Description:

The letter transcribed below was written in the context of a tithe dispute in which the Reverend Edward Sparkes was defendant in a legal action brought to court in Hereford in 1805. The Bishop’s letter to which it is a reply has not survived.

Transcription:

Longtown
August 19^th 1802

My Lord

I received your Lordships letter dated the twelfth & was much surprised Mr Rogers had made a complaint of arrears of salary without any previous notice to me on the subject as he every Sunday passes my house.

Had an opportunity last week of seeing Mr Rogers who has acceded to the proposals I made to him assuring me he would inform your Lordship of the same. I always considered him as a Friend and as such treated him with the civility my situation would admit. Could I bring the dispute with my Parishioners which have now been six years in agitation to a conclusion during which time I have not received above one third of my income from the Tythe Mr Rogers would find me as punctual in my payments as usual. I beg leave to return my Thanks to your Lordship for affording me an opportunity of accommodating matters with my Curate.

I am your Lordships Obedient Humble Serv’t
Edward Sparkes
Vicar of Clodock

Observations:

Envelope addressed to:

Hon Lord Bishop of St Davids

Abergwilly

Carmarthenshire

For more on the contemporary setting, click here to see the research paper ‘A tithe dispute in Clodock parish’.