Witness Depositions – Richard Brown – 2 Apr 1690

Richard Browne of Whittingstall in the County of Northumberland yeom aged Seaventy Five yeares or thereaboutes Sworne and Examined.

2 & 4	To the Second and Fowerth Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that both the this Depont and the whole Countrey round about as well in Northumberland and as Durham for these Sixty yeares last past or thereaboutes untill <of> late have had used and Enjoyed a Com[m]on high way for the leading and carrying with Horses waines Carts or other Carriages Lead wood Timber and Such like Goods and Comodities from Hedley Detland and other places both in the County's of Northumberland and Durham, where they tooke upp their Loading unto and through certaine Lands and Grounds in Stella called Stella gate the the Bogg al[ia]s Blackmires and soe to the Peth-head Downe the Peth to the Two Leadhills called Stella and Blaydon Leadhills or the East and West Leadhill, where they landed and laid their Loadings on each and either of the said Leadhills from whence itt was conveyed by water to Newcastle or elsewhere upon the River of Tine; and this he this Depont and the rest of the Countrey did both in the time of Sr Thomas Tempest and Sr Richard Tempest the Deft's GrandFather and Father, and in the time of the Deft himselfe, and they and every of them have seen this Depont and the rest of the Carriages lead and Drive their Carriages along the said high way; yett did not they or any of them Stopp or hinder or Demand any Satisfaction from this Depont or any other that he knowes or ever heard off for the makeing use of the said Com[m]on high way with their Carriages as aforesaid nor did he this Depont or any other that he knowes or ever heard off makeing use of the said Com[m]on high way with their Carriages as aforesaid ever ask leave or pay or make any recompence or Satisfaction  to the Deft Sr Thomas Tempest or any under whom he clames for the useing and Enjoying of the said com[m]on high way as aforesaid that he knowes or ever heard of.