Examination of Ralph Waddington

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The Examinacion of Ralph Waddington of St Johns gent aged sixtie foure yeares or there abouts taken vpon oath on the behalfe of the Comonwealth Concerning Sir Thomas Esmond of Ballintroman in the County of wexford knight and Barronet vpon the Interrogatories annexed to the Comission of enquiry &c
<To the 1st Inter> The Examinant Deposeth and saith That he well knew the said Sir Thomas Esmond before the Rebellyon and since And saith That the said Sir Thomas dwelt At Ballintroman and elsewhere in the Irish quarters the first yeare and the remainder of the Rebellion without remoouing himselfe eyther into the fforte <h> of Duncannon, whither his father the Lord Esmond betooke himselfe in the first appearance of the said Rebellyon, nor into Dublin or England as hee might haue done as well as Sir Walsingham Cooke knight Edward Chichester esquire Mr ffountaine & seauerall other english protestants of good note which to this Deponents knowledge Deserted their respectiue dwellings and fled into the english quarters The Deponents cause of knowledge is for that the Deponent did see the said Sir Thomas Esmond Alwayes during the Rebellyon to keep his Residence eyther at Ballintroman or Limericke in the foresaid countie.
<To the 2d Inter> Hee cannot depose
<To the 3d & 4th Inter> The Deponent saith That the said Sir Thomas did contribute his endeauours his person in Armes, his horses &c towardes the forwarding and promoting the said Rebellyon [ ] <I> by being hauing great Comand both ciuill & millitary for the Irish against the English: His cause of knowledge hereafter appeares vpon the 9th Interrogatory
<To the 5th Inter> The Deponent saith That the said Sir Thomas was & the deponent hath seen him at sundry publicque meetings <k> of the Irish & particularlie at Ould Rosse about Aprill in the yeare 1643: at a meeting held by the Comissioners that sett [ ] protestants estates, there: And that the Deponent did likewise see the said Sir Thomas at the meetings
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of the County Councell in the towne of Wexford about Michelmas 1642: whither the Deponent made his addresses for reparations of some Losses sustained by the casting away of his wife children & goods in a boate goeing towardes England.
<To the 6th 7th & 8th> Hee Cannot depose
<To the 9th Inter> The Deponent saith That the said Sir [ ] Thomas Esmond was a member of the County Councell for the precinckt of wexford sometime before the 10th of Nouember 1642: The Deponents cause of knowledge is for <L> that the deponent hauing occassions to the said Councell about that time did then and there see the said Sir Thomas sit & act with that Councell, in what matters this Deponent & others at that time brought before them the said Councel{l} And further saith That afterwardes vizt about March 1642: The said Sir Thomas was a Captaine of a troope of horse for the Irish against the english & was at the fight of Ballibegg about the 17th of March 1642: As this Deponent was informed by Walter Lacie that was at that fight & came flyeing from thence as the Irish partie all did: And further saith That the said Sir Thomas was a Collonell of and had the Comand of a Regiment of ffoote about the Michelmas 1643: The Deponents cause of knowledge is for that the said Sir Thomas came with his halfe of his said Regiment & quartered at St Johns the place of the Deponents Residence where that parte of his said Regiment exacted of this Deponent ten poundes in monyes besides their victualls, the other parte of his Regiment being sent to be quartered at Clough: And since the said Sir Thomas Esmond was Major generall of the Irish forces vnder the Conduct of Generall Preston, as this Deponent heard by And saith That the said Sir Thomas Continued in actuall Armes against the english Interest till his Submission and laying downe Armes vpon Articles, which was in the yeare 1652
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<To the 10th Intr> The Deponent saith That the said Sir Thomas had three sons Namely Laurence the elder, Laurence the young younger and John Esmond, And saith That the said Laurence the elder & Laurence the younger had seauerallie troopes of horse vnder their Commandes & were Captaines & that the said John was a Captaine of a foote Companie of the forces of the said Countie The Deponents cause of knowledge is for that the said Laurence the elder Laurence the younger & John did sometimes seauerallie quarter at this Deponents dwelling at St Johns aforesaid before the Lord Generall Cromwells accesse to the said Countie, And afterwardes <m> the said three brothers continued in actuall Armes against the english Interest, till their submission with their father vpon Articles
<To the 11th 12th & 13th Inter> Hee Cannot depose, And further saith not &c
Ralph Waddington
Sworne before vs the
last daie of March 1654
Edward Withey
Richard Neale

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Sir Thomas Esmond

Sir Thomas Esmond Ballitroman