Examination of Nickolas Stafford

fol. 204r

The Examination of Nickolas Stafford of <k> Ballemaanie in the Countye of Waxford Esquire taken on behalfe of the Commonwealth Concerninge the foresaid William Esmond of Johnstowne in the Countye of Waxford Esquire
<to the first interro:> this deponent sath that the said Esmond did liue in Johnstowne aforesaid in the yeare 1641 and euer since then the Irish Quarters and sath that the said Esmond might haue remoued hime selfe and famelye in the first yeare of the warr into the English quarters as Sir Walsinghame Cooke mr Nickolas Codd mr Nickolas Roe mr Adam Waller and seuerall other English did some of which liued in the same barrony where the said Esmond <L> liued and that the said Esmond might without danger haue remoued himselfe into the forte of Duncannon at the begininge of the warr, then the only garison of the English in thise parts and Gouerned by the Lord Esmond his the said Esmonds vnckle the Cause of this deponents Knowledge is because that the said Esmond with others of this Countye did atend the said Lord Esmond from Waxford to duncannon aforesaid about the month of Nouember 1641
<to the 2 interro:> he Can not depose
<to the 3 interro:> this deponent sath that the said William Esmond did <m> giue his Consent in or about the month of Decem december 1641 by his beinge present in the towne hall of waxford for the Raisinge of two thowsand men with armes and other prouission fitt for [ ] the defence of the Countrye
3

fol. 204v

<to the 4th interro:> this deponent sath that the said William Esmond did acte as a priuet gentleman in the first yeare of the beginge of the warr (vizt) in the month of 10ber with the forces that blocked vp and kept in the <n> English in the forte of Duncannon which forces were then Comanded by Hugh Rochford Esquire and sheriff of the Countye and Peirce Butler Esquire and Collo William Browne Esquire and seauerall others.
<to the 5th interro and 6th> he Can not depose
<to the 7th interro:> this deponent sath that he is Confident that the said William Esmond did in the first yeare of the <o> warr take and subscribe the oathe of association it beinge generally Imposed
<to the 8th interro:> he Can not depose
<to the 9th interro:> this deponent sath that the said Esmond was in the first yeare of the warr one of the Countye <p> Councell sittinge in Waxford
<to the 10th interro:> this deponent sath that Peter Esmond sonne and heire to the said William was in the first yeare of the warr {be}fore and against the forte of Duncannon and that the said peter had a hand and was present <q> at the taken away of Cowes and sheep belonging to Sir Arthur Loftus and some other English his Cause of Knowledge is because the said Peter did tell this deponent the same and farther sath that the said Peter did vseually Com to his father the said William and had accesse to hime as a sonn
<to the 11th interro:> he Can not depose

fol. 205r

<to the 12th interro
and 13th interro>
<to the 12th interro:> this deponent sath that he hath heard that the said William did on the first yeare of the warr by warrant from the County Councell take into his possession some Corne tyeth and other Corne belonginge to mr Nikolas Codd and mr Adam Waller or uther of them being both protestants and that by like order hee the said William did receaue the tyeth due to seauerall protestant minesters
<to the 13th interro> he Can not depose that were fled that were fled
<to the 13th interro> he Can not depose
Nic: Stafford
Sworne and examined
this 26th of December
1653 before vs
Tho Hart
John walker
mathew Stothard
4