Letter from Anne Amyas October 1779

The following letter was addressed to “Mr Edward Benson, Auditor to the Dean & Chapter, Canterbury”.

Transcript of the letter

Beccles
Oct^br 31^st 1779

Sir,

I intended renewing my Lease at the usual time but yours of the 24^th June alarmed me greatly & made me demur. Yet I think & hope there may be some mistake.
The value of the Leasehold till 1772 appeared to be £90 – the Fine £76 – At that time M^r Thomas Benson wrote that a Survey had been made & the Dean & Chapter had satisfyd themselves that the extended value of the Estate was £142 :8s & that the rule of the Chapter made the Fine amount to £142:2s:6d but that rise being so considerably above the former Fine viz £66 they were willing to make an abatement of a moiety¹ of the rise & set the Fine at £109 – Since which time I have been at great trouble & expence endeavouring to raise the Tythes & Glebes according to the Dean & Chapter’s Valuation but one year with another I have not been able to raise the whole more than £31:8s:6d a year & in this account I have added the whole of the raise I made to the L’hold; (tho some of my own Land is Let with it & consequently that goes at the old Rents) besides the Repairing the Buildings is a constant & heavy expence especially the old Barn, which I wish the Dean & Chapter to consider. – If you Sir will give yourself the trouble of laying these facts before the Dean & Chapter I am desirous of satisfying you for the trouble you take & hope the Dean & Chapter will set such a Fine as I can comply with.
Please to let me know if you will undertake this affair & direct your Letters to Mrs Anne Amyas Beccles Suffolk – your Letter to Deopham went a great round & it was by accident I rec’d it at last. I am sir,
Your humble Servant,
Anne Amyas

the outgoings which the Dean & Chapter allow are £28:14s:-

Chapter of Canterbury Archives AL152
Transcription © G. Sankey

The original letter

Reproduced courtesy of the Chapter of Canterbury; their ref  AL152

Footnotes

1. Moiety – i.e. a part (of the increase) ↩︎

Date	Change
6/1/24	Published