Witness Deposition – Thomas Emerson – 22 Apr 1667

Thomas Emerson of Ireshoppburne in the Forrest of Weredale & County of Durham yeoman aged Sixty Three yeares or thereabouts Sworne & Examined saith as followeth,



1.To the First Interrogatorie this Deponent Saith that he knoweth all the parties Compl[ainan]ts & Defend[an]ts in this Suite (Except Mr William Blackett the one of the Compl[ainan]ts & John Bolton & Edward Stowte two of the Defendents, & hath knowen Doctor Basire and Humphrey Wharton Esqr for Five yeares last past, & all the rest for the Space of Ten yeares or more.



2.To the Second Interrogatorie this Deponent saith that he knoweth Severall Lead mines within the parrish of Stanhopp vz namely Hoesike Faw Groves Greenewel heads, Greenewell foote Claygrove Barber grove Gravell lodge Perleclough Earnewell head Windsike Deepeclough head Wardsons Grove West Grane Bradesike Arnegrove the West Side of Earnewell Ireshoopburne foote Grovehead all in Ireshop Fell. Allerclough Elmeford Stowpeheads Lodgefield Slitte, Rakes & Cloughhead all in Middleblackedeane Fell, Langtahead Berry Well Greenegroves Stoniesike Scratchheads StonieSikefoote Cock lake Springwell East and West of Longtay, Flaske Blakelaw Heslygill Sally grane and East and West of Blakstands all those in Burnehop. Earnesclough Burnegrove Seenesike Dowkes & new medowhead all in Middlehop, save a part of the new medowhead which lieth in East Blackedeanefell Groverake and Postwell on Westgate Hight Brodemayfoote and Berryclough in Swinehop Greenefielde Toadstone Burntgrove Slackegrove Bailehill in Sedling Greene hills in Middleblackdeane Fell, Brakensike WhiteRakes Midgepit, Redgroves and Westrake of Greenefield in Sedling Heddeyclough on the Same Wolfeclough head Greeneclough Wolfeclough foote Rispy bridge in Rookehope South Graine on the Same. Heathnesse and Allersike in Harthop Wearheads Bog Grove Heslygills the West of Puddingthorne Heddryclough mayshild Hill grove Snodberryclough Redhills Cowfoard Easte graine Birkes in Killhop and Wellhope & likewise Hillhaygarth & Cowhorse in the Same Burntgrove in Seddling Burnthill above Heddryclough Brodemain Seddling all which are severall & distinct Lead mines (to this Deponents knowledge) as well as they have Severall and different names



3.To the Third Interrogatorie this Deponent Saith and Deposeth that he was a partner and Worker of the Lead mine called Hoesike at Which this Deponent and his partners did pay Tithe unto the Parson of Stanhop or his lessee of all oare which they there did digge winne & get, and the S[ai]d Deponent and his partners did Subtract abate and deduct from thence all materiall charges whatsoever which  they /: Expended in winning and getting that oare (Except this Deponent and his partners owne wages which were not deducted) and paid onely Tithe on the other part of the Remainder. And this Deponent likewise with other partners did worke a mine in Brademay in Sedling and got a good quantity of lead oare there, but paid noe Tithe (or <h…ped> unto the Parson of Stanhop or anie other because the Charges on working <did surmount> the gaines  and further saith that the workemen thear did give accompt for the S[ai]d Tithe Four times on the quarterdaies vizt Candlemas  St Marks  Day Lammas Day  & all Saints Day at w[hic]h  times they usually did meete the parsons agent at a place called Chappell in Weredale where they made Deductions of all charges and paid Tithe of the Remainder onely, w[hic]h parsons Agent did <........> accept of such Accompt and never Questioned  the Same to this Deponents knowledge, And he likewise saith that it <was ..g..de..in> custome within the Forest of Weredale that all Myners there (w[hi]ch) wrought any Tithable places within the Same did  <at …... …… the .. ……> & gave Accompt in like manner & had both Deductions allowed them And this Deponent Saith that he knoweth the better to depose to such because he hath manie times beene present at such Quarter Days & heard thse Accompts. And further to this Interrogatorie Deposeth not



4.To the Fourth Interrogatory this Deponent saith that Tithes were never paid of Tything Oare gotten in the Waste Ground <old heapes> And whole Ground nor ever any Tithe Demanded for the Same to this Deponents knowledge.



5.To the Fifth he cannot Depose.



6.8.9.To the Sixt Eight and ninth he is not required.



7.10.To the Seventh and Tenth he cannot Depose otherwise but as he hath formerly Deposed.



Thomas Emerson