Witness Depositions – Anthony Eltringham – 2 Apr 1690

Anthony E<ltri>ngham of Hedley in the County of Northumberland yeom aged Seaventy Nine yeares or thereaboutes Sworne and Examined

2 & 3	 To the Second and Third Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that these Sixty yeares by past or upwards, this Depont very well knowes there hath beene a Free passage or high way att all times in th yeare for the King and Queen's subjects to goe with their Horses Carts waines and other Carriages from the Towne of Hedley in the Interr[ogator]y named, and from othr places aswell in Northumberland as in the County of Durham to Blaaydon Towne & to the East and West Lead hills att Blaydon & Stella in the County of Durham, for Carrying & Leading of Wood Lead and Slates, and such like Goods & Comodities through certaine Lands and Grounds in Stella called the Bogg als the Blackmires the Peth & Peth head in Question Downe to the said Lead hills, to be from the said Staithes or Leadhills carryed & conveyed by water in Boates or wherrys Downe to Newcastle & other places adjoyning on the River of Tine, and this Depont hath often Dureing the time aforesaid used the said way, and hath alsoe brought & carryed from Blaydon into the Country Tarr and such other Com[m]odities which came fr<om New>castle and Landed att the Lead Hills, which was carryed into the Countrey as occasion required through the way aforesaid; and saith that neither he this Depont nor any other that [he] ever heard or knowes of was att any time or times whatsoever Stopt or obstructed in the useing and Enjoyment of the said way in question, with such carriages as aforesaid; But saith he hath heard that there has beene some Satisfaction given for Landing & grounding the said Goods, but how much was paid or to whom this Depont knowes not.