Letter – John Hodgson to Nicholas Walton – 16 Dec 1777

(Copy)

Gentlemen

Inclosed you have my Petition to the Commissioners which hope you’l not fail to sent to them in time you have seen the Ground which I petition to have liberty to Plough therefor you are not a loss how to report upon it hope you are both well and am very respectfully

Your most Obedient Servant

John Hodgson 





To the Honourable the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital

      The Humble Petition of John Hodgson being a Farmer of your Honours most Humbly Prays your Honours that I may have leave to break up and Plough a Grass Field known by the name of Great Hills containing about Seven Acres; the second Year I shall Manure it well and the third lay it down with Grass Seeds – It is very much rizen with Moss upon the Surface of the

Ground which is usual with Ground in our place after it has layn some time and there is no other Method to effectually destroy it but by Plowing, and well manuring it.  It has failed one third in the Crop of Grass it us’d to produce mearly on the above account. In the Year 1776 I had about Ten Acres in Tillage which I that Year laid down with Grass Seeds – This Year I was not suffered to Plough any Grass Ground which was very hard upon me being obliged to buy both Bread and Potatoes for my Family Straw and Corn for me Horses and the same time me Ground suffering for want of Tillage; and it will in time distress me much if I am not suffered to produce in part the above Articles from me Farme [underlined, marginal note ‘should be Farms’] which is near Seventy Per Annum

      I am your Honour Obedient Tenant

      John Hodgson

      

Keswick 16th December 1777