Deposition of James Peirsy

fol. 302r

James Peirsy of the towne of Athy in the County of kildare Cooper sworne and examined deposeth and sayth That since the begining of the present Rebellion vizt about the xvjth of November 1641 whenas the insurreccion first begun in those parts Hee this deponent fearing the danger ensueing: deserted his dwelling howse and for saffty (amongst others of his neighbors protestants) fled to the Castle of Athy, then in the holding of one Mr John Murphy a zealous and honest man protestant & a man much endeared to the English nation where the deponent contynued for as Corporall of the wards there for the space of twoe yeres and five monthes or thereabouts: And further saith that a little before Ester 1642 the Rebells [ ] flocking by multitudes towards the said towne: This deponent and the rest of the protestants desireing to avoid such malignant neighbors & to preserue the Castle as long as they could (though with losse of their owne howses and goods) sett their owne howses nere the Castle on fyre & thereby burned and demolished them & some of their goodes within the same to his losse and damage in particular of ffifty powndes or thereabouts: And the deponent brought to the said Castle (which he wasted and spent there in defence thereof some goodes of the value of thirty powndes sterling: and was this deponent was by meanes <140 li.> of the Rebelion expelled & deprived of his trade of a Cooper worth xx li. per annum whereof he accounteth 3 yeres proffit to be lost and he him sle himself contynued as Corporall of the warders of the said Castle to his noe little paines care and trouble vntill a little before Ester last 1644 And sayth That the said Castle of Athy was very often during his stay and service there beseiged by and by the servants and souldjers of Colonell ffizgarrald of Ballishanon & of Captain Garret ffitzgarrald of Kilkay & of Peirce Michell of Clony: (who now vsurpeth & forceibly holdeth possession of Sir Robert Merediths howse in Clony:) Hugh Mc Davy Connor of nere Revin Captain Harpoole of Ballylehene, and Captain Harpoole ofin the Queens County and generally all the
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fol. 302v

Rebells of the Country thereabouts which whose names this deponent cannot call to mynd
<Dr J: H B>
James Pearsee
Jur xo Jan 1644
Hen: Jones
Hen: Brereton

A

Kildare
James Pearcie Jur
xo Jan: 1643
Intw 16. no

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