Letter – Henry Richmond to William Darwin – 26 Jan 1765

To Mr Darwin Grays Inn                            Newcas[tle]  26 Jan[ua]ry 1765 

London



Sir        Inclosed you have a copy of what I have received from Mr Johnson Steward of the B[isho]ps Halmot Court; containing all that he says he has been able to meet with relating to Sir W[alte]r Blacketts Copyhold Estates in Stanhope: by which it appears that only the Six Acres has been surrendered; for the other parcels do not relate to Woodcroft. This is very strange, and shews either great negligence in those concerned for Sir W[illia]m Blackett or in the keeper of the Rolls or else in Mr Johnson’s searches. For you see the parcel of Land called Bitch Lane and the close called Riding are not mentioned in the Surrender of 5 Geo: 1st I have wrote again to Mr Johnson to desire he will search more particularly and as soon as I hear any thing will let you know.

I hope you have got the particulars of Slater’s farm at Fenwick, which you mentioned Sir W[alte]r either had not given you or you had mislaid; Sir W[alte]r had it from Mr William Robson and I did not see it. but I have just now received a valuation from Mr Robson copy of wch is inclosed. As to Woodcroft Estate Sir W[alte]r had no Acco[un]t of it that I remember except the Rent which is £90 a year. But I was to have sent him the dra[ught] of an advertisement; which was not done because I could not ascertain how much was freehold and how much was Copyhold. Neither, after all the Enquiry I can make, am I able to do it now: for the old names of the Copyhold are lost and the limits thereof confounded with the freehold part of the Estate and the oldest Tenants & people in the Neighbourhood know nothing of them. But the whole lies in the manor and parish of Stanhope and contains 215a.3r.27p. as per plan given Sir Walter and the outgoings besides the Landtax are one shilling a year as a modus for hay tithe 13s.8d a year called a freehold rent & 7s.8d a copyhold rent.

I hope the Attorney general will soon give you his answer about the information which my Brother says he wrote to you about, for perpetuating the Evidence of some old witnesses who prove that the Lead way from Blaydon to Edmondbiers is a Highway: That being the best way, according to Lawyer Rudd’s Opinion of proceeding in this Affair. I am etc  Hen Richmond