HN10/271/Holdom41

Draft of evidence to be given by John Holdom as defendant in his action with George Slark: "During the summer of 1883 [sic] I was the owner of land in Fenny Stratford. Home Close about 5 acres including my house & buildings. That also other property in Fenny Stratford of this between 3 & 4 acres was by my direction advertised for Sale by Public Auction on the [blank]. In June 1882 Mr.Slark called upon me at Fenny Stratford. He said would I sell a [unreadable] at the top of the home close he said he knew a party that would buy, he thought they would give about £400 an acre. I sent [sic] I would rather sell the whole as it stood as I dd [sic] not [unreadable] for the trouble of selling it up. A few days afterwards I received a note from him saying there was a gentleman at his house who would like to see him about the land. I went down to his house and saw there Mr.Slark & Mr.Geo.Willis Willis asked me what I wanted for the land & House & buildings as it stood I said £5000. Willis offered £3500 I refused that and left. One day after this I happened to see Slark on the land I had advertised to sell and asked him whether he knew what the Willis were going to do. He sent [sic] he was going to Leighton and would see them. Afterwards he informed me by letter that they had withdrawn from their offer of £3500 & were now only disposed to give £3000. After that one day I met him again on the land and brought him down to my house. We had some conversation about Willis offer and I intimated to him that if Willis would renew their offer of £3500 I felt inclined to accept it. He said he would write to them and subsequently I heard from him by letter I believe that they refused to give more than £3000. Then we heard from him that he would come on the 24th June and bring Mr.Willis with him. They came on the 24th and after some conversation about the sale Mr.Willis asked us to withdraw the land we had advertised for sale. I said I would not do that because we had put it into Wigley's hands for sale & it would not be fair to him. Willis said it will make no difference to Wigley as he would have his sale. I said if we withdrew the plots they ought to go back to their first offer of £3500 but that Willis said he would not do but ultimately agreed to give £3100 which I assented to. Slark produced a contract read it over and I signed it

1883

From: 1883 To: 1883

item

Holdom, John,
Slark, George,
G.& D.T.Willis,
Willis, George,
Wigley, George Davys Edwards

legal papers, County Courts, specific solicitors, George Willis, G.& D.T.Willis, Fenny Stratford fields, Fenny Stratford