Deposition of Elizabeth Holliwell
- Reference: MS 830, fols 035r-035v
- County: Roscommon
- Date: 10/4/1643
- Type: Dublin Original
- Nature of Deposition: Apostacy, Captivity, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Stripping, Succour, Words
- How to Cite
fol. 35r
244
Elizabeth Holliwell the Relict of William Holliwell Clark Late of the towne of Roscomon sworne and examined deposeth and sayth That about the begining of the present Rebellion shee this deponent was deprived robbed or otherwise dispoyled of her estate goodes & Chattells of the value of three hundred & nynetie powndes sterling <A> By and by the meanes of ffrancis fferrall of the Mott in the County of Longford gent & Brian fferrall of Tillilickan in the County aforesaid gent & Kedagh Mc Laughton fferrall now of Ballenabrien in the same County gent Connogh Mc Rosse of Mott aforesaid and Richard Mc Connell of the Parrish of Ardaghe & County aforesaid & Lisagh Mc Connell of the Parrish of Clengish in the same County of Longford gent: And further saith that S Charles ô Connor of Ballinafod in the County of Roscomon a Colonell of the <B> Rebells perswaded divers English & Scottish protestants whoe were his tenants in Ballinafod aforesaid to stay at their farmes & faithfully promissed to protect & keepe them & their goodes in safftie: yet neuertheles hee cawsed or suffered his Rebellious souldjers to robb & dispoyle them of all their Cattle & goodes: & whenas he had drawne them to goe to Masse & to confesse & give him & his souldjers their moneys: Then the said Charles ô Connor sayd hee <A> would not suffer them to stay any longer there But sent 3 men: 2 wyves & 4 children away out of the towne whoe being brought out of the sight of the towne: were first stript naked & soe barbarously all of them murthered: & the one of those wyves being great with Chyld & hanged vp: the Rebells thrust their pykes into her belly becawse as they said the child should not Live (as <A> the murderous Rebells afterwards confessed: And they alsoe confessed that whenas that woman perceived her husband & her other Children to be slaine she became soe resolute & Careles of death to herself That smileing she advised others tha{
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(as the Rebells themselves confessed) That they themselves they were angry That she wept not nor seemed to smiled & greived not for the death which she suffered: And further saith that as those murtherers came back to the towne with the cloths of the parties murthered the other poore English & Scottish men fearfull of fearing alsoe to suffer in Like manner privately fled away in the night time & gott to the English garrisons of Roscomon & Castlecoote. And their wyves & children after 8 or 9 weekes expired & after much want oppression & cruelty vsed exercised vpon & th endured by them privately, & in the night time, escaped away in the night by the advise and help of one Nicholas Nynny a meere irishman: but an honest protestant: And this deponent <hand> further saith That it was an ordinary & Common Report a m by & amongst the Rebells of the County of Roscomon That Charles ô Connor Dunn of Ballentobber Esquire was made <A:> King of Connaght And one Christopher de la hyde of Skribeth nere Roscomon Esquire a Justice of the Peace & a Papist tould this deponent That she might saffly goe to Ballinafad being three myles from her: ffor he assured her That all the Rebell souldjers thereabouts were gone to Tulkes in the County of Roscomon to make the said Charles ô Connor Dunn Kinge of Connaghe. And further saith That one Jennett Narns a ministers wiffe being stript & robbd of her goodes & Clothes fled to the howse of on e the said Charles o Connor d un: where although she was kept aliue yet she was by him & his irish servants miserably vsed & revyled & caled Ethnick & many other opprobrious names, & forced as a slave to doe & performe such base drudgery & worke that thereby, & by the Cold lying & hunger she indured shee was nere starved to death: & had as this deponent was & is verely perswaded. beene starved to death indeed had not god almighty at length afforded her a way of escape
Elizabeth holiwall
Jur 10o Apr: 1643
Joh Watson:
John Sterne.
Will: Aldrich
245
<Roscomon
Elisabeth Hollywell April 10th 16
1643
Com Leitrim
Intr 148 hand w Ex>
John Sterne
John Watson
William Aldrich