During The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 commoners and land owners were interviewed by the solicitor William Raper. Their comments were recorded in a series of notebooks:

Bridger, Benjamin. Works for Mr. Robert Melville and lives on the Forest close by. Will be 68 in October 1879. Was born in Hartfield Parish and except for 8 years from about 18 to 26 years of age have lived in the Parish close to Hartfield Grove. During the 8 years I used to come home at least once a year.

My father's name was James Bridger. My earliest recollection is as a boy living with him on a little property of about 6 acres now called Yew Tree Farm close to Forest House and Colemans Hatch. I have heard my father say that he took in the 6 acres from the Forest and got a grant of it from the Duchess of Dorset. When I was about 16 years old we let the Yew Tree Farm and moved to Furnace Farm adjoining the Forest at New Bridge where my father lived till his death about 1848. Except during the 8 years I was away from home, I lived with my Father at Furnace Farm till about 1838 when I married and moved to the Yew Tree Cottage near which I have continued to live ever since.