Thu 29 Aug 1776
Ralph Sherward of Upton agreed to supply oak scantlings at 21d per foot.
Mr Grazebrook to agree terms with Mr Lodge of £35 for 20 years use of quarry.
Rev. Robert Stevens has agreed to sell land needed for canal at 33s per acre and 35 years purchase, and accepted £100 in part purchase until land is measured.
Mr Baylis reported that Mr Saunders had complained that the drains being built were not wide or deep enough to take flood water.
Mr Lingard to erect crane to loading stones and bricks.
At a Meeting of the Committee held by Adjournment at the George Inn in Stroud on Thursday the 19^th Day of August 1776
Present: Joseph Wathen, Anthony Keck, Robert Ellis, John Hollings, Durley Wintle, Benjamin Grazebrook, Freame Arundell, Thomas White.
Read the Minutes of the Last Meeting.
M^r Ralph Sheward of Upton upon Severn Attended the Committee to whom some particulars of the Oak Scantlings proper for the Navigation were communicated. ~~ He made his proposals of supplying the Company with good Oak Timber Scantlings at 21^d per foot, to be rendered agreeable to Articles to be Sign'd by M^r Ralph Sheward, s^d articles were executed & are in the hands of our Clerk.
Ordered That Instructions be sent by the Clerk, on Saturday next, to M^r Ralph Sherward, to be left at the White Hart in Glocester till call'd for.
Ordered That our Clerk do Write to M^r Wright, that the Committee have taken into consideration his application to them, to be paid for his Attendance upon them; that they do not think themselves under an Obligation to him on that account, as his attendance was wholly in consequence of his proposals to them, but his Terms were such as could not be comply'd with.
M^r B: Grazebrook Reported that he had been with M^r Lingard to Blakeney to examine the Quarrys for Stone, that they has treated with M^r Lodge for a Supply of Stone, that his terms were Thirty five pounds for the use of his Quarry for twenty Years, or not less than fifteen.
Ordered that M^r Grazebrook do go to M^r Lodge and agree with him on the above terms on the behalf of the Company.
M^r B: Grazebrook Reported that he had this day met the Rev^d M^r Robert Stephens at Eastington and pointed out to him the Lands belonging to him that will wanted for the Navigation, that he had agreed to pay him at the rate of thirty three Shillings per Acre and thirty five years purchase, and that he paid him one Hundred pounds in part of the purchase money, and that the remainder to be paid to him when the quantity of his Land can be ascertained ~~ and that M^r Stephens gave his Receipt for the money paid.
M^r Baylis reported that he had seen M^r Saunders, who complain'd that the Drains now making were not sufficiently wide and deep, to convey the water from the Lands, but that they will be liable to Floods, if not deepned and widened very considerably. Ordered that M^r Grazebrook do waite on M^r Saunders to view such parts of the said Drains and give the necessary orders to have it done.
Ordered that M^r Lingard do give directions to have one of our Cranes erected in such place as he shall see necessary for Craning up Bricks, Stones, etc.
Ordered that M^r Ralph Sherward be desired to go to Deerhurst to Measure M^r Kemmetts Timber and send the account of it to M^r B: Grazebrook.
Ordered that one of the Authenitcated Plans, with the reference be delivered to the Clerk of the Peace.
Adjourned this Meeting to Thursday the 12^th Day of September at four of the Clock in the afternoon at the George Inn in Stroud.
