Deposition of John Kent

fol. 279r

1785

Captaine John Kent of the Citty of Corke sworne & examined deposeth & saith That he this deponent married one of the daughters of William Woods late of kilhominy in the County of Cork gentleman, & one William Tute married another of his daughters & so this deponent had cawse to take notice <A> of the deaths of them the said William Woods & William Tute occasioned by the Irish Rebells which were as followeth First the said William Woods haveing a protection for himself wife children & family (where of the said William Tute was one) to stay & safely live at kilhominy aforesaid with their goods without hurt or disturbance by the Irish & alsoe being tennant to Donogh Lord Viscount Muskery & paying him rent for the farme & Lands which he held of him. Therefore the said William Woods & his said family tooke bouldnes to have their residence & dwelling there vntill about harvest tyme in the yere 1650. At or about which time (as this deponent hath been credibly enformed by his mother in law Hanna Woods, and one that was an Irishman her servant, & divers others of good creditt whom this deponent beleeveth) one Reardon sonne of Mr Reardon of Castlehinch, heretofore Comander of Blarney Castle belonging to the Lord of Muskery & severall others Rebells of the septs of the Reardons & Murphies & other Rebells to the number of fifty or sixtie came in the night tyme with force and Armes to the howse of the said William Woods in kilhominy aforesaid & forceibly brake & entered the same, & then & there not only robbed the said William Woods William Tute & his all the family of all their goods (being of considerable value) & stripped them almost naked but surprised & carried away prisoners with them them them the said William Woods & William Tute giveing them seuerall wounds in the way & then tauntingly asking where Captain kent (meaneing this deponent) was to rescow them, Howb, And after those Rebells had carried them seuerall myles. Then they hanged to death both the said William Woods & William Tute And this deponent is very confident that the said Readen & other <B> Robbers and murtherers aforesaid or the most part of them were the said Lord of Muskeryes souldiers & part of his forces

4

fol. 279v

1786

<C> the said Rearden the murtherers father being comander of Blarney the Lord of Muskeryes owne Castle And saith that after the said murthers Comitted it beinge bruted by some of the Lord of Muskeries frends. That his Lordship had hanged some of the said offenders. This deponent suspecting the truth of that report enquired after the same as farr as he could, but vpon the whole matter of Inquiry some of the intelligent Irish gentlemen of th & others of that Cuntrie told him that none were hanged or punnished for the same And soe as this deponent vereily beleeveth the said Lord of Muskery

John Kent
Deposed the 9th of August
1653 before
Tho: Waring
Joh. Harding

fol. 280r

1787

fol. 280v

1788

Muskery
Captain John Kent of Cork
Murther of William Woods
A.4
A.4