At the whim of the tollkeeper
Witnesses’ depositions in the case of a disputed toll, 1812 (Q/SB 1812 T/343)

Staffordshire - The examination of William Heathcote of Ashbourne in the County of Derby Labourer taken upon oath before me William Greaves M.D. one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said County of Stafford the 16th day of June 1812

Who saith that on Wednesday the twenty ninth day of April last past he was employed by Mr Jervis Wood of Ashbourne aforesaid to take a Waggon load of Hay  from Lands in the occupation of the said Jervis Wood at Sturston in the parish of Ashbourne aforesaid to Leek in the said County of Stafford, such Hay being the property of the said Jervis Wood and the produce of the said Lands, that on the afternoon of the twenty eighth day of April last he took the Waggon with wheels of less breadth than six inches to the aforesaid Lands to be loaded with the said Hay – That Examinant went with four Horses at about half past one o’Clock on the morning of the said twenty ninth day of April last to the said Lands and there found the said Waggon loaded with Hay – that Examinant proceeded the same day with the said Waggon loaded as aforesaid on his road to Leek aforesaid and when he came to the Turnpike Gate called Stoney Rock in the parish of Caldon in the said County of Stafford kept by Elizabeth Oakden in order to pass the same, Examinant informed the said Elizabeth Oakden that he was taking a Waggon loaded with Hay belonging to the same Jervis Wood and was brought from Lands of the said Jervis Wood at Sturston aforesaid and was going to Leek aforesaid to be consumed by the Horses of the said Jervis Wood which were kept at his Stables there and that the said Hay was not liable to pay any Toll but the said Elizabeth Oakden would not permit the Examinant to pass without paying Toll and demanded of this Examinant the sum of one shilling and ten pence halfpenny which this Examinant paid to the said Elizabeth Oakden and afterwards proceeded with the said Waggon and Horses loaded as aforesaid to Leek aforesaid and there assisted in unloading the same, and the said hay was immediately placed in the Stable Chamber of the said Jervis Wood at Leek aforesaid for the purpose of being eat and consumed by the Horses belonging to him.
Sworn before me Willm. Greaves
William Heathcote his mark

Staffordshire - The examination of Charles Milward of Leek in the County of Stafford Horsekeeper taken upon oath before me William Greaves M.D. one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said County of Stafford the 16th day of June 1812
Who saith that on the morning of the twenty ninth day of April last past he was employed as Horsekeeper at the Stables of Mr Jervis Wood at Leek aforesaid, that on the said morning William Heathcote Servant of the said Jervis Wood brought a Waggon laod of Hay drawn by four Horses to the said Stables, and Examinant assisted the said William Heathcote to unload the same, and the said Hay was placed in the Chamber over the said Stables, and has since been there eat and consumed by Coach Horses kept there by the said Jervis Wood.
Sworn before me Willm. Greaves
Charles Millward

Staffordshire – The examination of William Roe of Ashbourne in the County of Derby Labourer taken upon oath before me William Greaves M.D. one of his Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said County of Stafford the 16th day of June 1812
Who saith that he was employed by Mr Jervis Wood of Ashbourne aforesaid on Tuesday the twenty eighth day of April last past to cut Hay from a Stack belonging to the said Jervis Wood standing upon Lands in the occupation of the said Jervis Wood in the Liberty of Sturston in the parish of Ashbourne aforesaid which Hay was the produce of the said Lands and that he this Examinant did accordingly cut from the said Stack one Waggon Load and assisted in loading a Waggon belonging to the said Jervis with the same Hay so cut as aforesaid and this Examinant further saith that between nine and ten o’Clock at night of the said twenty eighth day of April he left the said Waggon loaded as aforesaid upon the said Lands.
Sworn before me Willm. Greaves.
William Roe his mark