Deposition of John Shrawley
- Reference: MS 831, fols 075r-076v
- County: Sligo
- Date: 23/4/1644
- Type: Dublin Original
- Nature of Deposition: Killing, Military Action, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Stripping, Words
- How to Cite
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I John Shrawley Vicar of Eskagh in the Com of Sligoe sworne & examined before his Maiesties Commissioners in that behalfe authorized deposeth & sayth, That
In the begining of the Rebellion present in the County of Sligo, one Hugh Crosby a protestant, & his tenant vpon the glebe=Land, came & told him of some strange speeches which Richard Albonagh the popish Priest of that parish of Easkagh <A> had vsed Lately vnto his wife, who was a Papist; (vizt) That she should see shortly their religion flourish againe: But that it would neuer be soe well with them, vntill the Protestant Bishopps & ministers were all cutt off
This he priuately told hime this deponent coniuring him to keepe it secret, & to make the best vse of it He could for his owne safety: Therupon for feare I suddenly forsooke my owne house, & went out of that Barrony into Tirrawly in the com of Mayo And att Last for safety of my Life gott into the Steeple of Rosserk, which steeple eight of us kept almost a yeare in despight of the Rebells.
Thither repaired Mr. Thomas Walker a Minister borne in Yorkshire with his Man Darcy Wood, after he was robbed & stripped starke naked of his apparell, sauing only a Linnen paire of Drawers that he had Left him, They refused to Leaue him in that cold season soone after Christmas either shooe stocking or shirt. This fact being done nere the Steeple, and he being in that pittifull plight in Bally serchery within a mile of us, we sent for him into the Steeple, where he Liued vntill the Later end of September 1642 Then after the Barretts of ballysechery had turned the water Course from us, & Layed a strict siege vnto us for 8 weekes we were forced to deliuer vpp the Steeple: And because we thought that they would neuer make good their worde vpon Quarter: we did surrender the Steeple <B> with all the goods therin vnto Edmond Bourk of Ropagh Esquire who promised & swore vpon those conditions to convoy vs all safe away to <A> any of the next English garrisons. Mr Walker with his man, and two gentlewomen who had Liued all that time with in the Steeple <A> desired to be sent to the Abbey-boyle, Thither the said Edmond Bourke faithfully promised to convoy them: And send a Frier his owne brother [
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the Irish told me sithence, that they saw their bones there vpon the Mountaine vnburied. The two women were stripped as naked as they were borne the Mother & the Daughter, & Left there being not suffered to returne with <B> the Convoys. The Mother was slaine shortly after that nere Ballymote She was the wife of Mr John Gardner of Rosserke in the com of Mayo & her Daughter is as yet Living with her husband Richard Gardner in Ballycottle in the county of Sligoe. One of their 4 convoys sold a gold ring which was worth 24 s. that he tooke from Mris Gardner, that time for six shillings vnto a Marchant of Ardneree James Lynch as I was <B> credibly informed.
<B> About the begining of summer 1642. There was (as we in the Steeple were told by some fosterers of Mr Gardners children), a solemme meeting of the inhabitants about the Moyne in the com of Mayo to consult what were best to be done with those Scotts which were still remayning in that country And as it seemes they concluded to kill them all, both man, woman & child; For presently after that said meeting, they did gather them together from all parts round about the Moyne, & within a mile & halfe of Rosserke Steeple nere vnto Ballyserchery they killed 35 men women & children Two of the men I knew, William oge Buchanan of Killala, & James a weauer that Liued in the towne of Moyne. Lusty able men. The father of the said William, (who was then & there Killed with his wife & children) with his owne Sister the wife of William Cambell of Killalla with her children, is now Liuing with the fryers att the Moyne, They spared his life, to be their slaue, to helpe them to build vpp the abbey, he hauing good skill in Architecture.
There war likewise about that time a Little before that t one William Gibb a uery old man who <C> had Liued in Killalla, (because he would not confess where he had buried his money) Killed in the towne of Moyne, with his wife an old woman by two rogues who with their skeines murthered them, & were chiefe <C> in the Murther of the 35 aforesayd.
<B B> There were seauen men women & children forced into the Sea to drowne themselues nere Killalla about that time: And further sayth that that
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That James French of Sligo Esquire owed him the deponent me 12 pounds per bond, for <A> tythes that I he sett him to farme, & he was possessed of; And the deponent s Meeting with him in his extreame want & pouerty, desired him to giue me 12 s. & I he would willingly release him for the 12 li. He replies vnto him, That he did admire how He durst be soe bold as mention that debt att all, & vowed he would not giue him 12 d. I was you are kindly vsed, he sayd, that you haue I had your life; And att his departing in way of charity, here sayd he There is a whole faced groat to buy you Tobacco. which scornfull offer the deponent I durst not butt accept of
<Dr J: HB>
Jo: Shrawley
Jurat 23. April 1644
Hen: Jones
Hen: Brereton
310
(3)
fol. 76v
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Sligoe
John Shrawley Clerke
23 Aprilis 1644 Jur
Intratu r Ex
hand
4 w
311
Henry Brereton
Henry Jones