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Examination of Owen O Gilmore

  • Reference:  MS 837, fols 157r-158v
  • County: Down
  • Date: undated
  • Type: Commonwealth
  • Nature of Deposition: Assault, Captivity, Multiple Killing, Robbery, Stripping
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  • How to Cite
    • fol. 157r



    3353
    The examination of Owen O Gilmore of the parish of Glanains of the aige of thirty yeares or vpwards
    <Owen O Gilmore> saith that at the begininge of the Rebellion in the month of Jan: 1641 he liued at Ballydauie in the parish of Holliwood in the County of Downe & heareinge that the scots were gathered together, there came a partye of them to the said Ballydauie aforesaid & wisht the Irish men there liueing <Bryan Boy> to gitt themselfs into Bryan Boys house [ ] & it being not able to hould them, they went into the houses were nere <A> hand, where that party of scotch men did abyde with them & supt with the said Irish & were very merry till about midnight, & then that party ffell vpon the said Irish & stript them, & a litle afore day fell <Andrew Hamilton> a killinge of the said Irish after that Andrew Hamilton of nere Craford burne in Bangnell parish came to them who was said to bringe order for that worke, who came & shott of his pistoll at before Bryan Boys doore where vpon the said scots party fell vpon killinge the said Irish & so killed of men women & children therescore & odd & the names of the persons that this examinant remembers that were at & killinge the said <John Crawford Jam Johnson elder Jam Johnson iunior Captain Will: Hamilton Robert Mernes John Watt Gabriell Adams> that place that night persons were the foresaid Andrew Hamilton, John Crawford, Jam: Johnson Leutenant & Jam: Johnson Junior Captain William Hamilton Robert Mernes John Watt & Gabriell Adam, & did see the said Watt & Mernes kill som of the said persons
    Also this examinant saith that he escapeinge this danger by hydeinge himselfe in the Kilne, did so soone as he could escape thence <Hen: mc William mc Gilmores> towards one Hen: Mc Williams mc Gilmore [ ] house to secure himselfe & as this exam: came nere the said house, he heard the scotch men aboute the said house, & so durst not goe thether, but perceiued that the said persons were the two Jam: Johnsons aforesaid & the foresaid Watt & others not knowne to this examinant but this examinant heard the said Jam Johnson Junior say to the said Gilmore open the doore, but the <B> said Gilmore denyed, & then the said Johnson said you know me to which Gilmore said that he did, but for all that would not open the doore, then the said Johnson desired the said Gilmore to light some straw the which Gilmore did, whereby the said Johnson put in his pistoll & shott & kild the said Gilmore, wherevpon they broke open the doore & went in, & kild the one of the children of the said Gilmore & did wound the said Gilmore wiffe & one child more & left them for dead but the said wiffe recouered & tould this examinant the foresaid realation
    <Gildy O Gilmore> Also this exam: saith that he went from hence for his security to a lame [ ] mans house called old Gildey O Gilmore & went in & lay

    fol. 157v



    3354
    downe in the straw where shortly the said party of scotch men came but none went in there but the said Watt, & ould Jam: Johnson went about the house, & findinge a hole said they are all escaped <C> hence, & also did bid the said Watt not to kill the said old Gildy, & the said Warr had a pitchfork in his hands, & the plades ab about him was the foresaid mc William mc Gilmores his wiffs, the said Watt findinge this exam said what are you, & for that this exam: was in feare & did speake the scotch speech, said that he came from Killeleagh & that his was name was ffinley, so that party went away
    Also this exam: saith that the fourth day after the said murther this exam being at Kirkdonnell heard that the Constable one Robert <Tho: O Gilmore Robert Jackson> Jackson of Hollywood did bringe with him one Tho: O Gilmore Vnkle to this examinant whom the said Jackson brought to the said place with his <Captain Alex Hamilton> hands bound behynd his back with match, the said Jackson brought the said prisoner before Captain Alex: Hamilton who did command the said Constable y to carry the said prisoner to Bangwell with to the rest & the said Captain would not receaue him at of all, so the said Constable tooke the said prisoner backe & this exam: thinkinge that they would cary him to bangwell accordingly did follow them, but as the Constable & the rest another man went vp the mountaine betwixt the said Kirkdonnell & Hollywood this exam: did see the said Jackson the Constable kill the said prisoner Tho: O Gilmore with a sword & this exam: did goe to him after that the said Constable was gone away, & perceaued seuerall wounds that the said Tho: had both cutts & stabbs
    Owen [mark] O Gilmore his marke
    Taken before vs
    Ja: Traill
    Rich: Bickerstaffe

    fol. 158r



    3355

    fol. 158v



    19
    The exa: of Owen O Gilmore
    about the murder at Holywood
    versus
    Captain Alex: Andrew Hamilton
    Jam Johnson Junir & senior
    Captain William Hamilton
    Robert Mernes
    John Watt
    Gabriell Adams
    Rob: Jackson



    Ja Traill
    Richard Bickerstaff



     

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