Letter – Michael Blackett to William Blackett – 9 Oct 1675

Document Type: Letter
Date: 9 Oct 1675
Correspondent: Michael Blackett
Recipient: William Blackett
Archive Source: CUL MS Add 91
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Newcastle 8 ber 9th 1675

Honoured Sir

It did not a little Trouble me that I had not yoar blessing before you went from hence but I hope you will excuse me & lay the blame upon Mr Pees who was mistaken a whole hower for I did desire him to call me up before 5 it being realy my intention to have waited upon you at 5 before w[hi]ch time I did supose you would not be going but when Mr Pees came to my Chamber door & tould me that it was almost 5 I  presentlyarose but it was to no purpose for immediatly after you went by & is prooved to be almost six this is the reall truth by w[hi]ch I hope you will find me excusable. As for businesse I refer you to w[ha]t Mr Wm Creagh or my Bro: Wm will write you this post so shall only give you as full an acct as I can of Occurences at those parts from whence I came this morning. In the first place the Condition of the Severall Groves are as followeth – Greengill indifferent Good, ColeClough but poore by w[hi]ch is meant not so good as it was : read Groves Likewise poore the Slitts very Good the Levill very hard but nothing can be sd as yet of bates Hill & well Hope There is not above 100 bing of Ore Lying aforhand at all the Grooves I have mentioned but according to Richds Calculation There is 60 at Greengill 5 at ColeClugh 10 or 12 at readgroves & about 20 at Slitts



the whole pay came to as followeth               £781:13: 8

pd Richd for the heads pay £300: wch came to but £282:13: 7 ½ 

pd Jno for planky pay £132 w[hi]ch came to       £148:16:10 ½ 

for or towards wch 2 pays I pd as above          £432: =: =

p[ai]d at mill as p particulars                  £245: 6:  2 ½ 



p[ai]d at Fallowfield as p particulars           £104: 7:  5 ½ 

                                        as above £781:13:  8



For w[hi]ch sume of £781: 13: 8d you had made at duxfield mill 102 fodder of Leed & 532 bings 2 horse of ore brought to that mill viz

                         bing  horse

from Grengill             148: 1

from Fallowfield          207: 2

from read groves           14: 3

from the heads            161: 3

from read Groves 

  I meane Jefferys groves   3: 1

              in all      535: 2



more made at planky mill 29 fodder 15 ps leed & 245 bing 3 horse of ore brought to that mill viz

                         bing  horse

from the heads             89: 0

from Readgroves            31: 1   

from Greengill             49: 2

from ColeClugh             76: 0 

          in all as above 245: 3



Jno tould me that there is as much Ore aforehand at the Duxfield mill as will serve them all the winter of w[hi]ch he is very confident there is 6 Hearths going 5 oare hearths & 1 slagg harth There is about 60 bing Ore lying aforhand at buxtons shaft at fallowfield w[hi]ch is all that is there above Ground

My Couz[in] Jno hath resolved to set on n[ight]t shift againe not finding upon examination (as he saith) so great a breach as is thought by some fore Gennerally mind it who will & when they please alwayes those upon the n[igh]t shift works as much as those w[hi]ch are upon the day shift but the little Judgment I have tells me that is a false rule and ought not to be Observed for example if men that have 10d a day worke the day shift & should others that have 12d & 14d who works the n[igh]t shift worke no more than the former secondly suppose it falls out that Lubbards worke the day shift & lusty able men the n[igh]t shift because the one cann doe better must they then be Lasie {lazy] Thirdly suppose the day men chance to have hard worke & the n[igh]t men soft worke must the <one> worke no further through Clay then the others did through Chiver  All which I refer to better Judgment & so will acquiesce – for my Couz[in] Jno thinks it convenient to hould on n[igh]t shifts – so much for that particular if when you are Absent you desire an acct of any thing more upon your advice it shall be rectified for the future upon munday god willing I shall se[e] w[ha]t I can doe about a vessell for ratterdam as I proce[e]d you shall have advice from him that prayes for your health & prosperity & after craving your blessing remains MB

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The Dukesfield Smelters and Carriers Project aimed to celebrate and discover the heritage of the Dukesfield Arches & lead carriers' routes between Blaydon and the lead mines of Allendale and Weardale. A two year community project, it was led by the Friends of the North Pennines in partnership with Hexhamshire and Slaley Parish Councils and the active support of Allendale Estates. It was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generous support of other sponsors. Friends of the North Pennines: Charity No:1137467