Letter from John Downes

Nantwich

Transcript;-

Revd. Sir

I am gratified by the honour of, and Kindness in your invitation to examine the papers in your possession received from the family of Downes of Shrigley. I think that further information from the Duchy office would be advisable, as likely to evoke some affirmative, that would satisfy yourself and your family, you having now the opportunity. This narrative of the circumstances preceding and of the facts to which the Duchy were parties, in respect of the property, may not be inapt to the occasion of your projected visit there. A Mr. Cherry of Hertfordshire descended from a common ancestor with myself, having been furnished with some genealogical information by me, (he) being descended from an elder brother of my Great Grandfather) instituted enquiries, and thinking that the true heir of Richd was discovered in some one under the Taxal pedigree, but subsequently finding that, a fallacy; sold his evidences to the Duchy for two thousand pounds. If the claim of the Duchy by attaint of John the elder brother of Richd be presentible and legal, I do not know the circumstances creative of the hindrance to possession. The Lease for 200 years was a mortgage, that expired by effluxion of time; hence the enquiry for the heir.

Yours truly/John Downes/Nantwich 15 May/1871

P.S. Anything in your papers referring to Coles' Collns might serve this inquiry. Cole was an antiquary: he seems too to have been a friend of the Shrigley fam:

No mark.