Journal Entry – John Grey – 28 Jan 1835

Weds 28 Jan 1835: Took advantage of the fine day to go through the several farms in Hexhamshire & among other proceeded to the distant & detached one of Eadsbush, wishing to ascertain from the unfortunate tenant whether he had yet obtained means of carrying it on, or had got security to offer, for his doing so. He happened however to be absent on that business. This is a small property entirely detached from any other belonging to the Hospital  & of small value, consisting of only 26 acres, exclusive of some poor allotments on the Fell, which are at a distance & would attach as conveniently to other Farms in the Shire as to this. It is almost surrounded by Mr Crawhall’s Land. He applied to purchase it last year & if it should meet the view so the Commissioners to sell it I have little doubt but he would give more for it, to square out his property, than ever they will make of it.

       I proceeded westward to Gairshield & found old Thorburn – I had received £53 3/6 on his account from Mr Beaumont’s agent for carriage of ore, but there is still a considerable arrear, which he cannot yet pay. He says they owe him more than that, but I fear he is not very correct in his accounts. I have got the arrear due from Mirehouse Farm, which he quitted last May, extinguished, & hoped he might have worked himself clear in Gairshield by allowing him to continue for a year or two. He promises to come to the Office in a day or two & let me know how he is likely to get on. Should it seem desirable to continue him on trial for another year it would be best to let Rowleyhead for one year also, that an opportunity might be taken of laying them together. The tenant offered for it £110, which I consider a full rent. I told Thorburn that I should give him Credit for £10, the value of his Machine before it was improved at the Hospital’s expense. This he declared he would by no means agree to, as it had cost him originally £40 and only wanted a trifling repair; when by order of the Bailiff it was altered at a great expense but very little improved by it. He declares that he remonstrated against the cost at the time but was told “to hold his tongue as he would get a good Machine for no outlay to him”. How far this may be true I cannot say, but it does seem singular that the Hospital should have incurred the expense of repairing & almost remaking a Machine which a Tenant lays claim to. I told him that the Commissioners would unquestionably allow all that it was worth, if that could be known & if he would find any Millwright that knew it at the time and would meet Stokoe & they two would agree upon its value I should be satisfied with their award. This he engaged to do.