Finmere in the Huntington: 1840–1844

1841/05/19

My dear Lord

If you should pay a visit to Finmere in the course of the summer to see what is going on there and witness the spirited manner in which your tenants are entering on their farms and which I hope will prove as profitable for themselves as satisfactory for your Grace, I hope you will allow me the opportunity of pointing out to yourself the premises which I requested last year to be allocated to occupy for the use of some good curate. The house adjoins the Parsonage Garden and was built about forty or fifty years ago I believe for the accommodation of my predecessor Mr Holt, and the occupancy itself is of some importance to the Parsonage without taking into account the use I desire to make of it. Mr Montague  looked it over last year with my letter in his hand and I was in hops he would have made it a favourable report, but I have heard nothing further.

I am sure your Grace will not take it amiss that I should inform you that having heard it said a short-time since that some labourer  in your Graces’ employ at Finmere were nine weeks in arrear for wages. I thought it my duty to enquire into the facts, and found it was not the case that he was nine weeks in arrear only six; and that the practice is to settle with them once a month; and in point of fact the man in question received his wages on Friday last up to the end of the month of April. I ought to state that he makes no complaint, tho with a family of children he feels it rather inconvenient and has no idea that I should take upon me to mention it to your Grace which I have done in conviction that I did not, it were impossible your Grace should know it. I am your most faithful & obedient

W. J. Palmer

1841/12/20

Dear Sir

Mr Palmer incloses five pounds for the half years rent and is sorry Mr Beard should have had the trouble of asking for it. Mr Palmer was not aware it was due to him. He takes this opportunity of submitting in respect of the smallness of the sum that it might be an accommodation if Mr Palmer were allowed to pay it at Finmere when his Graces other small tenants pay their rents. An opportunity would then be afforded if it were thought desirable to communicate on subjects relating both to Church and Poor.

Mixbury December 20th

1842/03/21

Dear Sir

I shall be thankful if you will favour me with the conditions required of his Graces tenants with regard to lopping trees in the hedge-rows when the fence is laid; and shall be truly glad to find that the man I have employed to lay the hedge by the road in the Church close has not transgressed the rule as I much I fear he has although I gave him in charge about it when I sent him the job.

I am, yours truly

W. J. Palmer

1842/03/23

My Lord

I am very much concerned to find that some tress in a close in my occupation at Finmere have been much disfigured by lopping contrary to the conditions of holding, and fear your Grace will think ill of your tenant when you see them. All I can say is that I am quite ashamed of their appearance, and have no excuse to offer, only I am very sorry the man who laid the hedge should have attended so ill to the instructions he received from me. I am your Grace most obedient.

W. J. Palmer

March 23 1842. Mixbury

1842/06/13

Mixbury
June 13 42

Dear Sir

I inclose with this a draft for five pounds for the half year rent due from me to his Grace which should be paid on the 15th.

And I take the opportunity of enquiring from you whether I can look for the payment of the commutation rent charge for his Graces property at Finmere in one sum from you or from the occupiers in their several proportions. If the former, I hope you will not think the worse of me for requesting to know on what terms I may expect the half yearly payments to be made. I do not ask this with any wish to urge the payment to the day or at all otherwise than may be convenient to your general & particular arrangement of such matters, but simply that I may know how to provide for the regularity of my own payments.

Yours very sincerely

W. J. Palmer

Mr Beards.

1842/08/13

Dear Sir

Tythes are for the lands late in the occupation of Mr Hall  from Mid may 1840 – for the rest in the occupation of Messrs Harding  and Paxton  and those in hand and tenanted by the [sic] from Lady Day 1841 to the end of the year that is the 31 December 1841 when the whole parish was discharged and the commutation by rent charge commenced.

Yours Truly

W. J. Palmer

Mr Thos Beards

1842/10/21

Mixbury October 21 1842

Dear Sir

I request the favour of a line to acknowledge the receipt of his Grace the Duke of Buckingham’s draft which I was under the necessity of returning to your hands a week ago and am yours very faithfully

W. J. Palmer

1842/11/26

Mixbury November 26, 42

My dear Sir

I have received this morning a communication from Mr Hearn  which induces me to hope that you are satisfied I could not with propriety accept his Grace’s draft for £13 13s 1d for tythes supposed to be my due having made my demand for a larger sum. This being the case, and as it was my sincere wish to be excused from making any demand at all for which I beg leave to refer to my letter of February 1st[1] I hope I be allowed now to withdraw that I was induced to make on your requesting it, and to express my willingness to accept the draft above attached to any other that may be thought reasonable without reference to the correspondence that has passed between us.

And I beg you to be offered that having once understood that it was his Grace’s intention to let his farms by the fee of course taking the charge on himself. Altho I received no information on the matter from the steward for the time being (the late Mr Montague) in which you must allow me to say that I think he was deficient, I could not think of calling upon the tenants for an account to which it seems that they were liable. I remain, Dear Sir

Yours Faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mr Thomas Beards

1842/12/10

Mixbury, December 101842

Dear Sir

As I shall not be at home next week I beg leave to inclose a draft for 5£ being the amount of rent for which I have notice to pay on the 14th.

I remain
Yours faithfully

W. J. Palmer

I hope that you received my letter of the 26th November and will soon favour me with an acknowledgement of it.

Mr Thos Breads

1843/02/03

Feb 7 1843 Mixbury
Thos Beards

Dear Sir

A very poor man of Finmere and blind and old too has put into my hands for the purpose of advice this evening a letter from you requesting him to pay 18/ for arrears said to be due to his Grace for six years occupation of the premises. Advice I could give him none, but think it my duty to put you in possession of the circumstances of the case with which probably his Grace is unacquainted as well as yourself.

First the man is old and blind and very poor. he has a wife somewhat advanced in years too and a young daughter. he has been in better circumstances – and he has never received parish relief. They are all three of good character & conduct. He is in debt to the amount of 25£ I believe at least. Then as to the premises the facts are these. They consist if a pretty good tenement capable of being made into two cottages with a small garden which might do for one occupation. The ground has been occupied and the buildings were raised by the man’s father and Grandfather for perhaps 100 years more or less and no rent or acknowledgement whatever paid for them so far I have always understood till twelve or fourteen years ago, when the late Duke by his agents made enquiry into the state of the tenements which had at one time or other had been built (I suppose on the waste) by the practice of occupying by their father and they among the next when Joseph Neal  the party consented to pay a rent of 2/6 by way of acknowledgment and did pay it for some years. That he has discontinues paying it may be due partly to his poverty and partly to the idea he was not bound to pay it and that he had injured his property by consenting to do so, having received it by a legal instrument (by will) from his father supposing it to have been or become by use a good freehold. I cannot give the poor Man any advice, not can I venture to form a opinion as to what ought to be done, but I believe I have put you in possession of the facts

and remain
Yours Faithfully

W. J. Palmer

1843/03/28

Mr Thomas Beards

Dear Sir

I shall be much obliged to you to inform me of the particulars of the appointment of rental charge which his Grace intends should be covered by the sum you paid me last week, for which I will send you a receipt when I have heard from you again.

I remain
Yours faithfully

W. J. Palmer

1843/04/03

Dear Sir

You have made his Grace to be indebted to me as follows:

 

£

s

d

Tythe to Xmas 1841

13

13

9

Rent charge half year

135

10

6

Do. to Jany 1843

136

10

6

 

366

14

9

And of this some you have paid less income tax  £240. 4. 3.

Now it is impossible that by giving you a receipt I can subscribe my name to this account unless, what indeed I very much wish, his Grace will allow me to give a receipt for £125 as for the tythe and for £241. 14. 9. as for rent charge 366. 14. 9.

I remain, dear Sir
Very faithfully yours

W. J. Palmer

April 3 1843

1843/04/12

Mixbury April 12 1843

Dear Sir

Have you not made a considerable mistake in my favour in the account of one of the items of rent charge for the half year?

The object of my last of the 3d of April was no other than to point this out, tho I mixed up with it an allusion to another account (unnecessarily perhaps) which I had agreed to settle.

I have no wish to delay sending you the proper receipts for the money you have paid, and will do it immediately on receiving an answer to this.

I remain
Yours faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mr Thomas Beards

1843/06/16

Mixbury June 16th

Dear Sir

I inclosed the receipt for the income tax  on my holding and a check for 4. 11. 1. being the balance of half a years rent for which I shall thank you for a receipt according to the notice received by me for the payment I sent on Tuesday last.

And I beg leave to add that I hope it will be in your power to enable me to answer other demands which are made on me.

I am yours truly

W. J. Palmer

1843/12/31

Dear Sir

In reply to yours I beg to say that I shall wish to become his Grace’s tenant for the premises hitherto in the occupation of Tapping and Jones – and that when you are enabled to put me in possession I shall be glad to meet you on the spot where you may see what you think necessary to be done to put them into the condition in which some would wish to see them kept, and which I shall be ready to do. At the same time, a memorandum may be made of the terms. I remain

Your olbigd & obedt

W. J. Palmer

Finmere Dec 2 1843

1844/03/14

Dear Sir

I have received the copy of agreement for the [title?] of the house by the Church yard gate at Finmere, & shall be glad to have, what you think proper, done on the outside of it some time before Whitsuntide.

Circumstances oblige me to request that the rent charge may be paid up in July and I hope this may not be attended with inconvenience to his Grace or yourself.

I remain
Dear Sir
Yours Truly

W. J. Palmer
Mixbury Mar 20 1844

Mr Thos Beards

1844/04/14

Finmere Apr 14 1844

If you should be coming to Finmere any day shortly I should very much like to have met you and in that case request the favour of you to let me know.

I understand that some person from Stowe was here yesterday for the purpose of looking at the Commissioners Map which could not be found. If it had happened between the hours of one and three I would have produced it and I shall be ready to do so at any time when I know of its being wanted. Perhaps it would suit the Party to be here on Thursday next when I shall be at home between the hours of 12 and 3. The map is too large to put into the chest and it is kept in a locked drawer.

I am yours faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mr Thos Beards

1844/04/15

15 April 1844
Rev W J Palmer

Dear Sir

As regards the ash pollards (in the hedge row you have been cutting) you are at liberty to cut them down.

I have a person about to Copy and correct the map of Finmere made by W Taylor  some years hence & as there is land in the parish since purchased not on Taylors map I wanted to refer & in fact take a tracing from the tithe map thereby saving the useless expence of a new survey perhaps. I may see you before I have further occasion for the map I will then explain.

TB

1844/04/21

Stowe

21 April 1844

My Lord Duke

Greaves of Radclive  is out of office as Surveyor of Roads, I will see the new surveyor John Treadwell  respecting the Road. Tillage  and all the keepers are all aware that Cranfield  has been in the neighbourhood, and are keeping a sharp look out for him.

[…]

1844/05/12

Stowe 1844

12 May

My Lord Duke

I believe Tillage  and the other keepers are using every [occasion] to take poacher Cranfield  and his associate Makepiece. They went from Buckingham towards Westbury last Wednesday morning, one turn of [sic] at the Welsh lane, the other continued on the road. They met at Shalstone  and went towards Tingewick  young Bennett at Shalstone  told me Cranfield had an air gun with him, but I cannot vouch for that statement.

As regards the Dogs kept by the keeper Budgen  in addition to his old [setter] have two dogs which were sent him by Tillage by if I am correctly informed your Graces order. Tillage has five, the [ ][3] setters and a dog sent to him, and two Newfoundland puppies the three setter, he tell me he received orders from your garce to keep. Abraham has one for which he is allowed no keep.

[Other business…]

TB

1844/05/16

Dear Sir

I shall be expecting my tenant for the house soon after Whitsuntide and hope therefore it will be convenient to you to let any thing that remains you think fit to do to the outside to be completed next week. Probably you intend to include what is necessary to make the entrance doorways good and likewise the cellar windows in the description of out-side work; but if not I should be glad to know.

I am
Yours truly

W. J. Palmer

1844/05/29

Dear Sir

I am going from home on Monday and expect my tenants for the house before my return. I should be very glad therefore to have the outside completed with a new entrance door if you think it required – and if not let me know. I commend you to ride over any remaining day this week and I shall be glad to meet you. I am

Yours very truly

W. J. Palmer

Finmere May 29 1844

1844/07/25

Dear Sir

I inclose with this mess: a of receipt of Property tax.

I shall be glad if you will step in any time you happen to be passing and see the inside of your house at Finmere as well as the outside which is now done very much to my satisfaction & I thank you for it. I still however should be glad of a new wood sill for the outer back door but will not trouble the Duke’s carpenter to put it down if you will be so good as to furnish me with the stuff. It ought to be free from sap and of the dimensions underneath. I remain

Yours faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mixbury July 25

Sill for Doorway
3ft 4in long
4¾ wide
4– thick

Mr Thos Beards

1844/07/07 (1)

Mixbury Augst 7 1844

My dear Sir

I received your favour of last week relative to the poor of Finmere and I have filled up the list, but not quite completed it in respect of the families of the poor belonging to the parish but not residing in it. However, I hope in a very few days to return it in as completed a state as I am able.

I take the liberty of including with this seven items of Rent charge due on the first of July from his Grace’s property at Finmere, and if you find them to be correct I shall esteem it a favour if you would forward them to the parties by whom his Grace’s pleasure the several amounts which I wish to be done on or before the 17th instance. I am

Yours faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mr Thomas Beards

1844/07/7 (2)

Mixbury Aug 7

I believe the list here with is correct.

I have omitted all the children of the poor who are out of Service and I have omitted those resident in the parish not having settlement in the parish.

And I have included all having settlement in the parish but not residing in it – understanding such to be your directions. Your obedient

W. J. Palmer

Mr Thos Beards

1844/10/19

Dear Sir

The overseer of Finmere has just called on me for the amount of the third quarter poor rate which I have been obliged to answer by telling him I have neither the money here nor at the Bank to pay him with. I hope it will be in your power to assist me by the payment of rent charge due on the first of July of which I took the liberty of sending you a memorandum about two months since.

I remain
Yours very faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mixbury Oct 19 1844

Mr Thos Beards

1844/10/20

Stowe
20 Oct 1844

W J Palmer

Dear Sir

In reply to your received yesterday I beg to say that I handed your claim (received sometime since) to the Dukes Secretary who is not now at this place, I stated your request to Duke this morning but the acct could not be found be so good as to forward the three items again & I will submit the same to his Grace immediately & I doubt not that I shall receive the money to pay you.

TB

1844/10/22

Mixbury Oct 22 1844

Dear Sir

I feel myself extremely obliged by your ready attention to my concern & for your letter received this morning.

The three charges that remain unpaid for:

Lands in hand

 

 

 

 

Gamekeepers

}

15

10

 

& Cottage

 

Mr Paxton’s occupation

 

49

2

8

Mr Harding’s do.

 

54

15

9

 

£

119

8

5

 

 

3

7

5

 

 

116

1

 

Should you be able to lay your hand on my list of the Poor of Finmere and have no further occasion for it I should be much obliged to you to allow me to have it again.

I remain
Very truly yours

W. J. Palmer

Mr Thos Beards

1844/10/24

24th Oct 1844

I was at Finmere this day and a letter was put into my hands from one of the persons sent out by you (Thos Smith ). He states that instead of being landed at New York as stated in the Certificate handed by you to me that they were all carried to Quebec & had to travel 400 miles further than they should have done. If it is not too much trouble, I shall thank you to inquire if what he states is a fact or not.

TB

1844/10/31

Dear Sir

At a Vestry held for the parish of Finmere today, it was resolved that I should be appointed together with Mr Barrett  & Mr Harding  the Churchwardens  to investigate on the part of the parish the case of Emigrants Thomas Smith  and others and to require an account for Mr Bull  the Shipping Agent of them having been landed in Quebec, by which it appears the good faith of the parish is compromised and the poor people have suffered.

Having understood from Mr Barrett that you have seen Mr Smith’s letter and that it was your intention to write to Mr Bull the agent on the subject, I request to know what answer he has returned; and at the same time be informed how far Mr Bull is to be considered, as he has been represented to be his Grace’s Agent: for if he is in any way entitled to be so considered or that he has been employed in the business in consequence of being so considered I think it may be my duty to acquaint his Grace with the facts before I take any other steps.

I remain
Yours faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mixbury October 31 1844

Mr Thomas Beards

1844/11/06

Dear Sir

I have just recd favour including a cheque for £116. 1. for which I will send you a receipt without delay & am

Yours oligd
& Obedt

W. J. Palmer

Mixbury Nov 6th

Mr Thos Beards

1844/12/20

Dear Sir

Hope for the pleasure of seeing you at the Vestry  on Monday. I take the liberty of informing you that I trust we shall be able to proceed to business at 3 o’clock and considering the time of year and the coldness of the church that I shall first propose to adjourn the meeting to the Clerk’s house where there will be a fire, and that I hope such a proposition will be agreeable to you. It has frequently been moved to the Kings Head  but particular incumbencies just now render an adjournment there highly objectionable to me. I remain

Yours truly

William Jocelyn Palmer

Finmere December 20 1844

Mr Thos Beards

1844/12/24

Dear Sir

I inclose the receipt which you ought to have had before – at the same time I shall not be at home next week & cheque for my half years rent for which you might send me a receipt at your leizure. I consider the business of the Emigrants to reflect very strongly and unpleasantly upon the parish and to name no one else upon oneself in particular. The fact of them having safely arrived and got work, I am aware and relieved to hear of but that does not alter the case.

I am mistaken if compensation should not be made by someone – perhaps by Mr Bull  – perhaps by the owners of the ship – perhaps by me – who was myself deceived – However I am afraid Mr Bull is most to blame. I am your faithfully

W. J. Palmer

Mixbury Dec 24

Mr Thomas Beards

[1] This letter does not survive.
[2] This map does not survive.
[3] A space has been left at [ ]; possibly for ‘two.’
[4] The Millennium History of Finmere, ed Andy Boddington 2001, p97.