Record

Document ReferencePl C 1/417
TitleLetter from Harcules Hankcock, 'Barley' [Barlow] to Edward Harley, Lord Harley [later 2nd Earl of Oxford], Dover Street, London; 27 Aug. 1723
Date27 August 1723
Extent2 ff
LevelItem/file
Content DescriptionExplains that he has been arrested and imprisoned by Mr John Cousons of Norton; protests that he has always followed Mr Cousons' orders as to the pilling and felling of wood; writes that the tenants told Mr Morley at Welbeck that Mr Cousons had ordered all their wood to be felled, but that Mr Morley said this had not been authorised by Lord Harley; alleges that Mr Cousons now claims that he never ordered Hankcock to proceed with the felling, but that many of the tenants heard him order just such a thing; asks to be freed as he has a family to support and has always been loyal; accuses Cousons of not returning his accounts, and protests that it is unfair to imprison him for doing the work he was told to do, even if it was not ordered by Lord Harley.

On the back: adds that all the tenants have asked Mr Cousons to free him, but that Mr Cousons demands payment of £5; states that he has not been allowed his wages and cannot afford the payment; adds that he has been in prison for six weeks.
Termtimber, felling of
punishments, imprisonment
justice, appeals for clemency

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Persons
CodePersonNameDates of existence
NA38705Cossen; John (fl 1713-1738); Mr; wood agent later chief agent of 2nd Earl of Oxford at Wimpolefl 1713-1738
NA38838Morley; John (1656-1732); Mr; of Halstead; land jobber; adviser to 2nd Earl of Oxford1656-1732
NA39040Hancock; Harcules (fl 1710s-1723); Mr; woodsman to Lord Harley in Derbyshirefl 1710s-1723
NA1047Harley; Edward (1689-1741); 2nd Earl of Oxford and Mortimer; styled Lord Harley 1711-17241689-1741
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