Document 64, Questions to Mr Fawcett and his replies, 25 October 1786, p 1
| 128 | ||||
| Case | ||||
| Hexham Bridge | ||||
| Mr Fawcett after casting his Eye over his own Opinion and that of Mr John | ||||
| Wilson in this Matter, and after perusing the Copy of Writ of Elegit | ||||
| issued – will please observe that the Original Writ is now in the office | ||||
| of the Sheriff of Northumberland and will be executed next Week- | ||||
| The Defendant has divers Estates in the County a Moiety* of which | ||||
| by the Writ must be delivered to the Plaintiffs. | ||||
| The Deft is also in partnership with others in some Lead Mines | ||||
| a smelting Mill & of Course will have an Interest in the Lead- | ||||
| There are the Remains of the former Bridge standing near Hexham | ||||
| which if not the property of the Public must be that of Mr Errington | ||||
| and is of some Value. | ||||
| After those Matters are premised Mr Fawcett is requested on Behalf | ||||
| of the County to answer the following Queries- | ||||
| 2.1 | Are the Remains of the Bridge built by Deft to be | |||
| deemed his Property so as to be delivered over at an | ||||
| Appraisement to the Plts if not then whose Property are | ||||
| such Remains? | ||||
| I think the remains of the Bridge cannot be found by the Jury | ||||
| to be the Goods and Chattels of the Deft to be delivered to the Plfs | ||||
| They seem to me to belong to the County | ||||
| 2.2 | Must evidence be given before the Inquest of the exact | |||
| Number of Messes Barns Acres Meadow & Pasture Ground | ||||
| in each farm & if so will the general Reputation [???] | ||||
| being the Owner in Fee be sufficient or what Evi[dence?] | ||||
| will be sufficient? | ||||
| The no of Messes Barns &c and of Meadow & Pasture Gr[ound?] | ||||
| near as may be in each Farm with the Names of the Te[nants] | ||||
| at what yearly Rent, should I conceive be found by the [??] | ||||
| General Reputation I should think will not satisfy the Jury | ||||
| you should get the Tenants to attend & give Evidence or any | ||||
| Persons who can sp[eak?] [???] [???] to their Knowledge | ||||
| 2.3 | Can those Est[ates? [???] [???] which the Deft | |||
| interested as a [???] [???] by the Sheriff & delivered | ||||
| to the Plts | ||||
Note: Page badly torn
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Transcribed by CTW and KS