« Back to results

Deposition of Jane Browne

  • Reference:  MS 831, fols 068v-
  • County: Sligo
  • Date: 8/1/1644
  • Type: Dublin Original
  • Nature of Deposition: Assault, Death, Military Action, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Stripping, Supporting Statement, Succour, Words
  • Print
  • How to Cite
    • fol. 68v


    289
    Jane Browne the wife of William Browne of Kilvarnet aforesaid alsoe sworne & examined deposeth and saith.
    That she hath heard and considered of the Examinacion of her said husband this day taken concerning his Losses, and of his knowledge of the present rebellion And saith that she verelie beleiveth and partly knoweth the said Examination to be in all thinges true, and especiallie that passadge of the ffryars, for at his returne from the ffryar, her said husband told her this deponent the said words spoken by the fryar mencioned in his Examinacion, or words to that effect.
    <A> And this deponent further saith, that shee this deponent with some of her children, and many of the Brittish Protestants of the Barony of Leiney and Countie of Sligo were (in November 1641 by occasion of this Late rebellion) constrained (fot their safetie of their liues) to flie vnto the Castle of Templehouse, to avoid the handes of the bloodie Rebells, of the said Countie, And saith that the said Castle of Templehouse was (about Ten daies before Christmas 1641) beseiged by the Rebells (vizt) by Captain Hugh mcDonnogh <A> Captain Bryan ô Hara, Captain John ô Crean, Captain Robert mcConnee Captain Oliuer ô Hara with a Thousand of the Irishmen by them then comanded; and many other of the Irish Rebellious Captains whose names this deponent cannot <B> remember. And saith that Captain Luke Taaffe, Captain ffrancis Taaffe, Teig o Connor Sligo, Cormuck oge ô Hara esquire, and his sonne Cormock o Hara, James ffrench and his sonne Jeffery ffrench, Robert ô Crean, and many others of the Irish gentrie of the said Countie of Sligo were at the seige of Templehouse, and whilest the said Castle of Templehouse was soe beseiged by the before mencioned Captains of the Rebells, and their confederates and did questionless encourage the said Rebells and their confederates to besei{ge} and take the said Castle, and to robb, kill, and despoi{le} the Protestants then in the said Castle of their liues goods and Chattells, And saith, that this deponent did by meanes of that Rebellion, and by the said Rebells, or some of them, then and there Loose great part of the goods and houshold Stuffe mencioned in her husbands Examinacion
    289
    [Note: Jane Browne’s deposition continues on fols 63r-v]
    fol. 63r" pagenum="290
    290
    <A> And saith that about the tyme before mencioned, the said Castle was (for want of Ammunition) yeelded by William Crofton esquire to the said Irish Captains or some of them) vpon Quarter as followeth (vizt) that this deponent and the rest of the Brittish Protestants then and there in the said Castle should be by them (or some of them the Rebells) safely convoyed to the Boyle and to haue their severall wearing apparrell, some horses and furniture to carry them thither, and some mony in their purses But in conclusion, this deponent saith, that after the said Castle was soe yeelded vpon Quarter, the said Rebellious Captains and their confederates did (in January 1641 or thereabouts) contrarie to all honestie) traiterously breake their vowes and fidelitie and instead of giving quarter did (in the month of february 1641 or thereabouts) inhumanely stripp William Oliphant clerke preacher of Gods word, and having him soe stripped naked did (at Temple house aforesaid) the said Oliphant hang vntill he was dead, and after cutting him downe did tye the wyth about his neck to a horse taile, and most inhumanely dragged him at the horse heeles, vpp and downe the streets, and did (at that same time after that) hang Margrett Careless a mid wife and Henry Norman, and did then and there at that same time most inhumanely barberously and bloodily wound, cutt, and stabb George Wray Clerke, preacher of Gods word, whereof he languished two or three daies and thereof died. And this deponent saith; that some of the said Captains and their confederates, did allsoe at the same tyme bring this deponent out of the said Castle of Templehouse being then greate with child, and three of her children being likewise stript, did carry to the gallowes (where the before mentioned parties were hanged) to be by them allsoe hanged and executed, but it pleased God to preserue this deponent and her said children from their bloody intentions:
    Soe as this said deponent and her said children (being left destitute of all liuelyhood) did begg vp and downe the Countie of Sligo a quarter of a yeare at least and had been starved and killed for not going to Mass had not ffarrell O Gara esquire charitablie preserved and releived this Deponent and her said children for a long tyme and afterwards was releived by Sir Charles Coote knight, and Baronett And this deponent saith, that whilest she was in the said Castle of Templehouse, shee was crediblie enformed that some of the said Captains, or some of the Rebells of that Countie of Slig{o} did (at Kebane neere vnto Templehouse aforesayd in the mon{th}
    290

    fol. 63v


    291
    of December, January and ffebruary 1641 or in some one of the said monthes) most bloodilie and barberously wound Cutt and Stabb six or seaven women Brittish protestants, either of the Scottish or English nations, and having them then soe wounded and cutt, did then and there (with one yonge child) throwe aliue into a ditch or pitt and covered them soe aliue in the said ditch or pitt with earth and stones, by meanes whereof the said women and child died.
    And this deponent saith that whilest shee was theis tormented as aforesaid amongst the said Rebells some of the Roirkes of the barony of Dromohere did (in harvest last was twelue month) drowne her eldest sonne ffrederick Browne in the river of Dromohere called the river of Bonnett, and saith that by occasion of the said Rebellion, two of her said husbands children (vizt) Sarah Browne, and Roger Browne were starved to death for want of food. All which misdemeanors, Robberies and Murders were comitted and perpetrated by the before mentioned Rebells and their confederates of the Counties of Sligo and Letrim and after such a develish manner as is before related and set forth and that witho without cause as provocation made or foffered to be done by this deponent or her said husband to any of the said Rebells or their confederates shee being at the time of the beginning of this late Rebellion in god and his Maiesties peace, and all Living at that tyme (as was conceaved) in neighbourly loue and freindship together
    Iane Browne
    Jur viijo Jan: 1643
    Hen: Jones
    Hen: Brereton

    Sligoe Ex o
    Mr William Browne & his wiffe
    Jur viijo Jan 1643
    Intrant w
    In Oct: Nov: dec:

    291



    Henry Jones



     

Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin 2