Witness Deposition – Anthony Surtees – 31 Aug 1764

Anthony Surtees of Medomsley Gent[leman] Aged 58



Hath known the Lead [struck out: ‘Road’] Way from Edmondbyers to Blaydon  38 Years, saith that it was always reputed to be & was always used as a publik [struck out: ‘Road’] Highway without Interruption till [struck out: ‘within’] about 14 Years last past. Saith that about 33 Years ago he took a Farm at Woodhead  in the pa[rish] of Ovingham & lived there 3 Years & is well acquainted with Woodhead Loaning (part of s[ai]d Lead way) Saith that s[ai]d Loaning & also other p[ar]ts of s[aid] Way (ab[ou]t 1/3d of Mile) on the S[outh] of s[ai]d Loaning was during these 3 years repaired by Stat[ute] Work as a publick Road lying in Township of [struck out: ‘Woodhead’] Hedley Low Wood, That this Informant & the other Farmers of Lands in Woodhead & also at the Hollings & Broadoak [struck out: ‘and from time to time when summoned’] in the s[ai]d Township  particularly Saml Swalwell of Woodhead all joined in to repairing s[ai]d p[ar]t of s[ai]d Way, by sending or providing [struck out: ‘Waines’] Dra[ugh]ts & Men thinking it their Duty to repair it as a publik Highway Saith that he hath know s[ai]d [struck out: ‘p[ar]t of s[ai]d Way’] Loaning for 50 Years he going to School at Woodhead & during all his knowledge thereof it was called & deemed generally to be a publick Highway or or Kings street. Saith that the Farm he so held at Woodhead is now in the pos[se]ssion of Thomas Snowball [struck out: ‘who’] as Ten[an]t to Mr Aubone Surtees who this [struck out: ‘Dep[onent]’] Informant says he has heard hath taken upon him to stop of obstruct [struck out: ‘the s[ai]d High Loaning or Way’] the passage thro’ part of the s[ai]d Highway.



{Summary of this deposition given elsewhere differs slightly from the above, and is therefore given here:]

Saith that he hath known the present Lead Way from Edmondbyers to Blaydon 38 Years & that it was always reputed to be & enjoyed as a Public Highway & that he never knew of any Interruption ‘til about 14 years ago that Sam[ue]l Swalwell & others demanded & exacted a Toll or Acknowledgm[en]t for passing along Woodhead (or Swalwell’s) Loaning part of the s[ai]d Way Saith that about 33 years ago he took a Farm at Woodhead & lived there 3 years was well acquainted with the s[ai]dWoodhead Loaning. Saith that the s[ai]d Loaning & also other part of the s[ai]d Way (ab[ou]t 1/3d of a Mile) on the South of the said Loaning was during these 3 years repaired by Statue Work as a Public Road or Highway lying in the Township of Hedley low Wood Saith that he this Informant & the other Farmers & Occupiers of Lands in the s[ai]d Township particularly Samuel Swalwell of Woodhead all joined in so repairing the said part of the s[ai]d Way Saith that be hath known the s[ai]d Loaning for 50 years & dur[in]g all his knowledge thereof it was called & generally deemed to be a public Highway or Kings Street Saith that the s[ai]d Farm he so held at Woodhead is now in the possession of Tho[ma]s Snowball as Tenant to Mr Aubone Surtees And this Informant  says he hath heard that the s[ai]d Tho[ma]s Snowball hath lately taken upon him to Stop or Obstruct the passage thro’ part of the s[ai]d Highway.