Letter – Nicholas Walton to Henry Liddell – 21 Mar 1756

To Lord Ravensworth               			Ravensworth Castle   March 21st  1756



My Lord

      We took the liberty to acquaint your Lordship by last post that the Vicar of Alston lay dangerously ill; and yesterday we had an account of his Death, which is the occasion of this fresh Trouble, that you may immediately apply for any Friend that so small a living is fit for, if you have not done it already. If your Lordship have no Friend to provide for, then we presume to Inform you that the Revd. Mr Lancaster Curate of Alston would be glad to succeed to this Vicarage, he was with us Yesterday, and requested we would make an application for him.  He is a sober Man of good Character & well Esteemed by the People of the whole Parish & we really think well deserves it; if therefore your Lordship will be pleased to take the trouble of recommending him, it will be a great act of Charity to the Poor Man, who has a growing Family (now three Children) and we know by this your Lordship will much oblige the Inhabitants of the whole Parish.  We have this day acquainted the Secretary for Greenwich Hospital with this Vacancy, & have mentioned to him the Curates desire of Succeeding the late Vicar; but this Letter of ours to the Secretary will not be read at the Board sooner than next Saturday at Greenwich, or next Wednesday Senn’t at Salters Hall; But if your Letters come in time, next Wednesday, it would be well if an Application could be made to the Board of Directors that Day, who sit at Salters Hall till one o’Clock.  We must observe one thing to your Lordship in regard to the right of Presentation, which is that the Derwentwater Family was Owner of one Third part of the Tythes of the Parish of Alston; That Mr Alderman Stephenson of Newcastle is Owner of one other Third and Mr Whitfield owner of the remaining third.  That the Derwentwater Family being Roman Catholicks never presented to the Living, so that the other two presented in Turns, & consequently we say it is the Hospitals turn now, who Stand as Protestants in the Place of the Derwentwater Family.  Mr Alderman Stephenson we are informed will Endeavour to have the Turn now; and if he prevails will present one Mr Railton, a most violent Warm Man for the high Party in the County of Northumberland.  He lives now in Knarsdale about four Miles distant from Alston and will have it in his Power to Influence several Freeholders for Northumberland who reside within the Parish of Alston.  You will be pleased to receive herewith a Copy of our Letter to the Secretary this Day, which we hope will no way Interfere with any Intention of your Lordships; as we mean and wish to have a Person to fill this Vacancy who is Agreeable to your Lordship.   We are

      My Lord,   Your Lords’ps Obl. Servts

      Nichos. Walton   H. Boag