Affidavit – Aaron Mills – 22 May 1742

Aaron Mills of Newbiggin in the Parish of Newburn in the County of Northumb’d Yeoman aged Fifty Six Years or theirabouts and Wm Mills of the Barrowe Bridge in the said County Yeoman aged Forty Years or thereabouts Severally make Oath as follows And first the sd Aaron Mills for himself maketh Oath that he hath known the North Demesne and also the Goose Close both in the parish of Alnwick in the County aforesaid for thirty Four Years last past and when he first knew the Same The North Demain was farmed by James Harrigate and Widow Todd both now Deceased Under his Grace the Duke of Somersett, and Thos. Harrison now allso Deceased was farmer of the sd Goose Close Under the Derwentwater family Saith that when he first knew the sd North Demain and  Goose Close there was an antient Hedge or Dike near to and on the west side of a Runner that now is in the said Ground and which said Hedge was the Eastmost Bounder of the said Goose Close and Divided the same from the said North Demain And saith that all the Grounds on the west side of the said Hedge Lying within the Inclosures of the said Goose Close for all the time he so knew the same was the Goose Close and eaten by the Cattle of the Ten’ts or owners thereof And all the Grounds on the East side of the said Hedge for all the time of his knowledge as aforesd was part of the North Demain and eaten by the Cattle of the Tenants thereof.  And saith that he can the better Depose as above for that Thirty Four Years ago he was hired as a serv’t with the said Widow Todd and Served for a Year then next after during which time he Frequently saw his said Mistresses Cattle Depasturing upon all the said Grounds in Dispute and close to the East side of the said Hedge without any Molestation or Disturbance from any person Whatsoever And Saith that the Cattle belonging to the tenants of the said Goose Close did never during the time he was a Servant as above to his knowledge or that he ever heard of Depasture upon any of the Grounds in Dispute nor upon the east side of the sd Hedge but allways depastured on the west side thereof And the said William Mills maketh Oath that he hath known the said North Demesne and also the Goose Close for Thirty Six Years last past that when he first knew the same the North Demesne was farmed by James Harrigate & Widow Todd under his Grace the Duke of Sumersett, and Thomas Harrison & Robt. Richardson then farmed the said Goose Close under the Derwentwater Family Saith that when he first knew the said North Demesne and Goose Close there was an antient Hedge near to and on the West side of a Runner that now is in these Grounds which Said Hedge was the Eastmost Bounder of the said Goose Close and Divided the same from the North Demesne And Saith that all the Grounds on the West Side of the said Hedge lying within the Inclosure of the said Goose Close for all the time he knew the same was the Goose Close and Eaten by the Cattle of the Tenants or owners thereof And all the Grounds on the East side of the said Hedge for all the time of his Knowledge as aforesaid was part of the sd North Demesne and Eaten by the Cattle of the Tenants thereof And Saith that he can the better Depose as above for that Thirty Six years ago he was hired as a Servant with the said James Harrygate and Served him for Four Years then next after during which time he frequently Saw his said Masters Cattle Depasturing upon all the Grounds in Dispute and close to the East Side of the said Hedge without any Molestation or Disturbance from any p’son whatever And Saith that the Cattle belonging to the Tenants of the said Goose Close did ever during the time he was a Servant as above to his Knowledge or that he ever heard of Depasture upon any of the Grounds in Dispute nor on the East Side of the said Hedge but allways Depastured on the West Side thereof.

Aaron MillsWilliam Mills



Taken & Sworn at Howick in the County of Northumberland 22nd May 1742 before me Henry Grey  Esq.  one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace of and for the said County



Jan’ry 22 1744/5  Sent the Board this day