Examination of Thomas Taylor
- Reference: MS 836, fols 179r-180v
- County: Armagh
- Date: 24/2/1653
- Type: Commonwealth
- Nature of Deposition: Assault, Captivity, Death, Military Action, Multiple Killing, Words
- How to Cite
fol. 179r
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< symbol> The Examinacion and Deposition of Thomas Taylor of Cleenbrassell in the County of Ardmagh Tanner aged 29. yeeres or thereabouts taken at Lisnegarvy the 24th of ffebruary 1652
Whoe Sayth that aboute A Month after the Rebellion beganne the English then remaining in Glencann in the County of Armagh where this Examinantes father then liued, were gathered togeather as he heard by order from Sir Phel: o Neile to the number of 140 persons or therabouts, and they were Sent away with a Guard it being pretended and giuen out they Should be Conwayed Safe to Lisnegarvy, And this Examinante being to goe with them one Rose ny Neile a Widdowe, and Neighbour to this Examinantes father when this Examinante came to her to take leaue to goe with the rest of his freinds, She presently went to the Doore and lockt this Examinante in the Roome till night, and then lett him out, and told him that all those English that were sent away in the Morning were put to death at Porte of Downe and this said Rose her brother Captain Hugh o Neile tooke this Examinante to serve him, and caused him to woorke for him in a Tannhouse belonging to William Taylor this Examinantes father Brother.
And he further Sayth that his father & 2 brothers & 3 Sisters of this Examinantes were drowned at that tyme at Porte <A> of Downe, but his mother escaped, and returned the next day being greate with Child and alsoe another brother of this Examinantes being about 5 yeare old, & they came to the said Tanne <B> house to this Examinante, but he was not Suffered to speake with <Donnell O Neill & David Mc Vagh> them but one Lieutenant Donel o Neile, and David mc Vaugh & other Soldiers tooke him & shut him vp in a Roome till they had throwne his said Mother & his little Brother named Henry Taylor into the Toll Water, where the said Child was drowned, but after his said Mother had been liing in the Water they tooke her vpp againe to discouer where she had hid a boxe with Some money & Cloathes in it as shee after related to this Examinante & also shee told him that it was Dauid mc Vaugh that threw the said Child Henry Tayler into the Water by Comawnde of the said Donel o Neile And he further Sayth his said Mother fell in labour that night & her child dyed first & herselfe alsoe dyed Shortly after;
fol. 179v
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And he further sayth that the said Donel o Neile caused this <C> Examinants Brother William Tayler to woorke for him in the said Tann house till about May following when the Newry was taken & then he, & the said William & diuers others of the English lost in Glancann, were sent away as the Irish related by order of sir Phel: o Neile to LoughGall, & were there kept prisoners a while & afterward were Sent away towards Benburbe, & were murdered there, but by whome he cannot tell;
<Kateryne ny Can> And he further Sayth that Catherine ny Canne now prisoner & wife to the said Hugh o Neile often Spoke to her husband in this Examinantes heering to hang this Examinante, but he refused to hearkin unto her, but Sayth that he heard that the first that were murdered in Glancann vizt Joseph Handly his wife & three <D> Children which were throwne into the Toll Water, & leaste they Should escape that shee the said Katherin comanded her man Shane o Neile to Shoote any of them, in the water that he should <Shane o Neille> See likly to gett out, And this Examinante & his Brother hauinge after taken their Corps out of the Water to bury them this said Shane came by & touched the said Joseph his Corps with a stick & he presently bled at the wound in the head where he had binn shott
And he further Sayth that after the taking of the Newry the said Lieutenant Donel o Neile, tooke this Examinante to LoughGall at the tyme when Comand was giuen for Such of the English as were left to be murdered, & there he Saw diuers of them newlye <E> kild & the soldiers searching for more, but sayth he did not know any of those murderers, And the said Donel then told this Examinante that if he knew & could discouer where any money was hid he would take him back againe to the said Tannhouse, else he would leaue him there to be kiled, and did accordinglie leaue this Examinante at Loughgall, but it pleased God he escaped their hands & hid himselfe, & gott backe to the said Tannhouse after 3 dayes, & the said Hugh o Neile kept him Safe till a partie of the English came ouer the Bann, about Lammas 1642 at which tyme he made an escape, & came in with such others of the English as were left aliue in Glancan to Maior Rawdon whoe had the Comaund of the said partie & further Saith not And being demanded what he further remembers concearning any murders comitted, Sayth that he buried one Henry Pilkingto{
fol. 180r
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It was comonly reported that one Phelemie mc Camwell <Phillmy mc Cawell> now a soldier with Captain Points inuited him to his owne house to dinner, & came for him to guard him and this Examinante sawe the said Pilkingtons Dublitt on the said mc Camwells backe And further saith not;
Jur
Geo. Rawdon
71
fol. 180v
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Tho: Tailors examminacion
versus
Donell O Neale
Dauid mc Vagh
Caterin ni Can
Shane o Neille
Phill: mc Cawell
George Rawdon