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Deposition of Francis Leiland

  • Reference:  MS 836, fols 098r-099v
  • County: Armagh
  • Date: 19/7/1643
  • Type: Dublin Original
  • Nature of Deposition: Arson, Assault, Captivity, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Signs and Wonders, Stripping, Words
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    • fol. 98r


    475
    Francis Leiland of Drumadmore in the Parrish and Countie of Armagh yeoman sworne and examined deposeth and sajth That since the begining of the present Rebellion vizt about the xxviijth of October 1641 Hee this deponent was deprived robbed or otherwise despoyled of his Corne hay Cattle horses mares sheepe howshold goods provision & other goods things worth 180 li. ster. And By the Rebells Turloghe ô Neile Quin of the parrish of Mulloghbrack in the said County H Laborer; Captaine Hugh Booy McCalway of the same parrish gent Captain Phelim ô Neile of Annaclere Late servant to Richard Stubbs of Annaclere aforesaid Patrick mc Tee of the parrish of Armagh Labourer, and divers other Rebells to the number of one ffowrscore or thereabouts: And further saith That becawse the deponents wiffe was of the Name of the Neils (though borne in leicestershire in England: and nothing a kin to the ô Neiles of Ireland, And for that this deponents brother Tho: Leiland had beene a workman to Sir Phelim ô Neile: Therefore as this deponent conceiveth hee this deponent and his said wiffe & 7 children were not putt to death by them but suffered to liue amongst the Rebells for half a yere yet euerie day subject to vnspeakeable dangers and yet not dareing all that time to goe away for feare of Death: The torments threats & menaces which hee this deponent & his wiffe & children were exposed vnto in that tyme were very greate & the manner ways & meanes of their deliuerance as great, but farr more rare, yet too long to expresse: But sayth that whilest he this deponent & his remained in that misery amongst the Rebells in the parrish of Armagh hee was credibly tould by divers That a streame or brooke runing from a loughe ne re the through the towne of Loughall was turned from pure water into the cullour of bloud And becawse he desired to know the truth thereof: Hee sent his wiffe, in irish habitt, to inquire of some of the English of Loughgall (in or about the begining of lent was twelvemonth:) whether that report was true

    fol. 98v


    476
    or noe: whoe returned with several serious protestactions from divers of the English then aliue that that streame or River aforenamed did one day whilest the papist Rebells were at Masse in Loghgall turne from clere water to the cullour of blowd: & that divers went vpp to see if [ ] any creature man or beast [ ] were killd or putt thereinto bleeding which might bring that cullour into the water, And that vpon diligent search and view they fownd noe creature at all in the streame nor any any blowd shedd & runing into the same But that yet the streame all along to the Loughe and the very Lough itself were both of a bloudy cullour & soe contynued whilest the Rebells were at Masse & vntill abo{ut} half of them (as they returned from Masse, were comen over the sam{e} streame, & that then the water of the streame Reverted and came to his its former purity & cullour: And further saith that the Rebells within the County of Army of Armaghe inforced divers of the English men thereabouts to goe along & partake with them when they went to robb & stripp their neighbours & neuertheless for all that they afterwards murthered and killd those that did soe goe along and partake with them. And further saith that hee this deponent hath lived within the parrish & Countie of Armaghe for the space of thirty yeres together last past and above & by that meanes very well knew the said Cuntry & many of the Cuntry people thereabouts: And is verely perswaded that when the present Rebellion begun there were of the English and Scotts protestants dwelling within the two parrishes of Armagh and Logghall the number of eight thowsand at the Least men women and children protestants the most of which the deponent is verely perswaded were murthered & putt to death by the Rebells, by drowning burning hanging starveing the sword & by other cruell deaths and torments; & that but a very few escaped: This deponent & his wiff & children by gods providence amongst those few escapeing away after the most part of the other protestants were putt to death By whose distruccion & the burning of the Churches of Armagh & towne & of divers other Castle dillon & other howses Castles &

    fol. 99r


    477
    & buildinges most of which this deponent saw on fyre by the Rebells those braue Rojall plantacions there are quite demolished wasted and tarnished & of all the former Inhabitants (saveing the base irish) depopulated
    <Mr W: mr B: mr A>
    ffrancis Leland
    Jur 19o July 1643
    Will: Aldrich
    John Watson

    43

    fol. 99v


    478

    Armagh
    Francis Leiland Jur
    19o July 1643
    Intr hand w
    Intw
    167

    26



    John Watson
    William Aldrich



     

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