[Corotoman, Lancaster County, Virginia]
Sep. 17. 1729
Mr Richard Hickman
Sir
I have this day heard by Mr Stagg that Lewis Contesse my Tenant
is lately dead, that his Widow is removed hath left all his Goods & has
locked up into the House, & as she says for me He owed me on the
ninth of August last for seven Years Rent at eight pounds per Annum of --
which he has paid me but eight pounds fifteen shillings so that there
remains due to me forty seven pounds five Shillings, this I can make --
appear by a Writing under his Hand to which Mr Attorney is Witness
I cannot think of any person so proper to be of use to me in this
Matter as yourself. Rents are a Debt so sacred a Nature that I think
the Law will allow them to be served before any others. The Widow is ordered to
have removed none of her Husbands Goods, leaving them for me to be
served out of them. I desire you would take Advice what Method is
proper for you to proceed in. To be sure the Goods ought to be valued,
My Request is, & I do hereby impower you to act for me in all Respects
as fully as if I were present
It seems there is a Woman & her Daughter that have pos=
sessed themselve of my Kitchen, & have been desired by Mr Contesse
to take Care of my dwelling House. I must leave it to you either to continue
these people there or else if you can meet with a person whom you like
better to place there in the Room to remove them. The Furniture in
my dwelling House cost me above fifty pounds Sterl. The Care of them
& the Housing, I am mighty desirous should be put into the hands of
some honest Body. Your kindness in the Affair will very much oblige
Your Friend &
humble Servt
