Examination of Thomas Giffen

fol. 50v

1512

<symbol> The Examinacion of Thomas Giffen of Tobbercough in the parish of Billy & County of Antrim labourer taken before vs the said first day of March 1652
<15> Who being duely sworne & examined saith That one Murghy McDuffee of Cary in the Parish of Culfaghtrim about three daies after the Murder at Portnaw for that [ ] his this Examinants brother had beene tennant vnto him saved (as he conceiveth) this Examinants life And further he saith that he was present & did see & behold when an Irishman whom afterwards he heard was [ ] called Donnoghy McGuiggin <A> McAwley did stabb & kill this Examinants brother about the fifth of January 1641 at the Port: brittish neere Portnagree & Ballycastle with a shorte halfe pike & that then this Examinants breeches were taken of his body by an Irishman vnknowne vnto him And that there were present & neere the place where his said brother was killed neere three hundred Irishmen some lookeing on the Murder & some goeing about the plunder whereof he knew none being then young but one Daniell Magee of Carie in Culfaghtrim parish Gent who onely was horsed of all the said number haveing a sword by his side & a long fowleing piece in his hand, & John Stewart the younger of Maghereboy who was prisoner with the same Daniell Magee, & that he see but three swords & two long fowleing pieces amongst all the said number of Irishmen whereof the said Daniell Magee had the piece & sword aforesaid And that he the said Daniell Magee came vnto the said place (before his said brother was killed) armed as aforesaid & that there was but 5 or 6 came there before him but saith he did not see the said Daniell Magee doe any hurt neither did he see him hinder any bloodshed or hurt to be done, but rideing vp & downe amonst The Irish were there. And further he saith that he beleiveth & hath credibly heard from the Irish (but their names he doth not know or remember) that the Laird of Traiton Gilbert <B> Gamill Robert Gamill & Hugh Hill were murdred the same day at Portnagree a Muskett shott from the Place where this Examinants brother was murdered And further he saith that he heard from the said Murghy McDuffee & other Irishmen that one Jennet Speir for safety fled into Ballycastle house where she remained some few daies & where he heard her money was taken from her by those in the house whose names he knowes not, & that afterwards

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fol. 51r

1513

afterwards she was thrust out of the said house & murdred neere the same on the backe of the stable, but by whom that it was told him he doth not remember And further he saith that he heard it from One hundred Irishmen at least whereof the said Murghy McDuffee <C> & Hugh Boy McNeile of Ballynecloy in the Parish of Armoy are two that the laird of Traitons wife fled vnto the Gates of Ballycastle for succour, & that she was taken thence & murdred by one Magee (as he heard) who came out of Island Magee. And further he saith That one John roe McLester now dwelling at Glanbush in the Parish of Armoy as he heares did in this Examinants sight stabb one John Young in the back with a skeine soe dangerously about the fifth day of January 1641 at Port=Timble, in a rock where he was fled vnto for safety, that he dyed thereof about halfe a yeare after. And further he saith not.

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major