Letter – Joseph Barnes to Edward Blackett – 29 Oct 1703

Honrble Sir

      I am ashamed that I have not yet given you an acct has I found matters att your Courts. I came not home till last Friday att night: & having been long absent I have been so entangled and engaged unavoidably in business that I would not write to you sooner. I find there are severall customary Tenemts wthin your manrs but there are noe Rolls or Books (that I cann hear of) relating to them which I take to be a great fault, such as may occasion the alteration of the tenure to your prjudice: & it is probable you have not rec[eive]d some prejudice already by this means. About 20 years since John Lowes purchased part of a customary tenement & had it conveyed to him as a freehold by Deed & fine & I am affraid it will now be difficult to sett this right. as to the parsells purchased by William Lowes and George Barrow they agree them to be part of customary tenements but made some doubt as to takeing Admittances, & I gave them satisfaction in that particular that they ought to be admitted: yet they did not p[ro]ceed att your last Court to take the Admittances. In some manrs such neglect would by custome amount to a forfeiture of the Estate; but I could not find what forfeiture or penalty accrued to you by custome & I was not willing to amerce onely, fearing that might waive the customary penalty if there be any; wch is fit to be inquired into. As to the tyth Barrow prtend to a modus, & is willing that the matter [one word missing] arrived at by any you will please to appoint: & if the [1-2 words missing] shall not appear to your satisfaction he will submitt to [missing, probably ‘William’] Lowes as to his parcells acknowledgeth tyths are [1-2 words missing] farms the tyths of those parsells of the Farm[end of word missing] one of those parsells of Land (I think the Steel [2-3 words missing] by Lease from your selfe (which I saw) & therein [3-4 words missing] <rested> & reserved to you I see there are [3-4 words missing] animosities between William Lowes & Charles Barrow <wch> I believe some use might be made thereof to your advantage, yet I think evry story is not to be believed. The communion Table & your pew in your Chapell att Beltingham are not in good order; a small expense would put them into a more fitting condition. & if this would please to give some allowance towards this incouragement of the minister there, it would be a most acceptable favour to your Tenants & others in the neighbourhood of your place.

      I alsoe begg leave to acquaint you that your steward or Bailiff of Henshaw  will not allow the Earle of Darwentwaters Bailiffs of Wark to take up any waifs or strays or to exemt any <press> within Henshaw: tho always one appears att Wark & pforms Sute of Court there for Henshaw I know it is alledged it is only in respect of the Leet of Wark. However my Lord only desires that the matter be fairly examined & considered by two, one to be appointed by either of you for that purpose & if you will think fitt to allow for it to be, I hope that matter may be better understood & determined. I am

      Your obedient servt

      Joseph Barnes

      Oct 29. 1703



[on cover:]For Sir Edward Blackett Bart att Newby near Burroughbrigge In Yorkshire

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