Witness Deposition – Ralph Harrison – 22 Apr 1667

Ralph Harrison of Hill in the parrish of Stanhop and County of Durham yeoman aged Seventy Seven yeares or thereabouts Sworne and Ex[a]mi[ne]d saith as followeth



1.To the first Interrogatory this deponent saith that he knoweth all the parties Compl[ainan]ts and Defend[an]ts in this Suite (Except John Bolton and Edward Stowte.)



2.To the second Interrogatory this Deponent Saith that he knoweth manie of the Mines in the Interrogatory mentioned and that  they are situate and lieing in the parrish of Stanhop, as namely Hoesike, Fawgrove, Greenewell foote, Greenewellhead, Barber Grove, Gravell Lodge Earnewelhead Windsike Deepeclough head West Graine Fawhead <Claygrove> the West Side of Earnewell Ireshoburnefoote Grovehead all these in Ireshop fell Allerclough Elmefoard Lodgefield nooke Stowpehead the Rake and Clough head being in Middleblackdeane Fell and pasture Langtahead Berrywell Greenegrove Stoniesike Scrathhead Stoniesikefoote Cockelake Springwell East and West of Langta Flaske Blakeberry Hesly Gill SallowGraine East and West of Blakelawe these ly in Burnhopp Earnesclough Dowkes & new medow heads in Middlehop Groverake in Westgate pasture Greenefield Todstone Burne grove Slackegrove Baylehill in Seddlingrove Greenefield Brakensike Whiterake Middgepits Seddling grove Hedgrove West rake of Greenefield in Seddling Rospye mires in Rookehoop South Graine in Rookehop Pudding thorne in Heddrycloughfell. Heddryclough on both sides Welgrove in Kellhop Hillgrove Snodberry Clough Cowford Moss grove Bankes Boundgrove in Kellhop and Wellhop Hillhaygarth Middlegrove Burntsike in Kellhop and Werehead Cowhorse in the same Wellheads in Wellhop But for the rest of the Mines in the Interr[ogatory] mentioned he knoweth them not, and that all these to this Deponents knowledge are Severall and particulare Lead mines and knowen by the affores[ai]d  Severall and particular names.



3.To the 3rd Interrogatory this Deponent saith That he hath knowen these particular Mines hereafter mentioned to pay Tithes unto the Parson of Stanhop his Agents or lessees as namely Whiterake Barkerburne Braken Sike Brademan Redgrove Todstone Bailegill Longta head Browegrove Sedling Grove & Cowford, but for some of the other (being wrought before this time) he doth not know whether they paid Tithes or noe, and likewise there were others wrought in his tyme w[hic]h this Deponent knoweth not whether they paid Tithes or noe.   And this Deponent saith that the usuall custome & manner of payment was within the said Forrest of Weredale during all the time of this Deponents remembrance which is for Sixty yeares that those which were owners and Partners at these Mines did first deduct out of the whole all Hirelings Wages, charges of Ropes Sundrey Timber Smithie worke and Charges of Levells, but for the partners owne labor they were not deducted and paid Tithe or the Tenth part of the Remainder. And this Deponent further saith That it was & hath beene a Custome within the Forrest of Weredale in the Said parrish of Stanhop during all the time of this Deponents remembrance that the owners or partners at Mines within the Said Forrest Did meete the Parson of Stanhops Agent at a place called the Chappell in Weredale Four tymes in the yeare (vizt) on Candlemas day St Marks day Lammas day & all Saints day to give accompt for such Tithes in wh[ic]h Accompts the Said Miners Deducted all charges as aforesaid And after such deduction of Charges the Tenth part of that w[hi]ch remained was afterwards delivered unto the Said Parson of Stanhops Agent in cleane and well Dressed Oare:/



4. To the Fourth Interrogatorie this Deponent saith that Tything Oare and cuttings never paid Tithes to the this Depon[ent]s knowledge



5. To the Fift Interrogatorie this Deponent saith that he knew noe Mines wrought within the Said Forrest but they paid Tithes though with Deductions as aforesaid Except Some w[hi]ch are more wrought  who payed noe Tithe because the Charge Surmounts the profits



To the Sixt Eight and ninth he is not required.



To the Seventh he cannot depose



To the Tenth Jurerr this Deponent saith that the rest of the Mines within the Forrest of Weredale (as this Deponent hath heard) paid Tithes with such deductions and further deposeth not.



Ralph Harrison