Examination of Editha Gardner

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The Examination of Editha Gardner of Portumna Aged about 25 yeares wife to Richard Gardner one of my Lord Presidents Troope December the 13th 1652
Being Examined vppon oath shee saith, In the beginning of the Warre her husband Rich: Gardner, with his two brothers Mathew & Archiball Gardner, and Mr Walker & Mr Shaule Ministers with others were beseiged in the steeple of Roserke Abbey in the Barrony of Tyrrawly for three quarters of A yeare by the Barretts, and others <A> of the Enemy of that Country, being soe long beseiged they sent to Mr Edm: Burke of Roppagh they to deliuer the place to him, if he would give them A safe Convoy for the Examinant, her mother Mr Walker & his man to Abby Boyle in the County of Roscommon (it being an English Garrison). Her husband & some other people that were in the steeple of Roserke being to Romaine there with Mr Burkes people, where upon Edm: Burke of Roppagh came & received the house, & sent his brother Rich: Burke A ffryer And six souldiers to Convoy them, two of which left them at Ardnaree, & the ffryer & the other foure went on with them to Ballyjordan, where they broke their fast, And when they were going from thence after breakefast the said Rich Burke ffryer bid them goe the shortest way unto Lough tultoge over A bogge, and he would meete them, & sent the foure souldiers of Edm Burkes along with them, and about halfe an houre after they were Gone out of the Towne where they broke their fast, about seaven or Eight of the <B> Townes people followed them & fell upon Mr Walker & his Man & killed them, & being Demanded whether the 4 souldiers who were to Convoy them, did offer to prevent the killing of them, shee saith they did not, and shee further saith that before the townespeople came to them, the said Guard fell vpon this Examinant & her mother & stript them to their skins, saying they were as good to doe it as others, and when the Examinants Mother saw the people coming shee had some small lynnen & A gold ring, which and shee gave to the souldiers & desyred them to take her and this Examinant aside and to save their lyves, being Examined whether shee knew any of her Convoy shee saith shee knewe none but Rich: <C> Burke the ffryer and one Gilladuff, & being asked whether the said Edmond Burke did punish any of the souldiers, shee saith shee doth not know, and saith that the souldiers told Mr Burke & her husband that they were killed. But after Mr Walker & his man was killd this Examinant and her mother went to Ballycottle to this Examinants ffather in Law where they Remained and afterwards her mother was murthered going betweene Ballynicke & the Boyle but by whome shee knoweth not, but this Examinant went to Roskerke & stayed there with her husband till the Lord President came into that Country with a party for their Reliefe And

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<D> And this Examinant being Demanded whether shee knew any thing of the murther that was comitted betweene the Moyne & Killally, she saith shee heard that one James Dexter did Instigate the people to murther them in Regard that some of the Brittish were Gone away with his boate
This Examination was taken & subscribed before me the Day & yeare above written
Cha: Coote

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The Examination of Editha Gardiner December
the 13th 1652
concerning the murder of Walker &c.