1641 Depositions

Trinity College Dublin

Examination of Edward Aston re James Lewes

Reference: MS 818, fols 221r-221v
County: Wexford
Date: 3/2/1654
Type: Commonwealth
Nature of Deposition: Assault, Killing, Military Action, Words

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fol. 221r

The Examinacion of Major Edward Aston of Kilbarry in the County of waterford esquire aged about thirty four yeares taken vpon oath [on] the Concerning the said James Lewes of the Graiges
Vpon the whole matter of the Interrogatoryes the deponent saith that the seauenth day of Aprill 16 ffebruary 1641 at which time, & before & after the same the deponent did guarriso{n} the castle of Tinterne (neere Duncannon forte) for the defence thereof against the Irish rebells & for the preseruing thereof, & the goods therein for the vse of the Lady Colclough a protestant) a partie of the Irish Rebells in Armes to the Number of fourscore or thereabouts, came & layd an Ambush neere the said castle of Tinterne, & about fiue or six of them went to the plough bellonging to the said castle & did cut the harneis the & were driuing away the garrans thereof (which was the meanes they vsed to entice the deponent <h> & his party of out of the said castle) whereupon about eight men vnder this deponents Comand issued out suddenly to Rescue the said garrans, & the deponent following them on horse backe & mistrusting nothing was not sensible of any enemy till riding through a Lane & seeking the entranc{e} of a gate then fast shut, perceiued the said Rebbells to the Number of about sixteen who Risse out of their ambush & fired at this deponent, seauerall peices, which missed the deponent and the deponent being forced to Ride backe through the said [ ] lane amongst their shot perceiued his men engaged & fighting with the Rebells Notwithstanding this deponents men escaped with their liues, & but one of them [ ] on horse backe lightly wounded besides one killed & the deponent further saith that the said James Lewes, was one among & one of the said Rebells then & there in Armes & that the said James did present & endeauour to dischardge at this deponent fiue seauereall times by cocking of his firelocke, which neuertheles failed to giue fire: The deponents cause of knowledge is for that the deponent being afterwardes at the said James Lewes his howse, the said James told the deponent that he was one of the said Ambush & that he did fire seauerall times cocke & pull downe his tricker of his firelocke ayming at & intending to haue shot the deponent & the said James did vpon his
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fol. 221v

said Relacion to this deponent in a passionate manner curse his firelocke for that it did not fire & kill this deponent as the said James desired & wished it had done, And the deponent further saith that he credibly heard that the said James Lewes or his partie did kill one Gilbert yorke an englishman, that bellonged to the forte of Duncannon, that vpon his goeing between Tinterne & Duncannon was killed as aforesaid & to the best of the deponents remembrance he the deponent was told thereof by some of the Irish that were afterwardes executd by the Ld Esmond, & further cannot depose.
Edw Aston
Sworne before vs the 3d
of ffebruary 1653
Am Andrewes
Edward withee

Ambrose Andrews
Edward Withey