Examination of John Kidd

fol. 45r

1501

The examinacion of John Kidd of Bally Castle in the County of Antrim Mason, taken at Colerane the Last day of ffebruary in the yeare 1652. Before Richard Brasier Esquire Major of Colerane and Colonell Thomas Coote Governour of Colerane two of the Commissioners for Administracion of Justice and of the Justices of Peace within the Province of Vlster.

<I> Who being duely sworne and examined saith That in the Moneth of March 1641 being the first yeare of the Rebellion Gilduff ô Cahan of Dunseverick in the County of Antrim Gent did severall tymes <A> approach vnto the house of Ballentoy with about threescore armed Irishmen, and that some day in the same Moneth about Midnight he the said Gilduff with his men assaulted the Church of Ballentoy about a halfe Muskett shott from the said house (the Brittish haueing at that tyme taken vp the Church & manned it to defend their liues against the Irish) That he the said Gilduffe with his said Company made vse of Sledges, Pickaxes, Crowes & spades to digg a hole in {the} Church wall to enter the same, from about Midnight vntill the riseing of the sunne, That a youngwoman in the Church whose name this Examinante knowes not was killd with a shott sent in at a spikehole in the Church wall by the said Gilduffe or some of his Companey And that the Brittish maintained the breach endeavoured by the said Gilduffe & his Company in the said Church wall & shott three of his men & from the top of the Bellhouse one of the Brittish knocked the said Gilduffe vpon the side of his headpeece with a stone, And that before that time in the same Moneth the said Gilduffe with about two Hundred men came with a sow and a Cannon which did carry fower pound ball or thereabouts against the said house of Ballentoy & the Brittish therein & shott three shotts with the said Cannon against the said house & approached with the said sow within one Muskett shott of the said house <B> where the Axelltree of the sow broake & soe the said Gilduffe & his men left the assault And that in or about the said Moneth of March one James Kerr with a Boy being goeing about a Muskett shott & an halfe from the said Church to fetch water for some were sick in the Church they

(1)

fol. 45v

1502

they were both (killed by some of the said Gilduffe ô Cahans men or himselfe, And further he saith not

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major