Letter – Henry Richmond to William Darwin – 7 Jun 1768

To Mr Darwin Grey’s Inn London                                                          Newca[stle] 7th June 1768

Sir

I received your Letter of the 4th instt inclosing me Mrs Sorsbie’s receipt for forty two pounds for two year’s Allowance & Mrs Eden’s receipt for Twenty one pounds for a Year’s Allowance: both w[hi]ch sums I have given your Acco[un]t Credit for.

As to the modus of 10s which is paid for Fenwick Burnside & Shields farms, it is plain that Mr Robson who transacted the whole matter respecting the 150 Acres has omitted to mention the Same to you tho’ I told him of it. Whether he has valued this ground as Tithe free & intended it should be sold so I know not - but he always said Slater’s farm was clear of all tithes – tho’ it never appeared clear to me that it was so. The Corn tithe indeed I knew to be covered by this modus of 10s. Copy of which receipt you have below – but as to the petty tithes we only have the report of the Tenants that the modus of 5s 0d paid for the Hall farm covers the Shields & Burnside farm; which they say were demain Grounds. And as to the hay tithe they are our only voucher that Satisfaction was antiently made for it by about 3 Acres of ground called the Lizards being set off the demain farms, that is, as they say, the Hall farm  Burnside & Shields farms. This Obscurity arises from the Tenants having been obliged formerly to pay the Modus & not having them allowed in their rent. I am etc    HR

Rec[eiv]ed Septemr 9th 1767 of Edwd Slater the sum of Ten shillings in full for the modus of Corn Tithe of the Burnside & Fenwick Shields in the parish of Stamfordham for this present year 1767 by me George Bates.

NB S[i]r Ed Blackett has half the Tithes of this parish: & Bates is his Steward, & is receiver for the other half also.