Witness Deposition – Thomas Snowball – 22 Aug 1767

Tho[ma]s Snowball’s Submission, & acknowledgm[en]t that the Lead Way is a public Way.



Whereas I have of late years as Tenant Farmer or Occupier of Lands at Woodhead belonging to Aubone Surtees of Newcastle upon Tyne Esquire presumed to interrupt and obstruct that part of the Common Highway or Kings Street leading from the Town of Blaydon in the County of Durham to the Town of Edmondbyers in the said County  in that part thereof which lies or runs in through or along the said Lands of the said Aubone Surtees And have also presumed to demand exact & receive an acknowledgment from divers persons passing and travelling with Carriages along or through the same part of the same Highway or Kings Street without my having any Cause or Foundation for so doing Now I do hereby (with the privity and consent of my Landlord the said Aubone Surtees) acknowledge confess and declare that such Interruption and Obstruction was illegal and unjustifiable And that such Acknowledgments so by me exacted and received were wrongfully taken and tending to deprive the publick of their just Rights And I humbly petition and request Sir Walter Blackett Baronet to drop and decline prosecuting me for the above mentioned offence As Witness my hand this 22nd August 1767.



      The Mark of Thomas Snowball

Witness

JNo Richmond



I believe the above that relates to me is true, & the Lane that comes through my Estate at Woodhead is a Common Cart & Carriage Road, and that I never did receive any Gratuity or Consideration from any Person or Persons whatsoever for any Cart or Carriage passing through or along that Road As Witness my hand this 26th Day of August 1767.

Aubone Surtees