Letter – Henry Richmond to John Bell – 14 Mar 1766

To Mr John Bell at Mr Ellis’s in

Hexham                                                                                    Newcas[tle] 14th March 1766

Sir       Mr Stokoe’s Executrix’s taking a way going crop off the two little fields, that are part of the Kirk farm would have been publishing that those fields do not belong to the Curacy of St John Lee; which was all I meant. But as you think Mr Stokoe’s predecessor left no part of this ground in tillage, or that it cannot be proved that he did, it may be as well to say no more about her plowing it; but on the other hand it certainly ought not to be plowed by the Church wardens for the benefit of the new Curate, as if it belonged to the Curacy; which I am clear it does not do in any respect, not even in the way you suppose of a Life Estate in each Curate- but that they are tenants at Rack Rent, (at will) or may be so if Sir Walter Blackett pleases. For besides what we all know that Sir Walter is both Rector and vicar throughout his Manors and only pays a salary to his Curate, I find that S[i]r John Fenwick bought this very Kirk farm after it had been severed from the spiritualities of the Monastry, by the Crown; and that his Descendant sold it specifically to S[i]r William Blackett.   I am etc         HR