Witness Deposition – George Swinburn – 30 Aug 1764

30th Aug 1764 –	Geo[rge] Swinburn of Edesbridge in Newlands near Edmondbyers in the Co[unty] of D[urha]m Farmer Aged 70 Yea[r]s or thereabouts



Saith he was born at Minster Acres, left that place when very young & went to Cooperhaugh in the Co[unty] of Durham & lived ‘till he was 12 ye[ar]s old or thereab[ou]ts from thence went to Black Hedley in the par[ish] of Shotley & lived there 13 ye[ar]s & then went to Edesbridge where he had lived ever since <...> 45 ye[ar]s. All these places are within 5 or 6 Miles of Woodhead (or Swalwell’s) Loaning. Saith he hath known the Highway or Kings Street leading from Blaydon to Edmondbyers [struck out: ‘s[ai]d Loaning during all the time he lived at Black Hedley’] 50 ye[ar]s last past & that for all that time s[ai]d [struck out: ‘Loaning’] Way or Street was  in the neighbourhood generally reputed to be a Highway & was so used by the publik without any person claiming any Toll that he ever heard of for passing thro[ugh] or along the same till ab[ou]t 12 years ago that Sam[ue]l Swalwell Thomas Swallwell & some others <Owners> or Occupiers of Lands adjoining [struck out: ‘said Loaning’] upon part of the s[ai]d way or Street demanded & rece[ive]d a penny or 2d a Wain p[er] year for passing along s[ai]d [struck out: ‘Loaning’] Way or Street W[hi]ch demand this Informant Saith he <believes> an Imposition & has no foundation nor have the p[er]sons claiming the same any Right to exact Tolls for passing thro’ or along s[ai]d [struck out: ‘Loaning’] Way or Street in this Inform[ant]s judgm[en]t & Belief the same having as af[oresai]d] always till within these 12 ye[ar]s been enjoyed by the publik as a Highway. Saith that he hath been 3 times Overseer for the Towns[hi]p of Edesbridge (the first time bet[wee]n 20 & 30 ye[ar]s ago) & that whilst he was so Overseer & at other times for 45 years last past he & the other [struck out: ‘Inhabitants’]  Owners or Farmers of Lands lying bet[ween] Breckonside West to Newlands East (being ab[ou]t 4 Miles in length) constantly [struck out: ‘frequently joined in’] repaired that part of the s[ai]d way or Street lying in the s[ai]d District of Edesbridge af[oresai]d looking upon themselves as under Obl[igatio]n to repair that part of the s[ai]d way or Street lying within <the sd> District  <....> as it & the whole thereof was a <....> or part of the <Kings High Street> 

Saith that whilst he was so Overseer he yearly summoned [struck out: ‘Neighbours’] Farmers in Edesbridge Quarter to repair that part of the s[ai]d Way or Street w[hi]ch lay within that Quarter  that they did accordingly from time sto time repair their <sev[era]l places> thereof & that he this Informant in respect of his Farm at Edenbridge af[oresai]d (w[hi]ch he has held 45 years) did from time to time repair that part of the s[ai]d Way or Street running thro[ugh] his s[ai]d Farm Saith that for 45 ye[ar]s last past he hath carried Lead from Rookhope Mill to Blaydon without being obstructed or having any Demand made as an acknowledgm[en]t for passing along the s[ai]d Way Till within 12 ye[ar]s last past.

      The Mark of George Swinburn

Jno Richmond



[A summary of this deposition in another hand differs materially only in adding at the end:] … within 12 year last past That Swalwell & Snowball demanded a Toll upon part of the s[ai]d Way as above mentioned