Witness Depositions – John Robson – 2 Apr 1690

John Robson of Prudhoe in the County of Northumberland yeom aged Fifty Nine yeares or thereaboutes Sworne and Examined. 

2 & 4	To the Second and Fowerth Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that he & the whole Countrey round about for these forty yeares by past and upwards, to the knowledge of this Depont hath held & Enjoyed a com[m]on high way from Hedley Prudhoe the Ryding and many other places both in the Countyes of Northumberland & Durham for carrying and Leading with Carts waines & Carriages wood Lead Hay and such like Com[m]odities in & through the Lands & Grounds of Stella called moorgate or Stella gate, and soe along the Bogg or Blackmire from thence to the Peth & soe Downe the Peth to the Two Leadhills or Bankes called Stella and Blaydon Leadhill, to be conveyed from thence by water Downe to Newcastle and other places on the River of Tine, and this Depont alsoe saith that he hath severall times carried Dales Iron and other Goods from the said Two Leadhills by waines and Carriages to Hexham and other places in the Countrey which were Landed from Newcastle upon the said Lead hills; and alsoe saith that neither he this Depont nor any other that he knowes or ever heard off was ever Stopt or hindered in the useing & Enjoying the said Com[m]on high way as aforesaid nor Did this Depont nor any other that he knowes or ever heard off aske Leave for useing the said Com[m]on high way with waines and Carriages. nor Did this De[ont nor any other that he knowes or ever heard of ever give or pay any Sum[m]e of money or any other Satisfaction for useing the said com[m]on high way, Saveing what was paid to Christopher Taylor & others who then farmed the said Leadhills which was Fower pence a Tunn and Two pence a Foother, and the same was soe paid for Bankeage and Groundage onely and not for way leave, and this Dept alsoe saith that about Twenty yeares since this Depont Did Diverse and many times carry and Lead Severall Loads of Hay and wood & household goods from Prudhoe Hexham the Ryding & Severall other places in & through the said high way; and soe Downe the said ground called the Peth, and Soe over Blaydon Burne & through To[w]ne of Blaydon, and soe along Eastwards to Swallwell, and from <thence> to Whckham, and neither this Depont nor any other was Stopt or hindered with such Carriages in & through the said high way that this Depont knowes or ever heard of; nor paid any Satisfaction for useing or Enjoying the same way; and this Depont hath seene Severall others use the said Comon high way; and alsoe that when or att any time or times this Depont carryed or Ledd wood & such other Goods to Swallwell or Whickham aforesaid by waines & Carriages in & through the said high way, and not left landed or placed upon the said Leadhills; this Depont nor any other that he knowes or ever heard of, Did ever pay any Sum[m]e of money or any other Satisfaction for wayleave, nor was ever such satisfactin Demanded from this Depont or any other that soe used the said way with their Carriages; But what satisfaction was made was for bankeage att the said Lead hills onely & not otherwise.