Examination of Peeter Browne

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1781
The examinacion of Peeter Burnell of Drogheda feltmaker aged 50 yeares or thereabouts taken the xxiij th of June 1653 before Sir Edward Bolton knight and Thomas Dongan Esquire two of the Committee appoynted by the High Court of Justice sitting at Dublin to take examinacions of Massacres and murther don or Committed in the Counties of Meath and Westmeath &c.
The sayd Examinant beeing duely sworn and examined deposeth and sayth that on Ash Wednesday was three yeares or thereabouts one James Brandon Hattmaker together with together with Patrick Tanckard of Drogheda and this examinant going together from Dublin Dublin towards Drogheda, they came the first night to Court duff and there intended to take take vpp their lodging, But that they were told by Patrick Browne of the same that it was dangerous for them to lodge there, wherevpon they went from thence to Lusk, it being a garrisond Towne, and there they lay all night, And in the morning taking their Jorney from Luske towards Drogheda they mett vpon the land of Collinston with Mr Nicholas <A> Russell of the same whoe being acquaynted with the examinant saluted him and having some speech with him and the rest, perceived that the sayd James Brandon had a sword in his hand, And the sayd Russell told this examinant and the rest that it was very dangerous for them to have a weapon amongst them, in the way where they were then, to travell, and desired the sayd Brandon to Leave his sword with him, promising that he would keepe it for him, and deliver the same agayne would whensoever the sayd James would send or comme for it, vpon which Condicion the sayd James delivered the sayd sword vnto the sayd Russell and went on his iorney with this examinant, and the sayd Patrick Tanckard, to Drogheda afore sayd, and being there a whyle, he sent from thence severall tymes as this examinant heard, [ ] to the sayd Russell for his sayd sword, But the same was not sent vnto him, Wherevpon the sayd James Brandon did

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1782
did on Allhallowne day in the Morning then next following tell this examinant that he would goe from thence that day to Dublin, and that he would by the way call to Mr Russell for his sword, and he accordingly <B> tooke his leave with this examinant, and that morning went away from Drogheda And this examinant heard not of him vntill about a Moneth after, a sister of his whose name the examinant knoweth not, came to enquire of him to Drogheda and told this examinant that he did not comme to Dublin since the tyme that he went thence in this examinants company to Drogheda, And that she could not tell what became of him, which was the cause she came then to Drogheda to looke for him, But this examinant could tell her nothing of him, more then that vpon Allhallownday as aforesayd he went away from thence, And this examinant further sayth that meeting with the sayd Mr Russell afterwards, at Drogheda he enquired of him, whether or no, the sayd James Brandon vpon his sayd iorney from Drogheda to Dublin, did comme <C> vnto him or and called vnto him for his sword, the sayd Russell made answere vnto this examinant, that he did comme vnto him, and called for his sayd sword And that he the sayd Russell did deliver the same vnto him, And this examinant further sayth that he then asked the sayd Russell what he knewe, or heard what became of the sayd Brandon, whoe answered that he neither knewe or heard , what became of him, And this examinant further sayth that the sayd J that he verily beleeveth that the sayd Brandon was then kild by the way But by whom this examinant knoweth not, And this examinant further sayth not
Peter Burnell
Edw: Bolton
Tho: Dongan

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1783

The sayd Peeter Burnell acknowledgeth to be indebted to the keepers of the Liberty of England in C li.
Condicion to appeare before the High Court of Justice vpon x dayes warning and give evidence &c. And not depart without licence &c.

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1784

The examinacion of Peeter Burnell concerning the murther of James Brandon by Nicholas Russell of Collinston