Deposition of John Edgworth

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John Edgworth esquire high: sherriffe of the Countie of Longford a Brittish Protestant sworne & examined Saith that: when and before this rebellion began hee was Seized of Severall Cartrons of land in his Demeasne as of fee within the County of Longford which Cartrons Did Containe about: 16: hundred acres of: arrable land: meadow and pasture besides boggs and wood which was worth: 260 li. per annum the greatest part of which land was purchased by this Examinants father & parts of it granted to his Said father as an undertaker upon the last plantation of the said Countie; and hee farther Saieth that: this Examinant said father Disbursed above Six hundred powndes in buildings two stone howses which Colloge Ferrall: of: Cardron Reogh: Connock mc Rory Ferrall: of <A> Killfendon with Divers other: Rebbells of the said Countie Did seize on about: the 26th: of october last: and hee farther Saieth that hee had in Corne vizt: wheate; beare, Rye; oates, barley and peaze in haggard worth: 200 li. Corne in grownd worth: 100 li. that: hee had two great: Reikes of Turffe and three of hay worth: 40 li.: in Cattle vizt: English Cowes sheepe, and Swine worth 300 li. rideing horses worth: 40 s.: in Garrons for the plowgh: with Iron trasses and Iron Harrowes fitting for them worth: 40 li.: in weareing Clothes, houshouldstuffe linnen beding hangings, Cloth, plate, cheares and stooles pewter brasse, vessels for a Dairy Kitchen and bread howse in all worth: 300 li. at the least: in Debts Due to this Examinant 430 li.: all which this Examinant lost, the said lands being Seized on by the Said fferralls and parte of his Said goodes Seized on alsoe by them upon pretence of Distresses for arreares of rent: for their land as they say Due ever Since the plantation of that: County, and parte of this Examinants goods being taken by James Nugent: of: Coolamber <B> Esquir under: pretence of Keepeing them which hee now doth: soe that: this Examinant Cannott injoy his said land nor any of his said goodes to his unspeakeable loss: & hath: not: left: him any thing whereon to subsist and hee farther Saieth that: hee had an: estate: in reversion of certaine lands in the: County of: Cavan and other Counties worth: 1000 li. which because his mother hath: an estate for: life in it from this Examinant hee Doth not mention, and this Examinant farther Saieth that: hee Sending abroad to: Know what: the: meaneing of this In
1)

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<C> Insurrection was: word was brought him by one Thomas Strafford once a Servant to this Examinant that: hee hard there was a Comission Come from his Maiestie to the Irish by which they had power: to Destroy the English in this Kingdome and in soe Doeing to revenge the wrong Done to his Maiestie by the puritants of England who: had not: onely first taken: away his prerogative but: had alsoe Deposed him and: put: up: the: palsgrave in his stead: this Examinant Discoursing farther: with the said Strafford, asked him if there were not: a great meeteing of Fryers and preists about: the 3d or: 4th of october: last: being St: Francis Day: at: the: monestary of Multefarnam in the County of: Westmeath: to which the said Strafford answered there was & beeing farther asked by this Examinant what: was their meeting for, hee answered hee Did not Know: onely thus much: that: Some of the fryars tould him that this was a yeare of Jubilee and that: there was a plenary indulgence or Bull: (as hee tearmed it) from: the Pope for all: the Sinns Comitted and: all that: should bee Committed this yeare of: Jubilee; and: this Examinant further: saith that: hee goeing into Westmeath: to Tuitstowne hee there inquired what: this riseing should meane but: there none would take upon: them to: Know but: afterwards by other Discourse hee heard James Tuite unckle to <D> this Examinant and: a Preist (whom hee Knoweth not) say that: the puritans of England Did use the King and queene basly and that: they had given order to have the queenes Confessor hanged and that: the: said Puritants (as they tearmed them) Did tiranise over: the: poore: Catholicke of England: and said farther: that: here in Ireland there must not any here live live or injoy a foote of land: but: those that would become Roman Catholiques and tould this Examinant that: if ever hee intended to: injoy his Estate hee must forsake his regilion and turne Papist and this Examinant farther saieth that: his mother mrs <E> Jane Edgworth: tould him that: hee must not: expect to injoy any thing of his estate unless hee would turne Papist, & if hee would Doe soe: that hee should have his owne estate againe with advantage and that: she was mediateing with the Catholique Campe as they tearme
2)

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It: for him, but: this Examinant Doth: and ever: Will chuse rather: to live (and Dye) miserable and in want as now hee Doth: rather: then to purchase his estate if it had beene a world on such tearmes all which this Examinant Deposeth: to bee true to the best: of his remembrance and farther Saieth not
John: Edgworth
Deposed before us
ffebruary 23: 1641
Hen: Jones
William Aldrich:
3)

This is a true Copie the originall whereof was given into: the Court: of the Cheife place for evidence against the rebbells where it still remaineth
Wittnes our hands Julij 7o 1652
Hen: Jones.
Hen: Brereton.

ex:

fol. 145v

John: Edgworth: esquire
Countie Longford
Jur ffebr: 23 1641