Witness Depositions – William Rennison – 2 Apr 1690

William Rennison of Hedley in the County of Northumberland aged Fifty yeares and upwards Sworne and Examined. 

2 & 4	To the second and Fowerth Interr[ogator]ys this Depont saith that there hath beene for these Forty yeares last past and upwards to his certaine knowledge and remembrance a Com[m]on high way or Free passage from Hedley Blackhall, Dukesfeild and all other places in the Counties of Northumberland and Durham as occasion required for all the King and Queens Subjects att all times in the yeare for leading and Carrying with horses Carts waines & other Carriages Lead Timber or any other Com[m]odities in and through the Lands and Grounds of Stella called the Bogg als the Blackmires and soe to the Peth head, and from thence to the Peth, and soe Downe the Peth to the two Leadhills or Staithes Called the East and west Lead hills, the one lyeing within the Grounds of Stella, the other within the Grounds of Blaydon, and this Depont with many others have laied and placed the Timber wood or any other Comodity they brought through the said high way upon the said Staithes or Lead hills, sometimes att one place and sometimes att another, as there was roome and Conveiniency to be carryed from thence by water in Boates or Wherryes to Newcastle and other places upon the River of Tine; and this Depont with many other have ofentimes used and frequented the said com[m]on high way and now in question; for leading Lead Timber and wood or any other Comodities Dureing the time aforesaid, and neither this Deponent nor any other that he knowes or heard off was ever stopr in the useing the said Com[m]on high way nor this Depont nor any other that he knowes or heard off did ever att any time or times ask leave to goe the said high way with such Carriages, nor paid any sum[m]e or sum[m]es of money in satisfaction of their soe useing the said Com[m]on high way; and saith itt is above forty yeares Since he this Depont and many others used the said high way through the Grounds aforesaid for leading and Carrying Timber Lead or any other Com[m]odities upon or to the said Staithes or Leadhills, and to the Day this Depont Leads Timber & Lead to the said Leadhills or Staites, Butt within these Two Or Three yeares last past the Peth not being passable for Carraiges this Depont and the rest of the Carriages have used the said East Feild and brought their Carriages that way to the said leadhills.