Witness Deposition – John Stuart – 9 Nov 1720

[Two embossed Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense stamps, each of 6 pence, and an inked stamp of 8 pence]

In Suprem Cur Cam



John Stuart of High House in the parish of Hunstanworth in the County of Durham Yeoman maketh Oath that he hath known the Leadmines commonly called or known by the name of Jeffreys Groves in the Manor of Blanchland for twenty yeares last past & upwards & this Deponent hath dureing all or most part of that time been imployed as a Workman or Steward in or about the said Leadmines and that dureing all the said time this Deponent was concerned & imployed, the said Leadmines were wrought fairly & orderly according to the usual course of working Leadmines & that all the shafts & levells belonging to the said Leadmines were left in good order on the twenty seventh day of February last past save two or three Old Shafts which were run together And this Deponent further deposeth that Jonathan Maugham who was Agent for the Comm[issioner]s of the Forfeited Estates in England did in November last past ride the shafts & took a view of the Workeings in the said Leadmines after the Engine had drawn down the Water which was in the Workeings, And this Deponent saith that after the said Jonathan Maugham had viewed the said Leadmines he declared to this Deponent that he found the said Leadmines in good order except the said two or three Old Shafts which were run together & since that time the Same hath been repaired & put into good order by Henry Grey Esq.

[signed] John Stuart



Capt et Jurat apud Vill Novi Castr super Tinam Nono die Novembris Anno Regui Dui uri Georgii nunc Regis Magnus Britanie Et Septimo <Corine>

Char: Smithson <Magr in C.. Extraordinate>