Correspondence between George JACKSON and Rev Robert HEZLETT

D668/H/2/1 c 1780 George JACKSON to Rev. Robert HEZLETT. Letter asking for the loan of £400 at 6% as soon as possible

D668/H/2/5 Feb 9, 1785. George JACKSON, Carrickmacross to Rev. Robert HEZLETT, Coleraine. “'My dear sir, I now fulfill my promise of writing to you as I am settled here. You have been very kind to me but I am sorry to tell you the rest. I am necessitated to write to you on a disagreeable subject. I have got myself into a little scrape here by getting some time ago in debt. A person or two to whom I am indebted threaten to tell Carpendale of it. NOTE: I do not know who CAPENDALE was – possibly George CARPENDALE (1727-1817) of Co. Armagh. You sir, are the only friend I have to apply to and if you don't relieve me, am undone.
'I want a guinea. No less will do and hardly that. You may get a card and split it and slip the guinea and seal it up and it will come safe.'
'I never can enough thank you by letter but will thank you by word of mouth ...'.
PS. 'For God's sake send it or I shall be ruined. Answer this by post and say nothing. NOTE: His father, Richard JACKSON (d. 1789) was still alive, as was his younger brother Richard JACKSON (1768-1797). At the time, he was staying in Carrickmacross – with whom, I do not know. Interestingly, the mother of the United Irishman Heny JACKSON was a GAULT of Carrickmacross, and the JACKSONs that she married into lived nearby. SEE: DIB: JACKSON, Henry. In an 1801 letter to Rev Robert HAZLETT, recorder in he writes: As you tell me the Messrs Galts died so rich please to inform me if I have any chance of borrowing some few thousands of the heir. Apparently, he had been drawing money out faster than HEZLETT had received. SOURCE: Coleraine in By-Gone Centuries.  Rev T. H. Mullin. p. 144

D666/H/2/6 March 1, 1785. George JACKSON, Carrickmacross to Rev. Robert HEZLETT, Coleraine. Letter of thanks for kind present which arrived when wanted. '... the postage came to 8d. When you write next put "turn at Dunleer" on the outside and it will be but 4d. if a single sheet ...'.

D668/H/2/7 April 19, 1785. George JACKSON, Carrickmacross to Rev. Robert HEZLETT, Coleraine. Letter of thanks for the agreeable present which came at a very good time. He asks HEZLETT not to reply to this letter. 'I direct this with a feigned hand lest it should be known. Do not, my dear sir, say anything about it. I hoped it was not talked of at Jackson Hall. If it was you are my friend I know ...'

D668/R/48/1  June 20, 1792   Lease for 31 years at rent of £57.16.6 concerning George Jackson, Coleraine, and Rev. Robert Hezlett, Coleraine, and relating to dwelling houses, backyards, back gardens, etc, 15 acres 3 roods 18 perches in Coleraine.

D668/H/2/41 July 3, 1799. George JACKSON Bristol to the Rev. Robert HEZLETT, Coleraine. Letter proposing the establishment of a private Tontine at Coleraine and neighbourhood to the amount of £5,000 approx. 'Each subscriber to receive 6% in the first instance with benefit of survivorship so that the last liver would have all the interest though only perhaps a subscriber of £100. No lower sum than £50 to be taken. Thus should I realise a sum to pay off pressing demands, and only pay the same interest. To secure the payment of the annual interest I would lay off so much land, and the subscribers shall have their own receiver appointed, I giving up the lands, by deed. Pray consider this plan for me and you may consult with Mr Knox the attorney about it. In addition to this I think I would sell a townland or two at the extremity of the estate by which means a sum would be procured that would pay off all very urgent creditors

D668/H/2/66 Oct 2, 1799. Rev. Robert HEZLETT Coleraine] to Lt. Col. George JACKSON draft letter and memo concerning the payment of duty on 19 fire hearth £8 4s 8d and 70 window lights £15 19s 7d at Jackson Hall, Coleraine. '... I beg you may consider the unusual severity of the weather this whole season and the lateness of our harvest. We are only now reaping and taking in our grain. The situation of our poor must inevitably be calamitous and wretched indeed the ensuing winter. If you please, recollect that [I] often solicited a settlement of account for two years past. In truth I did not wish to press you too much lest I should offend or displease you ... I request there my be no delay as it will enable me to show where the floating sum is ... I believe I have done more for your real interest in three months that has been done in ten years. Your return of arrear of rent [is] a mass of errors and mistakes.

D668/1/60 Oct 13 1799 George JACKSON let Jackson Hall, Coleraine and retired to England. Quoted in Absenteeism in Eighteenth Century Ireland A.P.W. Malcomson Irish Economic and Social History, Vol. 1 (1974) …. NOTE: This reference does not show in PRONI index under that number

D668/H/2/129 Dec 21, 1800. Rev. Robert Rev. Robert HEZLETT, Coleraine to Lt. Col. George JACKSON. Draft letter mainly concerning finances, the appointment of a gamekeeper 'for your manor and estates', the need for his visiting Coleraine on leave of absence for two or three months if he is ordered abroad. '... We have had exceeding severe weather for some weeks past, high winds with rain, snow and hail etc. Our crops have not been remarkably good this season but thank God the grain has mostly been safely got in. The price indeed of grain, hay, oatmeal, flour etc. etc. and of every necessary article is very high except linen and linen yarn which is fallen near a third in value. The last September(?) market was a very bad one for the linens I am told did not bring the first cost. Mr Gage does not intend parting with Long Hill I intend selling the few riflings" you have at Jackson Hall. You had better say what will take for the Statutes and Journals of the House of Lords. The remainder of the books are of very little value. 'I beg to know what I am to do with the arrear of rent marked in your books, the greater part of it I believe irrecoverably lost or returned due by those who have receipts to show that they are not due any arrear ...'

D668/H/2/159 October 17, 1801. Lt. Col.] George Jackson, Carlisle, Cumberland to [Rev. Robert Hezlett, Coleraine]. 'My dear sir, I wrote to you on the 15th instant from London and am just come here after journey of 300 miles in 42 hours by the mail coach. I think this letter will reach you as soon, or sooner than my last from London.
'Remember you are to accept immediately my draft on you at 45 days date favour Messrs Hood's for £230 10s Od Irish Currency, and return it to Mr Latouche. You will provide for this acceptance by sending a bill of 31 days on Dublin to Messrs Latouche. I say so much on this subject, and repeat it so often lest otherwise you might not accept it but write to say you suppose it will be paid. You have my most particular and positive directions to accept, or you will ruin my credit in London and Dublin.
'Please to observe after all this is not money for my use, but £230 10s Od part of the interest due the [Clothworkers] Company the 2nd of last June. The entire [sum] of interest due is £424 10s Od. I have literally borrowed £200 and only drawn on you for £230.10.0. Is it not cruel that I am forced to borrow money even to pay interest! This cannot go on very long you must be sure.
'I will give you a rough statement of my affairs and leave you to judge whether interest ought not to be paid regularly. I suppose the gross debt £30,000. Interest on that sum at 6% is £1,800. The rent roll of the estate is £4,200. The chief rent £600. Consequently the account stands thus:
Interest on £30,000 at 6% is £1,800 per annum
Chief rent is 600 per annum
[Total] 2,400
Rent Roll 4,200
Deduct 2,400
Remains 1,800
'There is a surplus of £1,800 a year after paying everything and even more than there is to pay, and yet with such a surplus the interest can't be paid. I must borrow money to do it!!. And I beg particularly to ask the exact sum I have drawn from you since we parted at Coleraine in June 1800.
'In my letter from London of the 15th I requested you to come over to Scotland and meet me a few stages from Portpatrick. I have since been thinking that if you can get a vessel from Belfast to carry you to the town of Ayr in Scotland I will meet you there from the Duke of Hamilton's. Pray be expeditious; bring with you an exact list of the debts, a rent roll, the account between you and me since you were appointed receiver to the 1st of last May or the 1st of next November; the arrears due by the tenants, and particularly this letter and any other letters of mine that you may think useful. Pray attend minutely to these instructions!!!

D668/H/2/163 November 23, 1801 Lt. Col. George Jackson] Hamilton Palace, Scotland to [Rev. Robert Hezlett Coleraine]. Letter deploring his failure to meet him at Ayr to settle accounts due to his 'weak and debilitated state of health'. He stayed in Scotland almost a month and so certain was he of meeting Hezlett at Ayr that he stayed there 8 days at an inn by himself. He laments Hezlett's poor state of health but comments 'it almost appears, or I may say entirely so, that you do not find yourself equal to the very great exertions that my business requires ... I am sure I have always acted to you as a true friend. I always intend to be so to you and your family, but fairly speaking if you find your state of health, as you describe, are not you doing great injustice to yourself and hazarding your health, which it is so essential to your family you should preserve, by keeping the agency? I am certain from what you say and the proof of the last year (which has been a year of continual vexation to me in money matters) that your health does not permit you to do what your inclination wishes. You can't even answer my numerous questions. I have asked very many very particular ones and to a long letter of 4 sides of paper you reply in 5 or 6 lines. To me at the distance of 500 miles this is most unsatisfactory ...'

D668/H/2/167 February 19, 1802.  Lt. Col. George Jackson] Cocoa Tree, St. James's Street, London to [Rev. Robert Hezlett, Coleraine]. Letter deploring his inactivity as agent his failure to send details of receipts and expenditure leading to the intolerable position of him having in London to 'borrow money on annuity interest of 12 or 13 perhaps 20% to pay the [clothworkers] Company's interest only. I repeat and wish a fair explicit answer between man and man; can this arrangement go on? I known a year or two more of it would drive me and ... I ... think it fair to presume the tenants take the advantage of your not being able to go about as a stronger person might ...
'I know not how the shirts Miss Reed has now made may fit me but I do know that all the last have been altered, and with it all are now so little I cannot wear one with any comfort. [was he outing on weight?] Please to be particular on this subject, as I must get shirts somewhere soon.
'I certainly did promise to keep the inside of Killowen Church in repair, if the parish keep the outside ...'

D668/H2/179 August 2, 1802 Lt. Col.] George Jackson, Beach Hill near Ripley, Surrey to John Knox <!-- Unreadable Word -->"Billeague" Coleraine. Letter expecting satisfaction on his taking over the agency of the Coleraine estate from Rev. Hezlett.
'Dear sir, I am much satisfied with all you have done. I am sure you found the estate in bad order enough. I shall want some remittances to be made as soon as you get more money. Pray let me hear from you and I wish to know what arrear you think is recoverable besides the current rent.
'I also wish you would tell me what you suppose the probable amount of the money Mr "Hazlet" received during the time he did the business and in what state his accounts are ...'

D668/R/32 1790-1821. Estate papers relating to Hezlett and Jackson families Co. Derry

D668/3 and T1075/8 Page 43. Nov. 27. 1670. Wm. Jackson, Coleraine, Co. L'Derry. to Bishop of Derry. 1 acre of Ardacleve Dunboe Par. Co. L'Derry.

D642/B/60 Lease from George Jackson to Sir Hugh Hill of Jackson Hall, Coleraine. [1793]