Letter – John Maule to William Corbett – 3 Aug 1737

      A Copy of a Letter from Mr Maule to Wm Corbett Esqr

      

                                                                                 Royal Hospitall Greenwch 3 Augt 1737

Sir

	In answer to the Receivers Letter of the 5 July be pleased to acquaint the Board that I have Strictly examined & considered as much as in my power the affair in Dispute between the Hospitall and the Tennants of the Demiesne Lands of Keswick & by comparing the Copys of Miles Wilsons receipts for the Rent of his farme at Loaning head, which they say he entered upon at Ladyday 1731, it plainly appears he has paid Six years Rent, which must be in full to Ladyday 1737 tho due at Marts 1736; but then I apprehend as he entered on his Farme at Ladyday he enjoy’d the first years Crop & is to quitt possession at the Same time to the Succeeding Tennant

	This appears plainly to me by tracing the Lease of Old Park wch they say was produced to them; John Fisher for some of his predecessrs take a Lease of this farme for 21 years from Ladyday 1711 by which they became bound to pay one half years Rent at Pentecost next following & the other half year at Marts after so that at Marts 1711 the first years Rent was due tho according to the Custome of Payg Rents was Seldom demanded till Ladyday.  Fisher held his farme till Ladyday 1736 & by what I can find has paid 25 years Rent from Ladyday 1711 to Ladyday 1736 the the last ½ year became due by his Lease at Marts 1737 & upon paymt thereof by reason of some hardships complaind of in his Letter to the board of the 10 Janry he gives notice that he is to quitt his farme & the Receivrs advised the board the 24 Janry 1735/6 that they had lett the farme to Lanct Penny, who I suppose entered in full possession of it at Ladyday 1736 & <...> engaged to pay the Rent at the Same terms his predecessor had which he had usually complyed with hitherto; & the Tennants of this Manner have paid in many half years Rents as the Tennants of any other part of the Estate have, the only Difference that appears to me is that the Tennants of Keswick enter in full possession & enjoy all the profit of their farms from Ladyday & for that reason are bound to pay a whole years Rent at Martinmass following, whereas in other parts of the Estate the Tennant entering at Mayday is not in full possession till the Waygoing [struck out: ‘Crops’] Tennts has cutt down his Crop which Seldom happens before Michs & therefore the first years Rent is not due till Mayday  if this be the Case (as I apprehend it is) the dispute may <only> be determined by the Receivers answer to this one question : Did John Fisher enjoy the Crop of the year 1736 or did Lanct Penny enjoy it.  If John Fisher enjoyd it he owes half a years Rent to the Hospitall having reapd the benefit of the farme 6 months after Ladyday, but if Lanct Penny enjoyed that Crop Fisher is acquitted having paid the half years Rent due at Marts 1735 & Penny became Dr for that half years Rent due at Pentecost following which by the Recers Cash Accot he paid in October last & that due Marts 1736 he paid in April last.  In examining the Last Accot for June I find the charge for unavoidable Repaires in Meldon Park and Hartburn Grainge £29. 4s. 81/2 d which I doe not find any order of Board for, & I think cannot be comprehended in the Liberty allowed them by the Minute of the 9 Feb last, to Cause such repairs to be done from time to time as cannot be delayed till they receive particular orders from the board provided the Charge of such repaires do not exceed £10 its true these Repaires are on 3 Tenemts but I believe all in the occupation of the same Tennant & as it appears by the accot were a Month in hand, during which time I humbly think they should have advised the Board thereof & reced their directions

	I beg you will also represent to the Board that among the Charity Boys there are some Boys who are now quallifyd to be bound out, tho they have not been three years in the School and Severall who might be quallifyd much sooner than that time if the board should think proper to give directions to Mr Weston their Schoolmaster, to advance such Boys as are capable in learning the necessary Rules prescribed by the Instructions and to acquaint the board when Such Boys are so quallifyd that they may be bound out tho they have not been three years in the School which woud very much extend the Charity, which is humbly Submittd to the Board by Sir  Your most humble Servt

      Jo Maule