Letter from Joan Todd

fol. 81r

1573

To the honnorable Commissioners Authorized for the Administracione of Justice for The Province of Vlster &c:

The humble petition of Joan Todd the late wife of Jo: Hilhouse

Humbly Shewinge: That whereas one Rory Duffe McCormick dwelt on the next Adjoyneinge Towneland with the said Jo: Hilhouse when this Bloody Rebellion began in the yeare of our Lord God 1641: at which tyme all the parish where he dwelt, were very suspicious of him, in regard he had been Araigned at the Barr in Darry befor for villany, and also did know him to be a man of very bad Carieage, for why the Constable <A> of the parish with advice of the rest of the parish desired the said John Hilhouse to take Notice of the said Rory Duffe McCormick, and to goe To his house euery night and see whether or no the said Rory were Broken out, which the said John Hilhouse did, And the same Night Garvathie was burnt and taken, The said John Hilhouse when he was returned from the said Rory Duff McCormicks house, Immediately thereafter told me your petitioner and the rest of the people in the house, That Rory Duff McCormick he and all his brethren and friends & Neighbours were conveened and Gathered together in his house well armed with swords and pykes to what end or purpose I know not, god knowes, bot for little good as I believe, To which your petitioner Answered, if it be so, they will not stay longe there, And Immediately vpon the same words, they did besett the house Rounde about, and sett fire in two or three parts thereof, And then your said peticioner with her said husband were forced to come out with There Children, and in the outcomeinge the said Rory Duff McCormick with his associatts did murther your peticioners husband most Cruelly, and did Cutt him in so many pieces and so small that he could not be lifted & did wounde your peticioner, that shee could not see cleerely for the blood that ran over her eyes, bot she saw Rory Duff lay downe his bloody sword And put his fingers in my said husbands mouth, and nipped his flesh to see if he were dead or not, And beinge dead he sayes that I am glade that I haue gotten thee, for I had rather haue had thee, then all the rest in The Towne, vpon that he loosed my husbands breeches, & tooke out his <B> money, and the Cape: was on his head, sett it on his owne head, and did Leape on my husbands horse sadled & bridled, and directed the rest to drive away the goods after him, as to name them all personallie I cannot, by reasone of my wounds, bot to the best of my knowledge there was none there bot he & his brethern & Neighbors by reason my said husband saw them in the evening and Twilight afor that there was none gathered together bot they, & also by reason There was no hurt done that night within three Miles to that place, bot that horrible murther and Massacre, & also it is Reported by the said Rory Duffes Countreymen that his brother Airt McCormick was the Irishman that durs{t} first venture to come near my said husband.
May it therefor please your hoonours: for gods cause, (the premises tenderly considered) to giue your peticioner Justice of these bloody Malefactors, and cause but assistance to be given her by all Christian people to try out the rest of these bloody Malefactors that was at that bloody Murther & Massacringe of my said husband
And she shall every pray &c:

fol. 81v

1574

The humble petitione of Joan Todd the late wife of John Hilhouse