Deposition of John Stibbs
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fol. 203r
(86.)
John Stibbs late of St Albanes in the Countie of Longford gent being dulye sworne and examined deposeth and saith that he this deponent about the later end of October 1641 was [ ] being since the begining of the present rebellion was expelled from deprived robbed or otherwise dispoyled of his goods and Chattells to the values hereafter expressed vizt of his tannhowse with leather and Barke therein worth CCl li. Of Cowes and other Cattle, sheepe horses and swyne worth Cxv li. of Brasse pewter lynnen bedding and other howsholdstuffe worth iiijxx x li. wyne Beare Aquavite and other provision for howskeeping iiijxx li. Brymstone xl s. Corne and hay xxx li. wearing apparrell and ready money and debts lxx li. two fowling peeces two pistolls one Carbine and three swords worth vj li. In fenceing ditching and quicksetting and planting his garden and orchard x li. In building burnt by the rebells iiijxx li. And this deponent hath also lost by meanes of the rebellion the benefitt of his leases for one whole yeare worth xxx li. per Annum, and is like to loose the future profitts thereof till a peace be setled Soe as the totall of all the deponents present losses by meanes of the rebellion amount vnto the some of seaven hundred sixtie three pounds ster. <*> And this deponent further saith that theise persons hereafter following are in actuall rebellion bearing armes with for and amongst the Rebells against the king and his <A.> loyall subiects vizt Irell ffarrell of Ardandra high sheriffe of the Countie of Longford Lysagh ffarrall of fforhill Oliver ffitzgerrald of Portenyewer James Dillon of Correndogh Rory ffarrall of Coolecroy Brian ffarrall and ffaughney ffarrell of the same James mc Teige ffarrell of Mohenveyne william ffarrell of the same John mc Carbery ffarrell of Calleribeg Murrogh ffarrell and Brian ffarrall of the same Walter ffitzgerrald of Portenyewre Richard ffarrall of Bawne Murrogh ffarrall of Correy Kedogh ffarrell <B.> of Barry James ffarrell of Calriemore ffergus ffarrell of fforhill ffehin mc ffergus ffarrall of Racline Brian ffarrell of Cardinallschagh Rory Groome ffarrall of Ballygurtan with divers others of theire followers who{se} names the deponent knoweth not) And as touching murthers Cruelties & other outrages committed by the rebells since the rebelli{on} this deponent furt{her}
fol. 203v
87.
further saith that about the tenth of December last past 1641 one <C> Hubert ffarrall a tenante of Oliver ffitzgarralds did Comitt a Rape vpon the body of Sarah Margarett Adgor and the offendor was not punist (as he this deponent was credibly informed) And further saith that about the 26th of December last the abouenamed Oliver ffitzgarrald and his men and Lyshar ffarrall and his men did stripp of their [ ] Clothes william Barton Joseph Adgor Henry Mead his wife and daughter Thomas Crogin his wife and five Children Lancelott williamson his wife and foure Children the deponent himselfe his wife and foure Children and exposed them to the cold of winter in so much that many of them perished thereby And for theire warrant for soe doing the rebells said they were comanded by the Cabinet t Counsell to doe it And further saith that one George fforster his wife and Children were cruelly murthered by the rebells att Terleckin or thereabouts and that Thomas Crogin his wife and 5 children were comanded vpon payne of death to depart that place and that afterwards he the said Thomas (as this deponent was credibly informed) they were all murthered att or neare Balleny Cirr And as they said it was thought as they said & reported by some of the Sheriffes men that Henry mead and his wife and John Byfell and william Steele and the deponents brother Daniell Stibbs were put to death by the meanes aboue= <D.> named Lysha ffarrall his men and Oliver ffitzgarrald his men who hanged them vpon a windmill And when they were halfe dead they cutt them to peeces <A> with theire skeanes And this deponent further saith that he haveing two Children that did sucke, theire Nurses were comanded to bringe them to this deponents his wife (theire mother) when he nor his wife had neither meate Clothes money no{r}
fol. 204r
(88)
a howse to putt their heads in: which children to this deponents greate greefe) were half naked with his wiffe, who by [ ] by cold and want of food djed shortly after, And further sajth That Silvester Browne Esquire eldest sonn to Sir Richard Browne knighte [ ] was by the Rebells and their cabinett Counsell & Counsill of warr sent to Longford gaole in company with him this deponent for that the said Mr Browne gaue this deponent and his wiffe & children food and lodging: they telling the said Silvester that he releeved <E.> Rebles And further saith that then & before that tyme the said Silvester Browne did not favor nor partake with the Rebells, but behaved himself well and as became a dutifull subiecte, Althoughe now as appeareth by a letter by him writt to him this deponent, hereafter mencioned it appeareth seemeth he was forced to turne to the Rebells, and to serve them: for formerly he releeved thenglish English all he could And further sayth that that before this deponents wiffe died vizt in Aprill last the daughter of the ladie Ann Dutton, and her daughter & Mris Elenor Browne, her man her mayd and this deponents wiffe were threatened to be putt to death: & the warrant was signed to that purpose by those of the Cabinett Counsell & by them sent to Captaine ffergus <ff.> fferrall to see them executed And the said Captain after receipt thereof tould the ladie Newcomen (in a braveing manner what a warrant he had) & it showed vnto her: wherevpon the Lady Newcomen sent to Sir James Dillon notice thereof: whoe presently came & carryed and tooke away thence the Ladie Dutton and all the rest to his owne howse and from thence sente them all saffe to Athlone. And further alsoe saith that about the xth of ffebruary last one William Barton of Cloghe was murthered and cutt in peecs in Athlone by some of the souldjers of the said Captain ffergus ffarrell & twoe or three of his children were starved within a night or 2 after And in the same month Edmund duff fferrall did Cutt and greivously <G.> wound one Katherin Robinson & would have ravished her, but that twoe of his owne company rescowed her from her him and saved her for that time And in June last the said Oliver ffzgarrald & most part of the rest of the Rebells before named privately came over the River Eney: & being nere a thowsand in number drew nere to the place where Captain Barten & Captaine Terringham were quartered with 200 men vpon whom at vnawares the said Rebells fell & killd Captain Bartew & 60 or so of his men (some say more) & carried away their armes, And in July last the said <H> Oliver & the most of the said ffarrells in the night tyme secretlie <H.> Martched againe to the said towne of Athlone and killd some few ould men women and children and some sick souldjers: & burnt some thatcht howses, but before eight of the clock, they were beaten out of the towne & above hundreth of fatt rogueish Rebells were there Killd & left behynd them and that day following the lord Wilmotts troupe with some other forces pursued them & rowted them: and had the slaughtering of them for three or 4 myles together chaseing home those ffarrells: but three or 4 hundreth of th{e} Rebell souldjers were that day slaine: And further saith that he this deponent ab{out} the 22th of ffeb{r}uary last being at libertie went to the Cabinett Counsell hopeing at Ar{ } hopeing to get rest{it}ucion of some part of his goodes o{r}
fol. 204v
89
to the quarter formerly given him: But he was noe sooner comen to the towne <I> but the highe sheriff Irell ffarrell had notice thereof and sent for him telling him that he had Comitted treason: ffor which he would neither eate nor drinck vntill he should see him this deponent executed: The pretended treason wherewith he charged him this deponent was, That he shold wishe a brace of bulletts in his the said ffarrells forhead, he being the Kings Lieutenant, wherevpon the deponent was had to the place of execucion where the Rebells searching his pockett fownd there an Inventary of his losses wherein amongst other things was written (a parcell of brimstone) which they reading demanded of him if he could make powder: & he to saue his life tould them his father and mother in England were powder makers, & he could make it aswell as they: wherevpon this deponent was carried to the Cabinett Counsell where he was made welcome to the Colonells and Captaines but was then & there tould by them that the English should never hold vp their heads in this Kingdome as they had done, Nor would they ever be more troubled with the Bishops Courts & paying of tythes After which this this deponente (haveing vndertaken to make powder as they desired gott him and to his assistance as many of the English as hee could to help him in the makeing of powder (as he pretended: And then a short tyme after this deponent & the English his seemeing assistants secretly gott small Cotts or boats: and tooke advantage of that liberty which by gods providence they hadd gotten & escaped away saffe to Athlone: Leaveing their promissed attempt & worke vnfinished And further sayth That in August last one Mr Hinds Mris Ridges man and Mris Ridge herself comeing to Roscomon this deponent desired the said Hinds to desire the said Silvester Browne when hee should see him to send him this deponent his books which he left with him And shortly Mris Ridge Reterning to Roscomon deliuered from the said Mr Browne to this deponent his said bookes: wherevpon this deponent turning them over found a leafe written with the hand writing of the said Mr Browne to this deponents Knowledge which hand writing followeth in theis words vizt John you knowe it is my misfortune to come into such a place as this, and in soe troblesome a tyme: You sent your letter by a woman whose husband is my roguish enemy: your letter being viewed by the turke and wolfe, was like to plott my ruyn But I had notice thereof and sent your letter to them: your brother was putt to death with others in my absence, by the appointment of the high and mighty lords the states of the Countie: yet they deny it Vengeance hath overtaken three of the executioners & I hope will doe all the rest I am forced to serve against yow that yow know had rather sitt quiett: Comend mee to your self, your bedfellowe and little ons to Captain Newcomen Mris Dutt{o}n Mr Gall & the rest I feare I shall fall
fol. 205r
(90)
fall twixt twoe stooles I pray god send suddaine peace, or sudden mischeif will seise on all If the English be not quiet before Ester next and that the king will really fight and proceed against the kingdom the english wilbe banished & the King will loose this Cuntrie This is the intended resolucons: yet they will endure burninge robbing and all extreames first: But the ould irish will not be soe patient I pray god prevent it in his mercy, by sendinge peace, or all is gone. farewell
Jurat Novemb 21. /1642/.
Joh Watson:
Hen: Brereton.
fol. 205v
fol. 206r
fol. 206v
Longford
Deposic John Stibbs
Jur 21 No: 1642.
Intw
hand w
Exr
vlt oct
w