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Deposition of John Keavan

  • Reference:  MS 812, fols 219r-219v
  • County: Kilkenny
  • Date: 6/7/1643
  • Type: Dublin Original
  • Nature of Deposition: Assault, Desecration, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Words
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  • How to Cite
    • fol. 219r



    John Keavan one of the Prebendes of the Cathedrall Church of Kilkenny sworne and examined deposeth and sayth That since the begining of the present Rebellion that is to say about the xth [ ] of December 1641 Hee this deponent at Kilree Archere Leyes & the Cittie of Kilkenny was depriued robbed or otherwise dispoyled of his estate goodes & chattells Consisting of his Church lyveings Cattle horses sheepe Corne haie howshold st stuff plate ready mony books apparell & other goodes & chattells of the value and to his present losse of one thowsand fowre hundred eightie fowre powndes ster. By And is like to be depriued of and Loose the future proffits of his Church Liveinges and meanes worth 100 li. per annum vntill a peace be established And further saith that Elizabeth Parsons widow the relict of Tho: Parsons late parson of Gowran deceased & Elizabeth his wiff since the begining of the same Rebellion was were alsoe deprived robbed & dispojled of her howshold stuff plate apparell Bookes & other their goodes and meanes worth 200 li. And that shee the said Elizabeth is like to loose the benefite of some Landes (lately morgaged to her husband for 100 li.) vntill a peace be established And further saith That the parties that soe robbed and dispoyled this deponent of his said goodes & meanes were Rebells and one of them was called one Sweeteman of Kilcrosse: But the rest he cannott name
    And alsoe sayth that 6 English men were by the Rebells taken in or about Kilkenny & charged to haue letters from the English and to be spies: & one of them being taxed to haue eaten a letter But vpon theis vaine pretencs the Rebells then and there hanged them all in Kilkenny aforesaid & buryed them in the feildes or lanes as they did the nyne seven heads that came from Ballinakill: Another protestant English woman travelling betweene Waterford and Kilkenny was soe stamped & trodden on by the Rebells on her belly that her gutts burst forth & shee
    1036

    fol. 219v



    <hand> there vpon died And further saith That a notorious Rebell by name of Joseph Rooth of ffreshford in the County of <B> Kilkenny merchant takeing occation to falle out with him this deponent at the howse of Patrick Murphy (now Maior of Kilkenny) Said, most maliciously, that all protestantes were Traitors where vnto this deponent answered, that his Maiesty was a protestant, and thought he would not include him in his speeches, vnto which the said Rooth in great coller swore by god and said, That all protestantes without exception were Traytors: And if he had the deponent in the streets hee would take him by the gray Lockes: & dash out his braines against the wall: And this deponent heard the said Rooth in his owne howse wish that twoe bulletts out of his pistoll were in the Lord of Ormonds Belly and that all the rest of that party being s were soe served (he the said Rooth being then Merchant to the Lord Mountgarret) vnto which wordes this deponent durst not reply for feare of his Liffe: And further sayth That the Cathedrall Church and Comon hall of Kilkenny were ryfled ransacked and robbed by the sept of the Coddies Dobbins, and the servantes and Confederats of Redmond Purcell of the irish towne of Kilkenny (as this deponent hath credibly heard) And an English man by name one Tristram being sent by his Lady & [ ] Mistress the Lady of vpper ossery from Water Castle to cutt wood was murthered by the Rebells in the wood and there buried
    <Mr A Mr P>
    John Keavan [mark]
    Jur vj to July 1643
    Hen: Brereton
    Will: Aldrich
    Edw Pigott

    Cert
    1037



    Edward Piggott
    Henry Brereton
    William Aldrich



     

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