Letters – Michael Blackett to William Blackett – 14 Dec 1678

Honorable Sir            	                                              Newcas.   xber the 14th  - 78



According to my accustomed method I shall att present give you the best acct. I could learne of occurrences att the Leed mines, and shall begin with the Condition of of the severall groves viz:

Greengill Indifferent good, yet the place that <I had> formerly writ you was very good, is not alltoger: then soe good as itt was, Coleclugh begins to mend again, Welhope poore, they have gott the sump finished att Bales hill and is getting very good oare, the <slits> very good as allsoe the North <sump>, but the South <sump> is not soe good as itt was, the new sump hath the best oare in all the field, the East End forhead is Indifferent good, noe sample of a vein to be seene att Reed groves, Rookehope poore



the whole pay Come to £1083:19:10d as follows  viz:

To head pay   £481-17-2 1/2 paid Richd     £ 500-  -

plancky pay   £107-1-11 1/2 paid Jno       £  27- 1-11 1/2

paid att mill as per particulars           £ 382- 1- 1 1/2

paid att fallowfield                       £ 174-16- 9

                                           £1083-19-10d



for wch mony you had smelted att planky mill 24 fodder  4 p[iece]s Leed, and 103 bing 2 horse of oare brought to said place from the following groves viz

                      bing:  horse

from the heads          73   2

from Greengill           9   2

from Welhope            14

from Coleclugh           5

from Dufton              1   2  bing: horse

                                103 : 2



Wood bought for the use of said place is 

180 sacks of Richd.  Whitfield att 7½ d

 60 of your owne from  Silewray

300 more of your owne from Woanes Woods

and there is 200 p[iece]s Leed Carryed from thence to Bladon Besides you had smelted at Duxfield mill 118 fodder Leed and 423 bing & horse of oare brought to said place from the following groves viz

                      bing   h

from the heads         179   2

from Rookhope            5

from Jeffrey groves     16

from Lunehead           20

from fallowfield       169   3

from Greengill          30   3

from Welhope             2   1  bing: horse

                                423 : 1



Wood bought for the use of said place is

1100 sacks of Esqr. Chirwell> att 8 ½d

1468 sacks of others att 8d

 291 of yr owne from Healy

  10 more of your owne from Whornley



838 p[iece]s Leed from said mill to Bladon

687 p[iece]s Leed from Cooperhouse to Bladon



I heare nothing amiss at the mills but <accot.> of oare, fallowfeild works in a pretty good Condition, they have good oare in Buxton shaft, and in the Water Low shaft allsoe, but for the lowest drift in the oare It is very hard as it hath been long, wch. is alsoe to the rest they have board under Levell, att the low Levell, near upon six fathoms, and have made a tryale to <hurrye> to the soft shever wch. is seven yards under levell but could not, it being so sore watred, soe have begun to drive att the <parting> three yards under Levell for noe <plan Else> can be driven att, they find the water lyne away in the old sump above long Edge Dike three yeards itt hath cleared the <sump> and they think itt may be the boaring att the Low Levell.

I can Remember of nothing more, soe hopeing that will find you well yett to Naworth praying for your health and happinesse and earnestly craveing yr blessing I remaine  

      MB