Witness Deposition – Thomas Pratt – 13 Oct 1690

Thomas Pratt of Bladon in the County of Durham yeom aged fifty seaven years or thereabouts Sworne & Exam[in]ed deposeth as followeth etc:  

1:7	To the first and seaventh Interys this Depont saith he knows the plif [plaintif] Sr William Blackett & knew his father and knows Deft and knows the Stella Leadhill which belongs to  the plif and hath so known the same for about fifty years And alsoe knowes Bladon Leadhill or the low Leadhill which was formerly a pann Cole Staith and hath soe knowne the same for about Fifty yeares:

10	To the tenth Inery this depont saith that about forty yeares since one Anthony Errington Farmer of Sir Richard Tempest the deft's father the way through Bladon Peth and Stella Lead hill and saith that the said Anthony Errington or his servants have severall times stopped & hindered Waines & Carriages from carrying wood and other things over Bladon Burne And Caused the same Carraiges to unload at the said Stella Leadhill to pay him for way leave through the said peth and Bankroome on the said Stella Leadhill And this he cann the better Depose & knows to be true for he was servant to the said Anthony Errington And hath seen the same paid, And hath often heard the said Errington say that he Farmed As well the said way through Bladon Peth head as the said Stella Leadhill of the said Sr Richard Tempest:-

13	To the thirteenth  Intry this Depont saith that about twenty four yeares since which was before Sr William Blackett the plt's [plaintif's] father was Concerned in Winlaton Lordpp [Lordship] Robert Chambers and Ralph Douglas farmers of Sr Richard Tempest the way through the peth head and Stella Leadhill under a certaine yearly rent and alsoe farmed or had the other Low Leadhill which now is in Comon betwixt the pltf & deft of the then Lord or Owner of Bladon Leadhill or Low Leadhill and saith that after Sr Wm Blackett the plt's father purchased his Estate in the Lordpp of Winlaton the said Robert Chambers who was Staithman and servt to the said Sr Willm Blackett Continued Farming of both the said Leadhills and then brought & ledd wood & lead in Waines and Carriages over Bladon burne to the Low Leadhill but whether they farmed the said Leadhills by the direction or order of the said Sr William he knows not but saith that before the said Sir William's purchase And said Chambers and Douglas farmeing the said hills hee never knew any Cartts or Carriages goe with wood or Lead or other things over Bladon burne to the Low leadhill but hath known lead Carryed over the said Burne by horse Loades.