| Description | Letter from James Sherwood at Warthill to William Wailes esquire at Northallerton. He has received a letter from Mr Wailes warning him that he will be fined for not appearing at the Sessions on 9 April. He should have been told earlier so that he could explain his absence to the Justices. Mr Wailes' letter is dated Sunday last, but because of the "obscurity" of Sherwood's situation, his letters generally lie at York for a week or ten days. Sherwood has occupied his estate for six years and if he had served at the Sessions in question, he would have served on five juries in that time - once at Malton, twice at York Castle, once at Peter Sessions, and once at Easingwold. He had intended to attend at Easingwold, but had been told by the clerk of Peter Court that he had no right to attend any Sessions until his time had expired for serving at Peter Court, which would not be before Michaelmas 1795. He was told that the court had been pleased to fine him, and he had applied to his friend, Mr Dealtry chairman of the [Quarter] Sessions, who will also vouch for his having acted at Peter Sessions. A neighbour, George Hutchinson of Warthill, is in the same situation and has also been fined. If the fine is put into effect, Mr Sherwood will apply to the Justices to be relieved |