Deposition of Anthony Stratford

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Captaine Anthony Stratford of Arm Charlemont <A> in the County of Armagh Esquire aged threescore yeres or thereabouts sworne and examined before his Maiesties Commissioners by virtue of a Commission to them in that behalf directed vnder the greate seale of Ireland, Deposeth and sayth That theis protestant ministers following About the begining of the present Rebellion were murthered in the Counties of Tirone & Armaghe, vizt Mr John Mather Mr Blyth Mr Hastings Mr Smith Mr Durragh Mr Birge, and eight more whose names this deponent hath forgotten by the Rebells None of which would the Rebells would permitt to be buried, the names of such as murthered them, this examinant <b> knoweth not: His cawse of knowledg of the said murthers is that some of his this deponents servants whoe were among the Rebells did giue him the Relation, and he veryly well beleeveth them And heard this deponent heard the same confessed and averred by many of the Rebells themselues and by some of those protestants that had escaped, And that he this deponent was a prisoner amongst the Rebells at Castle Caulfeild nere the places of those murthers, where he contynued fowrteene moneths
<B> And further saith that in dungannon in the County of Tirone <1> or nere therevnto the Rebells murthered three hundred and sixteen protestants: And between Charlemont and Dungannon above fowre hundred, there were murthered and drowned at and in the River by Benburb the black water betweene the Counties of Armaghe <a> and Tirone twoe hundred & six protestants. And Patrick mc Crew of Dungannon aforesaid murthered thirtie one, in one morning. And twoe yong Rebells vizt John begg bryan Harvy murthered in the said County of Tirone One hundred and forty poore women & children that c ould make [ ] noe resistance And the wiffe of Brian Kelly of Loghgall in the County of Armagh (one of the Rebell Captaines) <C> did with her owne handes murther fforty five: And this deponent further saith That one Thomas King somtymes Sergeant to the Late lord Caulfeilds company, (which this deponent comanded, (he being inforced to serve the Rebells, and was one of their provost Martialls) Gave the deponent a list of euery howshoulders name soe murthered, and the
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the number of the [-] persons names so murthered, which list the deponent durst not keepe
At Portadowne there were drowned at seuerall tymes about three hundred and eight whoe were sent away by about forty or such like numbers at on c e with Convoyes and there drowned
<D> There was a loughe nere Loughgall aforesaid, Where were drowned above twoe hundred of which this deponent was informed by severall persons, and particularly by the wiffe of Doctor Hodges and twoe of her sonns, whoe were present and designed for the like end, But by godes Mercie that gave them favour in the eyes of some of the Rebells, they escaped. And the said Mris Hodges and her sonns gaue the deponent a List of the names of many of those that were soe drowned, which the deponent durst not keepe
<2> And saith that the said Dr Hodges was imployed by Sir Phelim ô Neile to make gu n npowder, but he fayleing of his vndertakeing was first half hanged then cutt downe and kepte prisoner three months, and then murthered with 44r more within a quarter of a [ ] myle of Charlemont aforesaid (they being by Tirlogh oge ô Neile brother to Sir Phelim sent to towards Dunganon prison, and in the way thither murthered, this Deponent was shewed the pitt where they were all cast in
<E> Att a mill pownd in the parrish of Killaman in <3> the County of Tirone there were drowned in one day three hundred: And in the same parish, there were murthered of English and Scottish one thowsand Twoe hundreth, as this deponent was informed by Mr Birge the Late minister of the said parrish, whoe Certified the same vnder his his hand which note the deponent durste not keepe, The said Mr Birge was murthered three months after, All which other murthers were in the first breaking out of the Rebellion, But the particular tymes this deponent <E> cannot now remember, neither the persons by whome they were comitted
This deponent was credibly informed by the said Sergeant & others of his this deponent servants whoe kept company with the
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the Rebells and saw the same, That many yong children were cutt into quarters and gobetts by the Rebells And that 18 Scottish infants were hanged on a Clothiers tenterhooks And that they murthered <4> a yong fatt Scotchman, and made Candles of his grease. They tooke an other Scottishman and ripped vp his belly that they might come to his smalle gutts, The one end whereof they tied to a tree and made him goe rownd vntill he had drawne them all out of his bodie They then saying That they would try whether a doggs or Scotchmans gutts were the longer
Anth: Stratforde
Deposed martij 9o 1643 before vs
Hen: Jones
Hen: Brereton

49
3)

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Anth. Stratford esquire
Jurat. 9. Martij 1643
Intw Exw
hand