Chippenham <1>
15 July 1841
Dear Sir,
I am happy to be able to inform you that your Account as Sheriff has been passed with the Treasury and I am promised your Quietus next week – I enclose the particulars of an Estate to be sold next month, belonging to the Montague Family, it adjoins your Estate at Nash Hill – the present Tenant of the property is Mr Sotheron <2> who told me some time since that he mentioned to you his expectation of its being offered for sale – if you wish any further particulars prior to the sale I shall be happy to obtain them for you –
I have succeeded after a good deal of Correspondence with the Dean & Chapter of Ch: Ch: <3> is getting the trial of the Action which they have Commenced against you for the purpose of establishing their claim to Titles of your Farms at Nethermore <4> & Nash Hill, postponed till the next Spring Assizes.– that against Mr Starky <5> is to be tried next Week and I hope the decision in that Case will determine yours without your being subjected to any further Expence –The Dean & Chapter were very desirous that you should at once agree to abide by the decision of the Starky’s, but that I objected to, considering your claim to Exemption to be in some respects stronger than his – if they fail in establishing their claim to Titles in his Case of course they will not proceed further with yours –
I remain
Your obliged & obed Servt
West Awdry.
Notes:
1. Chippenham, Wiltshire: largest town near Lacock, 3 miles N.
2. Thomas Henry Sutton Sotheron Bucknall Estcourt (1801–1876), MP.
3. Christ Church.
4. Nethermore Farm and Wood, Lacock, Wiltshire.
5. John Starky of Spye Park, a neighbour of WHFT.