Witness Depositions – John Man – 2 Apr 1690

John Man of Prudhoe in the County of Northumberland yeom aged Sixty five yeares or thereaboutes Sworne & Examined 

2 4 & 5	To the Second Fowerth and Fifth Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that he this Depont and all the people in or inhabitants within neighbouring places of the Several Countys of Northumberland and Surham as occasion required for these Fifty yeares last past or upwards untill within these two or three yeares to the knowledge of this Depont have held and Enjoyed a com[m]on high way for leadeing Carrying of Great Timber Slates Lead and such like Com[m]odities with Carts waines & Carriages from Hedley Chipchase Edgewood Striford and Severall other places both in the said Contyes of Northumberland and Durham as they were Employed and occasion required in and through the way in question comeing with such Carryages in att the Moore gate or Stella gate and soe by the Bogg or Blackmyre to the Peth head and soe downe the Peth to the two Lead Hills called Stella and Blaydon Lead Hills and alsoe att other times and very often as occasion required this Depont and such inhabitants in the said County could have Gon and past with their Waines and Carriages in and through the said Com[m]on high way with Dales and other goods to Hexham & other places in the Country thereabouts which came & was brought upp by water from Newcastle and Landed att the said Lead hills and paid nothing att all for takeing away such Dales & other goods Landed upon the said Lead Hills and which were carryed into the Country by such Carryages (the bankroome being paid before hee and they tooke them away by the person that owed the said goods) and saith that about three yeares since this Depont comeing to the Lead hill called the East hill att Blaydon with his Carriage with a Foother of Lead belonging to the Earl of Darwine Water then Sr Francis Radcliffe Downe the said ground called the Peth the said Peth was soe very badd by falling in of the ground or running together and soe much out of repaire that this Depont was forced to rome forth of the said way in the Peth and goe with the Said Load or Foother of Lead through the East Feild adjoyneing to the said peth and was not Stopt or hindered nor paid any thing for Such this Deponts comeing through the said East Feild as aforesaid and Delivered the same Lead on Stella Lead Hill to George Dunn the the Defts Steward and this Depont saith that neither hee this Depont nor any other that hee knowes or ever heard off was ever att any time dureing this time aforesaid Stopt or hindered in the passage useage or Enjoyment of the Said com[m]on high way in or through the said way or grounds in question nor was ever any Sum[m] of money or any other satisfaction paid or given by this Depont or any other that this Depont knowes or ever heard off for leading and carrying the said Goods and Com[m]odities with the said Carriages in & through the said way in question, Saveing onely Fower pence a Tunn to the Farmers of the said Leadhills, which this Depont and others paid for Bankeage or Groundeage for the said Goods upon the said Lead Bankes or Leadhills, and paymt was for Bankeage onely and not for way leave, and this Depont saith that the Deft Sr Thomas Tempest & Sr Richard Tempest his Father hath often seen and mett this Depont & others useing the said way in question, with their Carriages, yett never Stopt or caused them to be Stopt or hindered in comeing the said way with their Carriages as aforesaid, nor Demanded any Satisfaction for the same; and this Depont that both he this Depont and others that soe used & frequented the said way in question with their Carriages Did often & frquently in goeing forwards & backwards with their Carriages call att Robert Addyes house in Blaydon, the Deft's Grandfather's Steward, and called there for Drink to refresh themselves, and never heard any Complaint made by the said Robert Addye this Deft's Grandfather's Steward for useing & goeing the said way in question.