Letter – Henry Richmond to John Bell – 28 Feb 1769

To Mr John Bell at Mr Ellis’s in Hexham                                           Newca[stle] 28th Febry 1769

Sir

I have wrote Mr Forster of Lucker that you & Mr Ra Forster will be with him on Tuesday the 7th of next Month & that your receipt would be a discharge for what money he pays you for the Tithe of Lucker Moor: If he says he has not Money, you may take his note at a reasonable date.

Inclosed is your paper of the Sums Mr Forster has rec[eiv]ed for these Tithes annually, amounting to £105 17s 6d the last sum is for the Tithe of Corn reapt in 1768 as I understand it; but that will depend upon his satisfying you that the first Article of £13 15s 0d was for Corn reapt in 1757, which he may easily do, as he let the Tithes to the several Tenants.

I don’t know the very Year when the first Corn was grown upon this Moor; but only that it was divided by Lord Northumberland before Febry 1756. So that Mr Forsters own Acco[un]t with such Corroboratory incidents as he pleases to produce, is all we have to go upon. His veracity Sir Walter does not question.

As to the Tithe of the 110 Acres, which have been inclosed so long, I am satisfyed by what you say; & you need not press Mr Forster any further for it.

As to directions, how the Acco[un]t is to be settled, you need none; but to give him a receipt for the Tithe of Lucker Moor (whatever the Sum, the whole Tithe shall amount to, may be) as due to Sir Wr Blackett. I wish you a good Journey & am etc    HR