Examinationn of Neile more McNeile

fol. 54r

1519

The Examinacion of Neile more McNeile of the Parrish of Billy labourer taken before vs the said first day of March 1652
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<21>Who being duely sworne & examined saith That about the fourth or fifth of January 1641 two daies after the murder at Portnaw <A> Tirlagh oge ô Cahan with his two brothers Manus & Connogher came vnto John roe Spence his house within a mile & an halfe of dunsevericke with aboute twelue men in their Company & besett his & this Examinants house & entring at the open doore of the house of the said John Spence he went out at the backdoore & the said Connogher & two of the said men followed him out & Murdred him a little from the house & his wife following others of them Murdred her at the end of the house, & alsoe they murdred John Spences mother at the same time being blind & neere One Hundred yeares of age And that he this Examinante heareing the Cry at John Spences house went out with his Loughabirax calling for helpe vpon which the said <B:> Tirlagh oge & the rest suspecting (as he conceives) that he this Examinante had some Company with him went away a pretty distance from the house, but seing none come after him but this examinante, the said Tirlagh oge & the rest returned vpon him & he flying to his owne house and defended himselfe with his said weapon, & kept them of getting noe bodily hurt but by the pitching or throw of a halfe pike which hurt him sorely in the neck, & that after they could not prevaile against this Examinante they left him where vpon he escaped into the Stackyard, & then the said Tirlagh gave advice to burne this Examinants house which accordingly was done & all the Cattell therein And that as Soone as they had committed the said Murders & sett this Examinants house on fire wherein were twelue Children they went to Gilduffe ô Cahan the said Tirlagh oges fathers house whereupon this Examinant gott the said Children out of the house being on fire And that the next morneing early he <C> seeing the said Tirlagh oge & the rest of his foresaid Company returneing from the said Gilduffe his fathers house he fled for his life leaveing behind him at his owne house John Coghrane John McCurdie & Mary McNeale all Of them between seaven & twelve yeares of age whom he heard was then murdred by the said Tirlagh &

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fol. 54v

& his brothers & said Company: And that Hugh boy ô Sheill afterwards told him they killed the same 3: Children that morneing And further he saith not.

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major