Lordship within Chopwell Township has an advantage which Barlow Common has not that is of being  Tithe free consequently if a Division takes place the 150 acres this Common is supposed to contain with the above advantage the acknowledged superiority of its said and of its situation almost adjoining the River Derwent will I believe make it of more or at least equal value within the 240 Acres of Common on Barlow Common most of this common if a division takes place will certainly be allotted Mr. Standish, Lord Strathmore, Sir. Thos. Clavering probably a part to the Marquis’s of Bute & Hertford for their Estate, in Winlaton Lordship, at Thornely which doesn’t join either Barlow, Winlaton,Blaydon or Beda Commons.



May 7th  Waited this day on Mr. Silvertop Esq. at his house at Stella and laid down on the table before him £1 6s 3d rent for a year and a half due Mart[inma]s last from Mr. Beaumont as we apprehend due to him as an amount payable out of a farm at Winlaton Mr. Beaumont’s property now in the occupation of Jno & Jora Robson. of this rent Mr. Silvertop declined the acceptance but said he would acknowledge the Tender Said from Plans in his hand he could make appear the rent due to him was not due as an out rent but for 1/16 of specific premises sufficiently pointed out and ascertained with regard to situation by the plan in his hand, that the rent for that 1/16 of these premises was a matter of no concern whether more or less than what I offered but he looked on that 1/16 as his free property that he might let or dispose of as he pleased the above is a near as I can recollect tho perhaps not the very words, the purport of what Mr. Silvertop said to me – he mentioned speaking when opportunity offered about it to Mr. Ald[erman] Blackett



Rob. Mulcaster