Deposition of Jane Stewart

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The Deposition of Jane Stewart the widow and relict of Thomas Stewart merchant in Sligo takne the 16o of May 1653
This deponent being sworne vpon the holy Ewangelist, and examined, saith that shee Liwed with her said Husband Thomas Stewart at Sligo in the begineing of the rebellion, and so soone as they hard of the samyn, this deponent sayth that they took in all thair goods into Andrew Crian his castle, wher they remained with thair goods, till the Irish Camp cam about the towne to besiege itt, which seige continued for the space of eight or ten dayes, att the end whereof <A> Ensigne Cotton than Commander of the castle tooke quarter, vpon which quarter permitted Andrew o Crian to go outt into the campe, wher he remained for the space of thrie dayes, and efterwards returned, whervpon hee the said Andrew ô Crean told the Ensigne and the souldiers that they should submitt and tak quarter which they att Last was constrained to accept of, And this Deponent saith that shee knoweth not the substance of the quarter but as shee was informed, they wer to hawe thair cloathes and ewerie man to hawe fortie shillings, with a safe convey towards the Boyll: And this deponent further sayth vpon Examination that when Mr Roycroft with so many as resolwed to go towards the boyll wer ready to go shee this deponent Desyred her husband to tak the benefitt thaireof whervnto her said Husband answered that they both wold go to O=Connor Sligo and know what incoradgement hee wold giwe tham to stay; whervpon they went, and when they cam vnto him hee not only promised to sawe thair Lywes but also promised to mak him vp a stock whervpon he might vse <B> his trade of merchandizeing againe, and for his present incoragdement, he the said o Connor Sligo sent his brother Hugh o Connor with this deponent and her husband who repossessed tham of thair hous being wast and plundered of all thair goods; And further this deponent saith that they continued for a week peaceablie in the hous, till heareing of threatening of tham for thair Lywes they went into on Ellein Trimble her hous, from whence the said Thomas Stewart was caried into the common gaole with the rest of the protestant inhabitants, wher they wer all murdered: This deponent being demanded who caried her husband out of Helein Trimble her house into the gaole saith that on Hugh mcGennis than footeman to O Connor Sligo, and Donald O Beolan cook to the said o Connor Sligo, and on Phelim o Connot now Liweing in the County of Galloway, who ar all the persons this deponent knoweth to be <D> Liweing besyd Hugh o Connor himselff, of all the number who cam into the said house, and further saith that when the said Thomas Stewart this deponents husband saw the said Hugh o Connor com into the house, kneiling prayed to spare his Lyff, vnto for gods sake, whervnto the said Hugh o Connor replyed that thair should be no mercie shewed to any whelp of tham all And this deponent being further examined concerneing the [ ] instruments of that murder which was than committed, sayth that shee herself att that tyme fell extreem sick, and in the tyme of her sicknes, some of her nytbors and serwants cam to wisitt and attend her, who told her that the Irish kept a jurie <in the abbey> thrie dayes tuesday wedensdsay, and thursday till two a clock when they dissolwed, and vpon thair ryseing they fell a murdering of on William

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of on William Sheils and his sons vnder the window wher this Deponent lay, without vpon the streets in the backsyd in a reik of turff wher they had hid thamselfs: Which when this deponent heard notwithstanding of her sicknes she ryseth and went into the Lower roome of the said house of the <C> belongeing to Ellein Trimble widow, wher this deponent findeth Hugh o Connor Charles ô Connor Teag buy ô Connor Donald o Connor with the matter of Twelf more captans, all drinking in the roome, wher this deponent stayed whill they drunk fyve quarts of Aquavytie and a beeff and halfe putt into a brewing pann for thair suppers: And att Last this deponent prayed Brian Ballagh o Rork (who was tha n in the hous but not in thair company ) to interceid for her husbands lyff att the hands of thes captans which was Denyed, notwithstanding that Brian Ballagh o Rork pleaded wery earnestly with tham, and really as this deponent conveaweth: This deponent further deposeth that shee is confident that the murder was committed by vertue of that councell held in the abbey of Sligo, for at the begineing of the night befor the murder was committed, o Connor Sligo sentt on Thurlogh o Connor of Crewis vnto that hous of Helein Trimbles wher thes men wer (who wer appoynted to be the murderers) wer drinking, desyreing them not to do any thing with the prisoners till the next morneing that hee should sie thame wherevnto they gawe no answer, but smyled and that night the murder was committed, and further this deponent saith not.
Jane [mark] Stewart her marke
Signed, and acknowledged before mee as wittness my hand.
Rich: Coote

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About the Murther of Sligo

About the Murther of Sligo
Jane Stuarts examinacion