Depositions of Elizabeth Martin
- Reference: MS 829, fols 329r-330v
- County: Limerick
- Date: 31/3/1643
- Type: Bisse
- Nature of Deposition: Assault, Military Action, Multiple Killing, Stripping
- How to Cite
fol. 329r
419
Elizabeth Martin late of Cullen in the barony of and within the County of lymericke widdowe (an Irish protestant) duely sworne and examined before vs by vertue of his Maiesties Comission to vs and others directed (beareing date &c) concerneing the losses robberies & spoiles since this rebellion comitted vpon the brittish and protestants within the Province of Munster &c alsoe diuers other particulars to be enquired after tending to the discouery of this present rebellion & the advancement of his Maiesties seruice deposeth and saith
That aboute the 14th day of January 1641 the vndernamed persons English and protestants namely James Hooker of Gouldenbridge in the said County Tanner his wife and children George Crafford of Cashell in the said County Tanner gentleman his wife and children Richard Walker of the same merchant & his family John Carver late of Doone guonagh in the said County Joiner his wife and children ffortane Elliot late of Kilfeakill in the said County shepheard his wife & children John Blake of the same shepheard his wife and children John Thornby of Gouldenbridg aforesaid Inkeeper his wife & children ffrances Brookes of the same his wife & children Robert the miller of the same his wife and children William Barry late of Dunesketh in the said County shepheard his wife and children, Dauid the shoemaker of Goldenbridge aforesaid his wife & children William Williamson of the same carpenter his wife and children, Anthony the miller late of Ballygriffin in the said County his wife & children John Bray his wife and children, besides diuers other persons yong and ould men women and children at least a hundred persons whoe aboute the time aboue mencioned fled to the Castle of Gouldenbridge in the County of Tipperary and soone after were closely besiedged by Pierce Butler of Bansagh in the said County gentleman Pierce Butler of Shanebally duffe in the said County & John Butler of
fol. 329v
420
<B> Cloghbridg in the said County gentleman & their forces whoe besiedged the said Castle for ten weeckes or therabouts dureing which siedge and after this deponent obserued the ensueing passadges namely
ffirst she saw & obserued a lettre sent by the said Peirce Buttler of Banshagh aforsaid in the said com gentleman aboute the first of march last to the said James Hooker then Constable of the said Castle Intimating thereby to her him & the rest of the besiedged that neither man wooman or Children in the said Castle shold haue any quarter at all & therefore badd them shift for themselues the best they could & there vppon the English haueing but foure dayes prouision left within the same concluded to relinquish the said Castle which they accordingly did and all of them younge and ould marched away late at night being the fourth day of march last or thereaboutes leaueing there behinde them the wife of one Robert the miller of the same lyeinge very sicke & could not come away who was afterward taken by some of the said partyes forces & dradgged downe staires by the legg vntill her braines were knockt out Likewise this deponent sayth that the said beseidged that night goeinge away thinking to recouer some of the English quarters in the com of Corke were discryed by the enemyes Scoutes who gaue notice thereof to the country round aboute & then the hue & cry being raised all the said partyes were assaulted & sett vppon the next morning by the said Buttlers forces and others hard by Claghine in the said com & in a most pittifull manner were all of them younge and ould murthered & stript Except seaven of them that were taken afterwards one of them was hangd by the direction of the Lord of Cahir Soe that of all the people and familyes as aforsaid that went into the said Castle there escaped to come to the English garissons in the said com of Corke but two men this deponent and [
fol. 330r
421
<C> By some of the towne dwellers and tenants of Peirce Buttler of Banshagh aforesaid & in the day tyme who assaulted the said Craford as shee came then one the towne & in a most griveous manner murthered her then & there ripping vpp her belly till the child fell to the ground The deponents cause of knowledg concerneing the premisses is that dureing the tyme of the seedge of Gouldenbridg aforsaid she then liued in the said Castle as also was present when the said partyes were murthered as she hath all ready decleared Whereby she verily beleueth saith that whatsoeuer she hath allready deposed is true onely but touching the murther of the the said Mrs Crafford she deposeth by credeble information & further she deposeth not
Elizab: [
Jurat coram nobis
vltimo Marty 1643
Phil: Bisse
Ric: Williamson
fol. 330v
422
Ellizabeth Martins
Examination
Limerick
Reuised
Philip Bisse
Richard Williamson