Letter – Thomas Simpson to Nicholas Walton – 10 Nov 1739

      Penrith Novr. 10th 1739

Sir

	I happened to be abroad when your Letter reach’d Penrith but I went to Keswick yesterday as you desired and on the other side have sent such Instructions as I hope will be sufficient for an Information agst. Mr Jefferson. Mr Pearson will Swear that he has heard Mr Jefferson own his selling the Oak trees to Mr Bowers. Hester Kind who is Exec[u]trx of Wm Miles will prove the sale of the Birch Trees to her Testator & has promised to procede as the Bond Mr Jefferson gave to keep Myles indemnifyed for carrying ‘em off &c. I c.d not yesterday meet wth any legal proof of Cutting the wood this Spring but Mr Pearson undertakes to find Sufficient Evidence to Support that fact. I am a Little apprehensive that Hester Hinds Evidence may be objected to but if it shou’d Mr Pearson says that there are sev<era>ll other people who can prove the paymt. of the money  by Miles , so that if we get the Bond there Cannot be any danger of Establishing that fact. I have only Mr Pearson’s word as to the name of `The Tenmt: & the Rent so please to consult yr. own Books as to these particulars. My Humble Service attends Mr Boag 

      I am Sir yr Hble Servt.

      Thos Simpson 





The Attorney Gen.ll agst  Jefferson				Instructions for Information



Thos. Jeffersonof Cokermouth in Com:Cumb:Clerk now is and for Sev.ll years last past has been Seised & possessed of a Tennant right on a Customary Tennancy called Lowgill holden of the King as parcel of his mannour of Thornthwaite in Cumb: by the payment of the yearly Customary Rent of £1:1:9 & other Dutys and Services.

	Tho’ all Tennant right estates are descendable from ancestor to Heir according to the Custom of the mannour yet the Lord still Continues seised of the freehold & Consequently intitled to the wood & the Customary Tennants According to the genn<era>l Custome of Tennantright can only have reasonable Houseboot Ploughboot Hedge boot & fire boot.

	In the years 1735 & 1736 Mr Jefferson at Several different times between Michaelmas & Christmas cut off the Customary Tenement 240 birch trees which he sold to Wm Myles now deceased for £6:6 and gave Miles his Bond to keep him indemnify’d for carrying away the wood on paying him the purchase money. NB we have not yet seen the bond.

	In or abt. May 1736 he Cut down two Oak trees & sold them to Mr Joseph Bowers. we have not yet discovered what those trees were sold for but can prove that they were worth at least 20s – at the same time he cut down another oak tree which was Converted to his own use.

	In or abt. May 1739 He Cutt down five oaks more which were sold to Andrew Green but we do not as yet know the value being sold with some other wood which Grew on his freehold estate at Thornthwaite.