Deposition of William Hewetson

fol. 305r

William Hewetson late of Clanufe in the County of Kildare Cleark duly sworne and examined deposeth
<A> That he was credibly enformed both by his owne tenants, and also by diuerse of the natiues inhabitants thereabouts that Ralph Howard of Clanuffe aforesaid hauing turned to Masse to saue his life and goods was cruelly murthered, being stabbed <A> in many parts with a skeane by Derby Keys seruant to Rory O More and Poul Gilla-foile and others, and his wife and two Children were by them hanged vpon a tree neere the said Ralphs house, and were by others buried neer the said tree and the place of their buriall shewed by diuerse of the inhabitants vnto this deponent. The wife of the said Ralph did formerly nource a Childe for the foresaid Rory O More whereby she hoped to haue the more fauour. The time when this Murther was Comitted was about Candlemas (as this deponent is enformed) in the yeare 1641. Moreouer it is reported that one of the foresaid Children was hanged about the Mothers neck and the other at her girdle, they also hanged the dog and cat of the said Ralphe with his wife and children thereby to manifest their malice the more The names of some of those that enformed this deponent concerning the premises were Thomas Birne John Bermingham now both of Clanuffe aforesaid
Will: Hewetson
Jurat 15o Julij 1645
Hen: Jones
Hen: Brereton

fol. 305v