George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain ffrance and Ireland King Defender of the ffaith and soforth To All to whom these our Letters patent shall come Greeting know ye that we as well for and in Consideration of a ffine of one hundred pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain by our beloved subjects Thomas Harridge, Thomas Lee, John Durrevel Kemp, Henry Fisher, David Harridge Junior and George King before the Sealing of these presents paid to our use unto the Receipt of our Exchequer at Westminster as by a Tally thereof levied the fourteenth day of July instant appears as for and in Consideration of the yearly Rent [illegible - fold] and of convenient consideration and agreements therein [illegible - fold] with the advice of our Right Trusty and well beloved William Pitt first Commissioner of our Treasury of Great Britain and Chancellor and under Treasurer of our Exchequer and of our Trusty and well beloved John Buller Senior James Graham Esquire (commonly called Marquis of Graham) Edward James Eliot and John Audrey Esquires Commissioners of our said Treasury have demised granted and to ffarm Letten And by these presents for ourself our Heirs and Successors Do Demise Grant and to ffarm Let unto the said Thomas Harridge Thomas Lee John Durrevel Kemp Henry ffisher David Harridge Junior and George King All that piece or parcel of Ground Covered with water being the Soil or Bed of a certain Creek commonly called or known by the name of Leigh Swatch near the Town of Leigh in our County of Essex abutting Northwards on Chalkwell Ouze and Southwards on Canvay Spitt in part and on Popling Sand otherwise Popperell Sand on other part extending in Length from the North of the said Swatch at the South East End thereof to the North West end of the same Three Miles in Length and in Breadth from the Low Water Mark on the North East side thereof to the Low Water Mark on the South West One hundred and fifty four yards more or less Together with all Ways Passages Rights Liberties Priviledges Shoars Channels Banks Sands and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said premises belonging or appertaining which said piece or parcel of Ground Covered with Water as aforesaid is parcel of the possessions of our Crown of England in our County of Essex aforesaid intended for an Oyster ffishery for Supply of the London Markets And by our Letters Patent under the Seal of our Court of Exchequer bearing date at Westminster the seventeenth day of June in the second year of our Reign One thousand seven hundred and sixty two Was Demised to Edward David Richard Tidy John Taylor and Thomas Handley (on surrender of certain former Letters Patent then in being) To hold to the said Edward Davis Richard Tidy John Taylor and Thomas Handley their Executors Administrators and Assigns from the date or making of our said recited Letters Patent for the Term of Thirty one years at and under the yearly Rent of Ten pounds payable at the times and in manner therein mentioned To have hold and enjoy the said piece or parcel of Ground Covered with Water and premises hereinbefore mentioned to be hereby demised with the Appurtenances unto the said Thomas Harridge Thomas Lee John Durrevel Kemp Henry ffisher David Harridge Junior and George King their Executors Administrators and Assigns from the seventeenth day of June which will be in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and ninety three (at which time the said Term of Thirty one years in and by our said recited Letters Patent Granted of and in the same premises will end and expire) for and during and unto the full End and Term of Twenty two years and the half of another year in Reversion from thenceforth next ensuing and fully to be complete and ended Rendering and Paying therefore yearly and every year to us our Heirs and Successors for and out of the said Demised premises the yearly Rent or Sum of Ten Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain at or into the Receipt of our Exchequer at Westminster or to the Hands of our Bailiff or Receiver General for the time being of our said County of Essex at or upon the fifth day of April and the Tenth day of October in each and every year by even and equal half yearly portions or payments during the Term of Twenty two years part of the said Term of Twenty two years and the half of another year in and by these presents Granted or mentioned or intended to be Granted as aforesaid The first payment thereof to begin and be made at such of the said Days of payment as shall first and next happen after the Commencement of the said Term hereby Granted And Rendering and Paying to us our Heirs and Successors at or into the said Receipt of our said Exchequer or to the Hands of our said Bailiff or Receiver General for the time being on the last day of the said Term hereby Granted the Sum of ffive pounds of like lawful Money as and for the last half years Rent of the said premises And the said Thomas Harridge Thomas Lee John Durrevel Kemp Henry ffisher David Harridge Junior and George King for [illegible - fold] and each of them Doth Covenant Promise and Agree to and with us our Heirs and Successors by these presents in manner and form following that is to say That they the said Thomas Harridge Thomas Lee John Durrevel Kemp Henry ffisher David Harridge Junior and George King their Executors Administrators and Assigns shall and will from time to time during the said Term hereby Granted well and truly pay or cause to be paid unto us our Heirs and Successors as well the said yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds as also the said Sum of five pounds hereinbefore respectively reserved and made payable as aforesaid at such days and times and in such manner and form as are hereinbefore expressed and appointed for payment thereof respectively free and clear of and from all Deductions Declarations and Abatements whatsoever And Further that they the said Thomas Harridge Thomas Lee John Durrevel Kemp Henry ffisher David Harridge Junior and George King their Executors Administrators and Assigns shall and will during the said Term hereby Granted well and effectually carry on the Oyster ffishery upon the premises hereby Demised for and towards the supplying of the Markets of our City of London And also shall and will from time to time and at all times during the said Term keep Beacons on each side of the said premises hereby Demised at one hundred yard distance And likewise shall and will at all times during the said Term hereby Granted prevent any posts Stumps or any other Things from being set up whereby small Boats Craft or other Vessels navigating about or near the said premises shall or may receive any Annoyance Hindrance Prejudice or Damage whatsoever Provided always nevertheless that if the said yearly Rent or Sum of Ten pounds in and by these presents reserved as aforesaid or any part thereof shall at any time hereafter happen to be in arrear and unpaid by and during the space of Sixty days next after either or any of the said days at or upon which the same ought to be paid as aforesaid Or if these our Letters Patent And all and every Assignment and Assignments which shall or may at any time or times hereafter be made thereof or of the premises thereby Demised or any part thereof shall not be Inrolled before our Auditor of our said County of Essex or his Deputy for the time being within the space of Six Months next after the date and dates thereof respectively and Minutes or Docquets thereof entered in the Office of our Surveyor General of our Said Revenues for the time being within the space of Six Months next after each date and respective dates Then and from thenceforth in any such Case or on any such default this our present Demise and Grant And all and every such Assignment and Assignments shall and may be and be accounted null and void and of no force or virtue any thing in these presents contained to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding In Witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent Witness our above named Right Trusty and well beloved Commissioners of our Treasury aforesaid at Westminster the nineteenth day of July in the Twenty fifth year of our Reign One thousand seven hundred and eighty five
By Warrant of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury
Bentinck
Inrolled the xvth day of August 1785 before me
[Illegible signature]
Exd Jno Heaton Dep Clk of the Pipe
Minute or Docquet of these Letters Patent was entered in my
Office the fifth day of August 1785
[Signed] G Augustus Selwyn Surveyor General