Witness Deposition – George Rennison – 30 Aug 1764

30th Aug[us]t 1764	

George Rennison of Newlands in the County of North[umber]land Farmer Aged 75 ye[ar]s



Saith he hath lived all his lifetime at Newlands & that from his Age of 10 years till about 12 years ago he went with the Lead Wains from the Hill Top a Mile West of Newlands to Blaydon along the Way now used for the Lead Carriage & never was obstructed or required to pay Toll till about 14 years ago that 2d a year p[er] wain was demanded by Sam[ue]l Swalwell of Woodhead whose Lands adjoin on part of the s[ai]d Way which this Dep[onen]t submitted to pay for 1 or 2 years to avoid Disputes & Delay tho[ugh] he verily bel[ieve]s that the whole of the Way from the HIll Top to Blaydon af[oresai]d is a publik Highway or Kings Street the same having ever so reputed & freely used during his knowledge thereof saving the s[ai]d Obstruction af[oresai]d within 14 ye[ar]s last past Saith that about 30 years ago & sev[era]l times since he was Overseer for the Towns[hi]p of Newlands & then & at other times before that period the part of the s[ai]d Way w[hic]h runs thro[ugh] Newlands Liberty was repaired by the Owners & Farmers of Lands there & by summons from the Overseer, who sometimes had a Warrant from the Justice of the Peace to enable him to compele the s[ai]d Duty & that he himself about 17 years ago when he was Overseer has such Warrant from sir Edw[ar]d Blackett Bar[one]t on his Neighbours neglecting to work at the s[ai]d part of the s[ai]d Way running thro[ugh] Newlands Liberty & that thereupon the sev[era]l Owners & Farmers within Newlands Liberty did perform their Service & Duty in repairing the s[ai]d part of the s[ai]d Way. Saith that about 50 years ago he took a Farm at Newlands af[oresai]d & continued to Farm there ‘till [struck out: ‘within 7’] about 8 ye[ar]s ago & that during that time when he himself was not Overseer he & his neighbours were yearly by the Overseer of Newlands for the time being to work at the s[ai]d p[ar]t of the s]ai]d Way in repairing the same & did accordingly from time to time repair the s[ai]d p[ar]t of the s[ai]d Way

      The Mark of George Rennison

Witness  Jno Richmond