Witness Depositions – Christopher Bates – 2 Apr 1690

Christopher Bates of Prudhoe in the County of Northumberland yeom ages Fifty Five yeares or thereaboutes Sworne and Examined. 

2 & 4	To the Second and Fowerth Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that he this Depont and the whole Countrey round both in the Countys of Northumberland and Durham for these Forty yeares by past to the knowledge of this Depont both from Hedley Towne Muggleswick park Black Hedley, Shilford Hexham Cooper house Wharnaley and Severall other places in the Countys of Northumberland and Durham held and Enjoyed a Common high way for leading and Carrying lead Timber Flaggs Slates and such like Goods with Waines & other Carriages in through and along the Lands and Grounds of stella called Mooregate or Stella gate, and soe along the Bogg or Blackmires, in and through the peth head and Peth to the Two Lead hills or Leadbankes called Stella and Blaydon Leadhill, to be from thence carryed by water Downe to Newcastle and other Places on the River of Tine, and this Depont hath alsoe carryed from the said Two Lead hills by Carts and Carriage in & through the said Com[m]on high way, Dales to Hexham and other places in the Countrey which <were> brought by water from Newcastle &  placed upon the said Two Leadhills; and this Depont saith that neither he this Depont nor any other that he knowes or ever heard of was ever, or att any time Stopt or obstructed in the useing & Enjoying of the said Com[m]on high way as aforesaid, nor was there any Satisfaction or paymt Demanded for the useing & Enjoying the said Com[m]on high way of this Depont or any other that he knowes or ever heard off, Dureing all the said time of his knowledge & remembrance of the said high way, Save onely Two pence a Foother & Fower pence a Tunn, which was paid by this Depont and Severall others to his knowledge to one Douglas and others the Farmers of the said Two Lead hills, and the same was paid for Bankage or Wharfeage onely, and not for way leave and thes Depont alsoe saith that <about twenty yeares> Since, this Depont did Diverse and many times carry and Lead severall Loades or Foothers of hay from the hollins near hedley aforesaid in and through the said high way and soe Downe the said Ground called the Peth and soe over Blaydon Burne & through the Towne of Blaydon, and soe along Eastwards to Swallwell and from thence to Whickham, and was never Stopt or hindered in the said way nor paid no manner of Satisfaction for the same, and this Depont hath seene Severall others use the said Com[m]on way, and alsoe saith that when or att such time or times that this Depont carryed Goods to Swalwell or or Whckham or any other places eastwards of Blaydon, and not land or placed upon the said Two Leadhills att Stella and Blaydon, this Depont nor any other that he knowes or ever heard off never paid nor gave any paymt or other recompence for useing the said Com[m]on high way, nor was there any satisfaction Demanded that this Depont knowes or ever heard of, when the said Goods were not landed or laid upon the said Leadhills.