Examination of Allen McRee

fol. 73r

1557

The examinacion of Allen McVee Cart of Stronangalmore in the parish of Armoy husbandman taken before vs the nynth day of March 1652
<48:> Who being duely sworne & examined saith That he was a solider in ffergus McDowgalls Company vnder the Comand of Archibald Stewart Esquire <A> who had the Charge of a Regiment of Brittish ordered to lye at Portnaw on the Bannside to secure the Roote against the Irish Rebells on the Westside the Bann That the said Mr Stewart about the first day of January 1641 haveing called about 14 Musquetiers out of every of the Brittish Companies lying there to releive Mr Canning & bring him over the Bann James McColl McDonnell Alexander McColl McDonnell Tirlagh oge ô Cahan John Duffe McAllester Donnell Gorme McDonnell & such other of the Countrey as they could gett together to joyne with them (haueing noe confidence as this Examinante heard in the Brittish) tooke opportunity by the weakeness of the Brittish then at Portnaw, and vpon the night of the same day murdred all the Brittish soldiers lying at Portnaw except a very few who escaped & some few to whom with this Examinante they gave quarter vnto And this Examinante further saith that the day after <B> the Murder at Portnaw he see Donnell Groome McAllester & Coll McAllester now a prisoner in Colerane with a Companey of Men marching, & in company with those who murdred the soldiers at Portnaw And this Examinante alsoe saith that one or two daies after he stole from the Irish he & went to his owne house neere Ballentoy And the Examinante being demanded who did murder Jennett Dilliston als Wilson whom his vncle John McCart had protected & kept in his house, saith, That it was three men that Gilduffe ô Cahan sent to kill her, whose names and were Connogher reagh ô Cahan, the same Gilduffes sonne Donnell grome ô Cahan, McDonnell Modder & Connogher ô Cahan Brian Ballaghs sonne And being demanded how he knew <C> that it was Gilduffe ô Cahan that sent those men to kill the said Jennett Dilliston als Wilson Saith that the said Gilduffe ô Cahan haveing called that part of the Countrey to a Meeteing at the Crough This Examinante & his vncle John McCart went there to the meeteing & after they

(56)

fol. 73v

1558

they had sitt there a little while The foresaid three men of Gillduffes <D> came vnto the place of meeteing & told openly that they had killed the said Jennett Dilliston als Wilson, At which the said John McCart was very Angry And the said Gilduffe ô Cahan bid the said John hold hold his peace ffor saith he soe long as that old woemen Jennett Dilliston als Wilson is alive she would hinder vs to get Ballentoy with her Witchcraft & soe the Examinante doth verily beleiveth that Gilduffe sent them, of purpose to kill her, And saith that she was killed about tenn daies after Portnaw Murder And alsoe this Examinante saith that Owen McVee Cart this Examinants vncle alsoe found fault That the said Jennett Dilliston als Wilson was killed, Gilduffe O Cahan did say if his the said Owens Mother were such an Old witch as to hinder him to gett the house of Ballentoy he would kill her And further he saith this Examinante cannot say

Tho: Coote
Rich: Brasier Major