Witness Deposition – John Pratt – 13 Oct 1690

John Pratt of Stella in the County of Durham yeom ages forty two yeares or thereabouts Sworne and Examined:  

7	To the seaventh Intry this Depont saith that he hath knowne the two severall Leadhills Called Stella Leadhill and Bladon Leadhill for this thirty yeares last past And that he hath heard that one Robert Chambers and Ralph Douglas did farme of Sr Richard Tempest father of the Deft both the said Hills called Stella Lead Hill and Bladon Low hill, and alsoe heard that the said Chambers and Douglas Did farme both the said Hills of this Deft, And did see the said Douglas receive money from severall p[er]sons for using the way from Winlaton to Bladon West haugh And that he heard the said Chambers & Douglas farmed the said Leadhills Called Stella and Bladon Lead hills of the said Deft And did pay for the same four pounds P[er] Annum for liberty of Banckage or Wharfeage upon the said Leadhills:.  

10	To the tenth Intery this Depont saith that he did see the said Ralph Douglas Stopp One waineload of Lead comeing over Bladon burne abot Eighteen yeares agoe or thereabouts and carryed the said waineload of Lead to Stella Leadhill, and forced the same to be unlaiden there But whether any recompence was made for such stoppage or laying the Lead upon the said Stella Leadhill this Depont knows not nor never heard of.