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Deposition of Peeter O Crean

  • Reference:  MS 831, fols 114r-115v
  • County: Sligo
  • Date: 18/5/1653
  • Type: Commonwealth
  • Nature of Deposition: Military Action, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Succour
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  • How to Cite
    • fol. 114r


    1192
    The Deposition of Peeter o Crean merchant in Sligo takne the 18th of May 1653.
    Peeter ô Crean of the age of thrittie thrie years or thaireabouts being duely sworne vpon the holy Ewangelists, and examined saith, that he Liwed in Sligo att the begineing of the rebellion, and thair continued till thair was a siege Layd into the towne, and that the inhabitants of the barony of <A> Carbery wer the first that cam to the siegde, in two great bodies, one part of tham cam from the Lower parts of the barony vnder the Command of Teag Buy o Connor, Charles o Connor Hugh o Connor brothers to O Connor Sligo, Phelim mcShan o Connor; Teag ô Connor of Glen: and the other part who Liwed within the bridges wer headed by Donell McBrian Dorrogh o Connor; Hugh McCon o Connor; Donnell o Connor and others, who quartered thamselwes in the houses adjoyneing to the Church; The next partie of men that cam to the siedge was Owen o Rork and the inhabitants of the Lower part of the County of Lettrim, headed by the said Owen o Rork Laughlin mcglanaghie and others, and the Dayes followeing the inhabitants of the other baronies within the County of Sligo cam also headed by Captain Brian McDonogh who was efterwards mad Liewtenant Colonell; Captain Patrick Plunket Captain Moreis Keogh mcDonnogh, Captain Brian mcSwyn Captain David o Dowd and Capt ai n Thibe reagh Bourk and others, who all Lay in siegd against the towne, till the Castles wer surrendered; And this Deponent being further examined who wer the most active at that tyme, in all thair vndertakeings, sayth that he obserwed one Robert m cConmy and his sons <B> Teag mcConmy most active in robbing and plundering efter the surrendring of the Castles, And this Deponent being further examined saith that the English had gott quarter and that they wer to hawe thair lywes and so much of thair goods as they wer able to cary vpon thair backs, with a conwoy to pass whither they pleased; which was immediately broken; And the deponent further saith that efter the takeing of the Castles, hee this deponent went to O Connor Sligo and procured a protection for on Sampson Porter wherby he migh hawe Libertie to Liwe in the towne; with his wyff and familie; vpon which protection the said Sampson Porter remained with his Deponent in his hous, And that on Ror Owen mcRori O Connor finding his opportunitie when this deponent was abroad vpon his priwat occasions fell vpon the said Sampson Porter and did Continually tortur him ha w eing a roap about his neck and half hangeing of him, and tyeing his hand behind his back till he the said Sampson was forced to confess that he had the matter of seavinten pound hid of gold hid in the ground which att length hee ext gott, notwithstanding all that the deponent was able to do for h im o r the preseruation of the said Sampson his person or goods; And this deponent further saith that he went to O Connor Sligo and Complained of the breach of the protection giwen to the said Sampson, wher vnto the said O Connor replyed, that he was not able to remeid it for hee had no command of the said Owen McRory O Connor; And this deponent further saith that the said Sampson remained thair with him efter this first plundering of him, which incoragded others to come and search for goods belonging to the <C> said Sampson Porter sewerall tymes, by which means this Deponent (as he alledgeth) was Lyk to be vndone so that he this Deponent perswaded the said Sampson Porter to remove into another house whervpon the said Sampson remowed with a friar called Hugh m c m artin to the abbey and from the nce adjoyn ing to his hous belong e ing to on Dermott O Dawan smith his hous out of the which hous the said Sampson

    fol. 114v


    1193
    was Caried to the Gaole and thair murdered, And further this deponent sayth that e fter that wery night wherein the murder was committed <D> Captain Charles o Connor Captain Hugh o Connor with some of thair followers to the number of twelf or thaireabouts, cam in vpon your petiticioner vnto this deponent, rushing into his hous about twelf a clock at night, and eftir some threatnings of the Deponent, They, the said Charles o Connor Demanded of the deponent, which of all the English, in prison hee wold rather hawe inlardged and sent away safe, whervnto this deponent answered that he wold wish that they wer all safe, and especially hee did wish that on Richard Swash shoemaker Sampson Porter, Mr William Welsh And Henri Knapp might be sent away safe whervnto Charles O Connor [ ] replyed striking his hand vpon his knee that he should newer sie Sampson Porter trott again, Whervpon the souldiers of the said Captans rushed in into the Chamber wher this Deponent was with thes captains with six drawn swords and twelfe drawin Skeins, and bragged that these wer the swords and skeins that had committed the murder, and gloried in the fact, And this deponent further sayth that he knew besyd thes Captans, thes persons followeing who wer present att the Committing of the murder into witt, Teag o Sheal Dead, Rori Ballagh o Hart, Owen o Hart brother to Rori Ballagh o Hart, Gerrard o Herbert, And Edward Herbert, Thomas Welsh, and Nicholas Welsh, which said Thomas Welsh was than Drumer to Captain Charles O Connor, And this deponent further sayth not:
    Peeter Crean
    Signed, and acknowledged before mee as wittness my hand
    Rich: Coote

    fol. 115r


    1194

    fol. 115v


    1195

    About the business of Sligo
    Peeter Creans examination



    Richard Coote



     

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