R3/3874

Letter mainly regarding Wilden labourers and management, irregular stipend, threats of violence in Stevington, request for rick stands etc.

24 May 1835

From: 1835 To: 1835

Reads- Wilden labourers; unfortunate rectory estate should be left in present deplorable condition & little labour employed on it. Don't think meeting of proprietors would do good, - Moore's presence would not help unless he had means to pay labourers; pity Wilden ever got into Moore's hands; heartless conduct; don't know who would like to take the living in the state it now is; it will get worse. Think Duke ought (as patron) to call on Moore either to let land at reasonable rent or resign living. Curate complains bitterly of irregularity of stipend. Sorry Stevington people have been inclined to be outrageous; a man threatened to strike Anderson with a spade & he showed him his pistols; for this the man had him up before the magistrates; but evidence of self-defence; however, to be regretted. Seymour wants some rick stands for his farm; told him Duke used to provide, but not now; reasons.

item

Moore,
Duke of Bedford,
Anderson,
Seymour

WILDEN, labourer, rectories, ESTATES (LANDED), estate labour, buildings and land use, employment, estate wages, money, livings, patron of the living, curates, stipends, STEVINGTON, threatening behaviour, spade, guns, general legal process, magistrate, hay, farms