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Deposition of Ann Bleverhassett

  • Reference:  MS 835, fols 236r-237v
  • County: Fermanagh
  • Date: 31/7/1643
  • Type: Dublin Original
  • Nature of Deposition: Assault, Captivity, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Stripping, Words
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  • How to Cite
    • fol. 236r


    652
    <Dr J: Mr W: Mr A: Mr B; Mr P>
    Ann the Relict of Francis Bleverhassett late of Hassetsfort in the Countie of Fermanagh Esquire sworne & examined saith That in the beginning of the Rebellion vizt the xxiijth of October 1641 Her sayd husband and shee & their children were by force and armes expelled and driven from their landes Castle howses and farmes, and dispoyled of their Clothes and apparrell And then alsoe hee the said ffrancis Bleverhassett & T his deponent were forceibly robbed deprived or otherwise dispojled of their beasts Cattle sheepe horses corne ready mony charges of building improvementes of landes farmes & an iron work, apparrell howshold goodes & other thinges in the Counties of ffermanagh aforesaid Cavan and Monoghan: & that shee, her husband her & children haue lost the proffitts of their landes farmes & iron work ever since In all of the value and to their damage and losse of one thowsand eight hundred & sixtie poundes ster And that shee this deponent & [ ] & her husband & eldest sonn & heir children (her husband being now dead) are like to be deprived of and loose the future proffits of their landes & farmes worth CCCxx li. per annum, untill a peace be established And sayth That the Rebells which soe expelled deprived robbed and < a > dispoyled them were Rory Maguire brother to the Lord Maguire Hugh Boy Maguire now or late of Bowjland: [ ] Esquire, Collo Maguire gent and their souldjers Complicees and Rebellious partakers whose names shee cannott expresse: which said Hugh Boy Maguire afterwardes told this deponent that he had sent fforty men to kill this deponentes said husband: Howbeit god soe provided that her husband by flight escaped theire hands that tyme; Howbeit the Rebells a good while afterwardes as this deponent hath bin credibly tould and beleeveth the Rebells at Lotherstowne in the said Countie of ffermanagh most barbarously & cruelly hanged vpp to death on Tenterhooks Thomas Redman the deponentes sonn in lawe, and after many tortures vsed to his wiffe to confesse the money at Lengthe murthered her and her children alsoe, & robbed stripped and dispoyled alose him the said Tho: Redman & his wife of a personall estate worth 500 li. at least And further sayth That for seven weekes after the Rebellion began, she this deponent was kept in hold

    fol.236v


    653
    in the said Rory Maguires howse from whence he then sent her to her husband to Ballyshonnon Castle in the Countie of Donnegall: where her said husband was shott by the Rebells and after dyed, And there shee & his and her children stayd for a yere and a halfe together & in that tyme endured much want & misery: And at the length shee and 5 of her children & divers other protestantes were brought thence by shipping to Dublin bringing noe meanes nor releeffe with them Insoemuch as they and those in the ship being long at sea & wanting victualls at sea: & being ready to starve famish some of them resolved to goe on Land & adventure amongst the Rebells rather than starue, Howbeit on a suddeine such was godes great mercie and pitty of them that he discouered vnto them a smalle little Island nere over against the port or part of the Castledoe vnto or towardes which the mariners veering & bringing thar shipp they landed & fownd there 9 Cowes 40 sheepe & some henns & barly: where with they very well victualled thems themselues: & soe were well & saffely preservd & stored: And further saith That she hath credibly heard some of the Rebellious souldjers at the said Rory Maguires howse bragg boast, and say that they hadd hanged th ere seven seuerall protestant men in the Church yard of that parrish where Mr Flack was minister, three of which protestantes names were of the names of the Bells And this deponent hath credibly heard & is confident the report is true That the said Rory Maguire sent the said Mr Flack & his wiffe & his wiffes brother [ ] & their children and other protestantes to the number of xxj with a Convoy by sea to water towardes Ballyshannon: Whoe after they were landed & comen a very little way out of the County of ffermanaghe the same convoy afterwardes left them seemed to leave them: And quickly therevpon other Rebells or the Convoy themselves fell vpon and murthered them all as some of the Convoy promised or threatened should bee done the night before
    Ann Blenerhassett
    Jur ultimo July 1643
    Will Aldrich
    Edw Piggot
    Joh Watson

    fol. 237r



    654

    fol. 237v



    655

    Farmanagh
    Ann Blenerhassett
    Jur 31o July 1643
    Intw
    Hand
    126 100



    Edward Piggott
    John Watson
    William Aldrich



     

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