Witness Depositions – Cuthbert Surtees – 2 Apr 1690

Cuthbert Suretis of Whittingstall in the County of Northumberland yeom ages Seaventy yeares and upwards Sworne and Examined. 

2 & 4	To the second and Fowerth Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that he this Depont and the whole Country round for this Forty Five yeares and upwards to the knowledge of this Depont untill within these Two or Three yeares last past or thereaboutesh ave had used and Enjoyed a Com[m]on high way with horses waines Carts and Carriages for the leading and Carrying of Lead wood Timber and such like Com[m]odities from Hedley and elsewhere to the Lead hills in Stella and Blaydon called the East & west Lead hills where they laid & Landed their Carriages, from whence itt was carryed and Conveyed by water to Newcastle or any where else upon the River of Tine, and Sr Thomas Tempest Deft the said Defts Grandfather, Sr Richard Tempest the Defts Father and the Deft himselfe have all of them seen this Depont and the rest of the Country Carriages frequently goe along and pass the said Com[m]on high way with their Carriages aforesaid yett did not they or any of them obstruct or hinder this Depont or Demand Satisfaction from this Depont or any other useing or Enjoying the said high way for the use or Enjoyment thereof that this Depont knowes or ever heard of; <...> did this Depont or any other that he knowes ever heard of ever ask leave or pay any satisfaction to the Deft Sr Thomas Tempest or any Clameing under him, for the useing of the said Com[m]on high way, save what the owners of the said wood Lead and such like Com[m]odities paid to the owners or Farmers of the said <respecti o?> Leadhills, for Bankroome for such Goods, but never was any thing paid for way leave to the said Leadhills that this Depont knowes or ever heard off, and this Depont saith that the antient Com[m]on high way through the Peth for about these Three yeares last past having become impassable for want of repairing, the draughts and Carraiges goe through a parcell of Ground belonging the said Deft called the East Feild adjoyning to the Peth, for which passage through the East Feild the Deft causes Satisfaction to be made by the owners of the Goods to him the said Deft.