Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Thomas Ramshay – 30 Jul 1774

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr Ramshay				Alston 30th July 1774



Dear Sir,

Your Favour of the 25th Instant I recd and observes the Contents what you have heard about Stanhope Mill not Working my Lords Ore is not true I do assure you there has not any Ore been Smelted but my Lords since my Lord had any Ore fit for Smelting nor indeed for two Months before owing to the want of Peets We had as many old Peets as Smelted about 70 Bings of Stanhope Ore out of which Produced 280 Pigs of Lead which Lead was got to Newcastle & sold about 22nd June at £13.5 p Futher Common Lead since that got the same New peets & Smelted all the Ore that washed at Stanhope before the 10th Instant to witt 85 Piggs sent to Newcastle & sold to Weardale Chaple 2½ Tunes & is now Smelting Greengill Ore but am sadly put about for Smelters we could imploy 12 we have taken all pains we can & have not yet got more than half you may assure yourself that I shall use my best Indeavours to get all the Lead to Markitt I can as Knowing two well Drawing for Cash will not meet with agreeable Exceptance but hopes that will not be my Case this Year I have sent from Greengill to Stanhope this Year 333 Bings <Horse> & for Duty 89B 3C the Wood that I at Present want may be got at the Millburnside old wood that will not spring Let it be cut at any Season of the Year that will do for the Ribs & there may be spare got out of that wood at the Head of the planting which is all the wood I now want but at the same Time would like to have the Quantity I mentioned set out as it will save Trouble & Expence & can cut it when the Season come son. My Son is gone to Penrith to meet 3 of the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital who Intends being here this Day & will stay in the Country a week If Friday 12th of next Month Suite will meet Mr Bell at Softly that Day but pray give me a Line next Saturday I neglected giving you a Copy of Stanhope Bargains which was let 24th June 1774 as follows.

Let Matthew Stobs 4 Pts to raise Ore in the West End forehd in Grays Vein 

till Michs next & to give them £6 for sinking 3 Fathoms Deeper in the

Great Limestone & for all the Ore they raise at				at 30 p Bing

Let Geo Gray 4 Pts to raise Ore in their old Workings till Do 		at 30 p Bing

& to give them £5 for sinking two Fathoms Deeper in the Great Limestone  

Let John Taylor 8 Pts to raise Ore in their old Workings till Do.		at 35s p Bing

Let <John> Walton 6 Pts to raise Ore till Do.					at 30s p Bing

Let Wm Riddley 2 Pts to raise Ore in the Old Works till Do			at 45s p Bing

Let Jacob Vickers 4 Pts to sink the Westmost Shaft 2 Fathoms 

& after that cut cross to the Quakers Vein at 50 p Fathom

      I am &ca Jona Hilton