Short title: Torr v Ashton. Plaintiffs: Anthony Torr and others. Defendants: Benjamin...

Short title: Torr v Ashton.

Plaintiffs: Anthony Torr and others.

Defendants: Benjamin Ashton and others.

Documents: depositions concerning Morefurlonge Bradwell, Derbyshire.

Taken 27 August, 6 Wm and Mary, 1694.

Deponents for plaintiffs: John Hadfield of Peak Forest, miner and husbandman, aged 48, whose memory goes back 30 years [to 1664], moved to Peak Forest 24 years ago; Robert Fowle of Peak Forest, miner, aged 48; James Winterbotham of Peak Forest miner, barmote juror; Edward Heyward of Peak Forest, miner, aged 40 years or more; Henry Ashton of Hope, miner, aged 50 years or more; Thomas Bradwell of Bradwell, 'a worker in the mynes', aged 16; Edmund Greaves of Bradwell, tallow chandler, aged 33; Robert Wilsom of Castleton, miner, barmote juror, aged 45; John Chapman of Bradwell, miner, aged 35, deposed that he has heard miners say that 'by the ancient custome of the mines a Barrmr may not be a myner and have ptes and shares of mynes where he is Barrmr [...] the Barrmr ought to be an indifferent pson and ought to doe right betwixt farrmr and miner and miner and miner' [by the ancient custom of the mines a barmaster may not be a miner and have parts and shares of mines where he is barmaster. The barmaster ought to be an indifferent person and ought to do right between farmer and miner and miner and miner]. The defendant, George Bennet, is both farmer and barmaster; Ellis Hallom of Bradwell, miner, aged 24; John Wyley of Bradwell, miner, aged 36; John Dudden of Smalldale, miner, aged 39; Robert Hall of Bradwell, miner, aged 22 years and more; John Bocking of Bradwell, miner, aged 23; Nicholas Hall of Pindale End, miner, aged 40; Matthew Furniss of Bradwell, miner, aged 28; Ellis Ashton of Castleton, miner, aged 50; Nicholas Staveley of Castleton, miner, aged 60; John Barber of Castleton, miner, aged 69; Miles Moreton of Bradwell, miner, aged 24; Adam Thornhill of Bradwell, tailor, aged 60 years or more; Godfrey Furniss of Bradwell, miner, aged 24; James Jackson of Smalldale, miner, aged 27; Robert Moreton of Bradwell, miner, aged 42; Francis Bagshaw of Smalldale, miner, aged 40 years and more; Edward Moreton of Bradwell, miner, aged 20.

Deponents for defendants: Francis Bennet of Grindlow, miner, aged 78, whose memory of the mines goes back 35 years [to 1659], deposed that barmasters have held mineshares in their liberties; Edward Timperley of Litton, mine, aged 50, whose memory of the mine goes back to 'always', [to 1644]; William Bramwall of Litton, miner, aged 69, who 'hath beene brought upp a myner' [has been brought up a miner]; Thomas Ragge of Bradwell, miner, aged 50, whose memory of the mines goes back 'always' [to 1644]; William Hodgkinson of Tideswell, miner, aged 50, whose memory of the mines goes back 20 years [to 1674]; Robert Walker of Castleton, miner, aged 53; Thomas Hodkinson of Tideswell, miner, aged 50; William Milnes of Grindlow, yeoman, aged 46; Abraham Bagshawe of Bradwell, miner, aged 42; William Bray of Bradwell, miner, aged 20; John Barber of Bradwell, miner, aged 55, whose memory of the mines goes back 40 years [to 1654]; Robert Hambleton of Bradwell, miner, aged 50, whose memory goes back 'always' [to 1644]; George Lowe of Overshatton, miner, aged 50, whose memory of the mines goes back 30 years [to 1664]; James Simpson of Tideswell, miner, aged 32; Robert Hallom of Bradwell, miner, aged 50; Roger Frost of Grindlow, miner, aged 50; Richard Palfreyman of Tideswell, miner, aged 40; Isaac Moreton of Bradwell, miner and deputy barmaster, aged 33, whose memory of the mines goes back 16 or 17 years [to c.1678]; Thomas Jackson of Bradwell, miner, aged 40; William Palfreyman of Tideswell, miner, aged 39; John Sellars of Taddington, miner, aged 30; William Moseley of Taddington, miner, aged 58, whose memory of the mines goes back 20 years [to 1674]; Thomas Bretnor of Taddington, yeoman, aged 35, whose memory of the mines goes back 30 years [to 1664].