Examination of Lawrence ô Cullen

fol. 66v

1544

The examinacion of Lawrence ô Cullen of the Grang of Killdallock in the County of Londonderry yeoman taken before vs the said 7th day of March 1652
<40:> Who being duely sworne & examined saith That he dwelt within three miles of Moneymore in the said County of Londonderry That vpon the 23d of October 1641 he heard (within three houres after Moneymore was taken) that Cormack ô Haggan & Neile oge ô Quin now prisoner at Colerane had surprised & seized the Castle & Towne of <B> Moneymore & all the English Brittish there with there Armes That the said Neile Oge ô Quin marched thence with a Company of Irish soldiers & possessed himselfe of Sir Thomas Staples house at Lessan vpon Sunday following to his remembrance being the 24 of October 1641 & after he had possessed himselfe of the same house Armes & goods therein he kept the lady Staples & her Children prisoners for a long time That there were about that time above twenty English & Scotch Inhabitants murdred at or neere lessan as he hath credibly heard but by whom they were murdred he doth not know save only that he hath credibly heard James McIvagh now prisoner at Colerane murderd one Andrew Young at lessan for which the said Neile oge ô Quin caused a Councell of Warr about six weekes after to be called vpon the said James McIvagh at Dungannon where this Examinante was then Present, but how the said James came of he doth not know That the said Neile oge <C> O Quin about the seaventh of November 1641 came with a Company of men vnto this Examinantes house (he being absent) & forcibly tooke away 13: or 14 horse load of Malt Meale Clothes & other household stuffe of this Examinants & his neighbours owne goods & carryed them to Sir Thomas Staples house at lessan That this Examinante overtooke him the said Neile oge ô Quin goeing vnto lessan with his goods aforesaid & demmanded restitucion (there being then in his Company Capten Patricke ô Mallan afterwards hanged at Dublin being taken at fight of ffinnan with their Company of followers) & the said Neile oge ô Quin told this examinante that he wanted provision for his soldiers & he could not restore his goods vpon which this Examinante desired restitucion of a Mare & a horse

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fol. 67r

1545

<D> a horse of his owne goods then taken by him & his men to carry the said loads, which he told him he shold have if he would come vnto him within a day or two That accordingly this Examinante went vnto him after two or three daies And the said Neile oge ô Quin gave him the said Mare & said it was well he gott soe much That the said Neile oge ô Quin did likewise the same day forcibly take away all one John Moore a Scotchmans goods & carry them to Lessan aforesaid That this Examinantes wife told him that some of Neile oge ô Quins soldiers who came with him to take away his goods as is rehearsed beate a child of this Examinantes of about 6: yeeres old & stript him & soe frightened him that he dyed within 8: or 9: daies afterwards of the said beateing & frightening as he this Examinante & his wife did verily beleive And this Examinante saith that about the 20th of January 1641 he went vnto the said Neile oge ô Quin at lessan aforesaid & demanded payment of thirty shillings he had formerly lent him And he said vnto this Examinante what a foole were yow to lend it me did yow thinke I would every pay yow I knew more then you knew, & wished that he had twenty times asmuch of this Examinants money & he would and he would never pay him any againe And further he saith not.

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major