Witness Deposition – John Westwood – 22 Apr 1667

John Westwood of Daddriesheele in the Parrish of Stanhop in the Countie of Durham yeoman Aged Eighty Two yeares or thereabouts Sworne and Examined Saith as followeth



To the First Interrogatory this Deponent saith that he knows to all the parties plaintiffs and Defendants (except Mr Blacket, John Robson Thomas Burges Thomas Stowte and Thomas Ritson)



To the Second Interrogatory this Examinate Saith that he knoweth the particular Mines hereafter mentioned vizt Hoesike in Ireshoopburnefell Allerclough and Elmeford in Middleblackdeanefell Stowpeheads Cloughhead in Easter blackdeanefell Earnesclough in Middlehop Dowkes in the Same Nine midg<..> part in Middlehop and part in Easterblackdeanefell Groverake and Postwell in Westgateheight Westerclough in Whelnhoop Berryclough in Swinehope. Ramshaw Well in Daddriesheele fell, Greenefield Todstone in Sedling Bailehill in the Same, Lodgefield in Middleblackedeane pasture Brakensike in Sedling, Westerake and Middge pits in Seddling Gorbut may in Rookhorp, Groverake in the Same Harthynde in Herthopp, Allersike in the Same & Rake in Middleblackdeane Fell But for the rest of the Mines mentioned in the Interogatory he knoweth them not And saith these are all Particular Mines and from another as they have particular names & he knoweth the better to depose herein because he hath wrought at some of these Mines w[hic]h he hath named before above Sixty yeares agoe.



To the Third Interrogatory this Deponent saith that there was an usage and custome in Stan[h]op Parrish above Sixtie yeares agoe and soe hath continued that the Miners and Groves within the Forrest of Weredale which wrought and had parts in Leade Mines did meete at a place called the Chappell in Weredale at Fowre times & <Quarters> in the yeare Vizt on Candlemas day St Marke day Lammas day and All Saints day, & did there give Accompt unto the Parson of Stanhops Agent for the Lead oare w[hi]ch they had gotten, where they had deductions of all manner of Charges expended in the winning of the Lead Oare (Except the owners owne Charges) and paid onely the Tenth part of the remainder And he further Saith that he this Deponent w[i]th some other partners did drive a Small Levell through <Loose> Limestones and clay about Twenty or Thirty yeares at a place called the Newmedowes but they had noe deduction of Charges for the same becaus they never required any, but beleeveth if they had required the Same they might have had them allowed. And further to this Interrogatory deposeth not.



To the Fourth Interrogatory this Deponent Saith that the Tything Oare or Cuttings got out of the Waste grounds Whole Grounds and Old heapes did never pay anie Tithe unto the Parson of Stanopp or any other.



To the Fifth Interrogatory this Deponent saith That he w[i]th other partners above Sixty yeares agoe did worke a Mine called Wolfeclough in Whesinhop, & did winne Some Lead oare there but they paid noe Tithe unto the Said Parson of Stanhop or his Agent because the expences in the winneing digging and getting thereof Did Surmount the gaines.  And this Deponent further saith that he with other partners did worke a Mine called Brakensike and wonne Lead oare there but they paid noe Tithes unto the S[ai]d Parson of Stanhop or to anie other to or for his use for the reasons aforesaid.



To the Sixt Eight and Ninth he is not required.



To the Seventh he cannot depose.



To the Tente he cannot otherwise depose, but as he hath predeposed in his Deposition to the Third Fourth and Fifth Interrogatories.



John Westwood