An eventful period, in which Andrew was fighting off claims related to the debts of Mr Robins and trying to sell the property at Holbeton. The legalities were long and frustrating. There was no register of land ownership in those days, and the solicitor acting for a prospective purchaser had to be satisfied that the seller had the right to do so and that the property was unencumbered by other claims. A glance at some wills in this collection [eg those of James Hingston and James Lesten] shows how complicated could be the claims against a property and the lengths legators sometimes went to to prevent it being sold without these other rights being secured.
| 1828 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feby 2 omitted in acct settled |
Attending you in long conference & advising respecting your transactions with Mr Robins particularly with respect to a security made by him to you for £500 due which was prepared by & remained in the hands of Mr Taunton as same comprized other provisions | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 9 | Horse 4/- Expenses (part yours) 3/3 at Kingsbridge | - | 7 | 3 | |
| 1829 | |||||
| May | 18 | Taking long written instructions for sale of lands in Holbeton and conference thereon | - | 6 | 8 |
| Drawing long Advertisement & Copy | - | 7 | 6 | ||
| Copy for the printer & attending on him | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| Paid his charge for 150 posting bills & 50 more ordered by you afterwards | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||
| Paid publishing at various towns & places, Messengers & carriers conveying same | - | 9 | 6 | ||
| 21 | Attending you discussing mode of intended sale entire or in lots & as to advertising in Newspapers | - | 3 | 4 | |
| 22 | Copy Advertisement & letter for two insertions in the Sherborne Paper & afterwards attending and paying for same | - | 6 | 8 | |
| Paid for insertions and postage | 1 | 5 | 9 | ||
| The like for 3 ditto in Woolmer's Exeter Paper | 6 | 8 | |||
| Paid for same | 1 | 9 | 1 | ||
| May | 28 | Attendance & conference respecting the intended lots & particulars of the premises | - | 3 | 4 |
| Drawing out the particulars in order for production & Copy | - | 5 | - | ||
| June | 1 | Copy Advertisement & etc to the Printer for 2 insertions in the Plymouth Paper & afterwards attending & paying for same | - | 6 | 8 |
| Paid for insertion | 1 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 6 | Preparing Draft your will left with you this day (charged when finished) | - | - | - | |
| 18 | Attending you & taking down the particulars of the lots & memorandums & instructions for special Conditions of sale & long conference hereon | - | 5 | - | |
| Copy of the lots & particulars for Mr Savery on behalf of Mr Bulteel & attending him twice hereon | - | 6 | 8 | ||
| 19 | Drawing very long & special Conditions for sale fol 28 | - | 18 | 8 | |
| Fair Copy thereof for the Auction | - | 9 | 4 | ||
| Drawing notice to the Auctioneer for buying in to save duty and copy to deliver | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| Attending the auction at Holbeton - and Horse | 1 | 11 | 6 | ||
| 29 | At your request attending Mr Savery who brought Mr Bulteel's offer of £2600 conferring thereon & his calculation & taking minutes to write you | - | 6 | 8 | |
| Letter to you with this information | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| July | 8 | Writing you contents of Mr Savery's letter advancing to £2700 | - | 3 | 6 |
| 9 | Letter to Mr Savery as requested offering reduction to £2900 & with long observations | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 16 | Writing you contents of another letter from Mr Savery | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 25 | Letter to Mr Savery as further requested & copy | - | 3 | 6 | |
| Aug | 18 | Attendance long conference & took instructions to close with Mr Bulteel's offer & letter to Mr Savery accordingly | - | 7 | - |
| 26 | Attending when you brought Title Deeds - inspecting same making enquiries & drawing list of some wanting | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 27 | Preparing the contract between you & Mr Bulteel with long and special conditions of Auction annexed | 1 | 1 | - | |
| 31 | Long conference with you in company with Mr John Hyatt & Mr Abbott respecting the missing Deeds | - | 3 | 6 | |
| Sept | 2 | Attending Mr Wyatt who produced some deeds but requested to have them again and | |||
| 3 | next day attending him & Mr Venning when they left Conveyance Deeds of Watergate & Portwayhead for the purpose of abstract | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 5 | Pursuing all the Title Deeds & arranging same in order to deduce the title | 13 | 6 | ||
| 10 | Preparing abstract of Title this day completed & fair copy sent to Mr Savery as solicitor to the purchaser 15 sheets at 10/- | 7 | 10 | - | |
| Letter to Mr Savery as to the Contract etc | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| 14 | Long conference with you & Mr Geo Robins & advising about his Brother's matter with reference to Mr J Harris' proceedings in the trust of Marriage settlement & generally as to the whole question | - | 6 | 8 | |
| 16 | Making copy Mr Savery's observations on the Title for reference before returning same with answers annexed & drawing such answers & inserting same thereon & on copy & writing Mr Savery & making list of deeds for production to him | - | 13 | 4 | |
| 28 | Conference as to the title with reference to Mr Savery's requisitions respecting the three terms attendant on the inheritance & the certificates of burial & as to the necessity of Mr Roe's joining in conveyance of the fee as heir at law of his father | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 30 | Attendance at Mr Savery's office discussing subject with him & endeavouring prevail on him to waive assignment of terms - also as to production of deeds by Mr Pode & making arrangement thereon | - | 3 | 6 | |
| Making a list of the deeds to be produced & letter to Mr Pode explaining case & requesting production to Mr Savery & copy | - | 5 | - | ||
| Oct | 2 | Attending & producing to Mr Savery the Title deeds & assisting in comparing same with the abstract great part of the day | - | 13 | 6 |
| 4 | Postage from Mr Whiteford Mr Pode's Solicitor | - | - | 5 | |
| 5 | Attending you conferring about the answers given by the parties you had applied to as to assigning the terms & attending at Mr Savery's with Mr Whiteford's letter respecting the deeds which had been delivered over to Mr Tonkin | - | 3 | 6 | |
| Writing to Mr Abraham at your request in answer respecting the question of land tax raised by Mr Elliott & copy | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| Letter to Mr Anthony to remove his objection to assigning the term which was vested in late Mr Leight & copy | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| 20 | Letter to J Tonkin Esq requesting him to produce Title Deeds of Battisborough to Mr J Savery & explaining the circumstances & copy | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 31 | Journey to Kingsbridge with you by appointment & attending Mr Harris discussing & conferring on Mr E Robins' affairs with reference to the money paid you - & conferring with you & Mr Geo Robins & Mrs Robins - perusing Schedule etc | 1 | 11 | 6 | |
| Horse and expenses (rest paid by you) | - | 5 | - | ||
| Nov | 1 | Letter to Mr Cornish hereon & determined on yesterday & copy | - | 3 | 6 |
| 3 | Attendance Mr Harris here & long conference with him hereon when arranged to see you with proposal & to write him your answer | - | 3 | 6 | |
| Letter to Mr Harris according to your instructions yesterday | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| 6 | Postage from him | - | - | 6 | |
| 10 | Conference on Mr Robin's matter when communicated Mr Harris' letter | - | - | - | |
| 19 | Conference on letter from Mr Cornish & on letter from Mr Harris containing copies of letters from Mr Cornish & taking instructions to answer | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 20 | Long letter to Mr Harris entering fully into subject & copy | - | 5 | - | |
| 23 | Conference with you on Mr Robins' matter - Mr H Harris having said we were expected at Totnes on Saturday & that something would soon be done (supposed hostile) and | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 24 | Conference with Mr Geo Robins on the same etc | ||||
| Dec | 1 | Long attendance on Mr Thomas Harris who came again from Kingsbridge on this subject urging payment on a confidence that you would be admitted to prove the original debt, entering fully into the case & prevailing on him to hold out until this should be secured | - | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | letter to Mr Savery with draft Conveyance in fee & assignments of Terms to attend - & explanations thereon | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 5 | Having received a letter from him as to Dower - attending at his office & long discussion to shew that a fine was unnecessary under the circumstance of the title & to prevail on him to waive same & also as to the custody of the Title Deeds when he said he would consider these matters | - | 6 | 8 | |
| 26 | Attendance on Mr Harris at Kingsbridge & long conference on the matter of Mr Robins | - | 6 | 8 | |
| Attendance on Mr Square with Draft Conveyance to Mr Bulteel for perusal on behalf of Mr Roe & explaining | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| 31 | Carriage Draft returned from Mr Square & postage previous letters | - | - | 8 | |
| 1830 | |||||
| Jany | 9 | Conference as to getting the Assignment of terms executed & as to previously getting further information & supplying blanks - referring to memorandums etc | - | 3 | 6 |
| 14 | Attending your execution Deed of Assignment of several terms to a trustee for Mr Bulteel - conference with you thereon - & giving you verbal & written instructions as to obtaining the execution of the assignors & delivered to you the Deed for that purpose | - | 6 | 8 | |
| 19 | Letter to Mr Savery in answer to communication from him | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 21 | Referring to & perusing clauses in will of late Mr W Hingston & advising as to Amy Jenkins' legacy etc | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 30 | Messenger with letter in the Country to postpone prior engagement that I might accompany you tomorrow as you particularly wished | - | 1 | - | |
| Feby | 1 | Journey with you to Graton obtaining & attesting Mr Roe's execution of the Conveyance deeds - & from thence to Plymouth & endeavouring prevail on Mr Anthony to execute the assignment of terms engaged with him many hours but in vain & he also refused to shew his uncle's will - detained till late & remained the night | 2 | 2 | - |
| Horse hire - & part expenses | - | 9 | 6 | ||
| 3 | Attending at Mr Savery's with the assignment of terms explaining circumstances of Mr Anthony's refusal - arguing point & endeavouring prevail on him to accept the title without as there was a prior term will assigned - but he would not positively determine & wished to see Mr Leight's will or an extract & requesting same might be sent for | - | 6 | 8 | |
| Letter to Proctor instructing to search & to send specified particulars & copy | - | 5 | - | ||
| His charges & postage my letter | - | 7 | 7 | ||
| 4 | Conference with you on letter from Mr Savery respecting the Timber which Mr Bulteel objected to pay for - searching out & perusing all the correspondence making copies - referring to the Conditions of auction - & copies of letters in order to make out case | - | 7 | 6 | |
| Very long & explanatory letter to Mr Savery hereon with extract from Conditions & Copy | - | 5 | - | ||
| 6 | Having received another letter from Mr Savery raising question as to interest & imputing the delay to you - answering same contending that the delay had been on Mr Bulteel's side & urging his acceptance of the title - but if not that he had better reinvest the money as you would not lose interest on rent & copy | - | 5 | - | |
| 7 | Postage letter from Proctor with answer | - | - | 11 | |
| Finding that Mr Anthony was not executor - but your late uncle & Mr Legassicke were executors in trust writing letter to Mr Froude executor of the latter with explanation of the case & requesting he would Execute the Assignment & to know how it should be sent & Copy | - | 5 | - | ||
| Paid the postage | - | - | 8 | ||
| 13 | Attending you discussing Mr Savery's answer about the timber with Mr Bulteel's positive refusal - referring to letters & conditions & taking your instructions hereon | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 15 | Postage answer from Mr Froude | - | - | 8 | |
| Attending at Mr Savery's communicating your decision as to the timber & offering to leave the question to an indifferent person and conference as to Mr Froude's assigning the term | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| Attending the draft assignment as to the term vested in Leight's representatives & also the engrossment | - | 5 | - | ||
| Letter & received to Mr Froude therewith Booking & Messenger | - | 4 | 6 | ||
| 16 | Letter to Mr Savery proposing to refer the disputed question to an indifferent person | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 18 | Long conference with Mr Harris in the matter of Robins when he requested affidavits of debt to be made - & taking minutes from the Bond & Notes for that purpose | - | 3 | 6 | |
| 20 | Drawing & Engrossing very special Affidavit of your debt | - | 7 | - | |
| Oath by Master extra | - | 2 | 6 | ||
| The like of Mr John Robins & oath | - | 9 | 6 | ||
| 19 | Long conference & discussion of timber valuation you had procured & at length taking instructions to write Mr Savery & Mr Bulteel that you would relinquish unless Mr J Bulteel thought proper to pay any thing on this account | - | 3 | 6 | |
| Writing to each of them accordingly & sending | - | 5 | - | ||
| Writing Mr Froude in consequence of the non return | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| 28 | Paid carriers bill with deed returned | - | 4 | 6 | |
| Ditto postage letter from Mr Riccard his Solicitor | - | - | 8 | ||
| Writing to Mr Savery to fix day and | |||||
| having received his answer writing you of the same | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| Mar | 1 | Attending at Mr Savery's Mon but you came afterwards & postponed the appointment to Thursday - writing to Mr Savery thereof | - | - | - |
| 4 | Attending you calculating interest conferring & stating account of purchase money & interest - and afterwards attending & completing the business with Mr Savery | 1 | 1 | - | |
| To many attendances on Mr Cleverton Mr Hooppell etc who proposed to purchase parts of the premises & frequent conferences with you in the course of these transactions & attendances at Mr Savery's occasioned by unexpected difficulties arising - & also in the matter of Mr Robins (not particularised - no charge) | - | - | - | ||
| July | 22 | Conference on the matter of Mr Robins as to meeting of Creditors advertised | - | - | - |
| 31 | Journey with you to Totnes & attending advertised meeting of Mr Robin's Creditors in order to get your debt regularly substantiated so as to entitle you to a Dividend on paying back the £100 to Mr Harris - & also to explain the consideration for the debt by producing the original notes of hand & obviating the suspicion as to its being a sham debt etc | 1 | 11 | 6 | |
| Horse & part expenses | - | 6 | - | ||
| Aug | 12 | Paid carriage received from Mr Cornish with letter & also notice for you & copy communication from his Agent etc and also paid postage of several letters from Mr Harris & Mr Cornish to this time | - | 2 | 6 |
| 13 | Writing him in answer | - | 3 | 6 | |
| Sending the notice & writing you | - | 3 | 6 | ||
| 14 | Conference with you hereon | - | - | - | |
| Sept | 9 | Conference on matter of Robins & referring to Mr Cornish's letters | - | - | - |
| Postage letter from Mr Riccard acknowledging remittance of his charges | - | - | 8 | ||
| Oct | 7 | Answering your enquiry on Mr Robin's matter | - | - | - |
| 1831 | |||||
| For drawing your Will & fair copy for perusal left with you (long ago) and since its return making fair copy for execution 4½ sheets - & attendances about same | 2 | 2 | - | ||
| Mar | 3 | For drawing a Codicil & fair Copy for execution & attendance thereon several hours this day | - | 10 | 6 |
| ________ | |||||
| (endorsed) | Settled this bill Settled by a receipt on stamp | 46 | 5 | 2 | |