Witness Depositions – Roger Newton – 2 Apr 1690

Roger Newton of Mickley in the County of Northumberland yeom aged seaventy three yeares or thereabouts Sworne and Examined.

2 & 4	To the Second and Fouoerth Interrys this depont saith that there hath been for this Fifty Eight yeares or thereabouts a comon high way used from Mickley Chipchase Muggleworth and other places as occation rquires for allThe King ans Queens subjects both in the County of Northumberland and Durham att all times in the yeares for leading and carrying with horses waines Carts and other carriages, both wood Lead Timber and other ComoditiesIn and through the Lands and Grounds of Stella called the Bogg als the Blackmires and soe to the Peth head and Downe the peth to Blaydon Leadhills  adjoyneing upon the River of Tine, and soe from thence conveyed Downe by water toNewcastle or elsewhere upon the River of Tine, and he this Depont amongst many others hath often used the said Comon high way for carrying of Timber Lead and other Comondities Dureing the time aforesaid, and this DepontNor any other that he knowes or ever heard of was never att any time Stopt in the useing & Enjoying of the said comon high way nor did ever he this Depont or any other that he knows or ever heard of pay anyRecompence or Satistaction for the useing of the Comon high way above mentioned to the said Sr Thomas Tempest or any other Owners of the said p[re]misses; save Fower pence p[er] Fother or waineload that was paid for BankleaveOnly; for liberty for laying and placing of wood Lead Barke and such like comodities to the wherrymen or watrmen who sometimes farmed the said Leadhills or others the owners or the said  Lead hills, and this Deponent saith that about Fower or Five yeares since the Depont comeing with his draught the Lands and Grounds of Stella aforesaid to the Leadhills aforesaid and meeting with the Deft Sr Thomas Tempest before he came at the Peth head & theSaid Deft Sr Thomas Tempest asked thes Depont which way he went with his draught, aand told him that if he went through the Eastfeild that then this Depont should pay for his  passage that way <damaged> this Depont rplying that th<ey>Would not goe that wey but Downe the Peth, the said Sr Thomas Tempest bid him goe that way and never hindered him or asked him any thing for his passage Downe the Peth.

3 	To the Third Interry this Depont saith that he hath heard and verily beleives that the Lands and Grounds lying on either syde of the Peth of Comon high way  wa first Hedged and inclosed by the said Sr Thomas Tempest his tenn<ents> or FarmersOf the p[re]misses, but who repaired the said Comon high way this depont knowes not.