Examination of Bryan O’Kelly

fol. 190r

4122 4029

The Examinaction of Bryan O Kelly of Kilkleef being aged about six and thirtie yeeres taken the 6th of June 1653
This Examinant being dewly sworne sayeth That when Collonell John Hamiltons Regiment was quartered in Lecale Capten Alexander Adayres company was quartered in the towne of Kilkleef, That one day the sayd Capten Adaire being in this Examinants house drinking with his Lieutenant Robert Gordon, and his owne brother his Enseigne This Examinat heard the sayd Alex Adayre relating unto the foresayd two officers how he killed in the first yeere of the Rebellion in a certayne place (the name whereof this Examinat remembers not the name) neere to Iland Mackghee; a young Child on a womans back that was running vnto a bogg: And that hauing lighted of his horse, he over ouer took the sayd woman as she was entering into the bogge, and struck att her, by which strocke the head of the child on her back, fell to the ground: That there vpon the sayd Lieutenant [ ] Gordon replyed to him, That itt was not well donne to kill a child or any of those: that were not gone out into Rebellion wherevnto the sayd Alex: Adayre answered saying that th he the sayd Lieutenant was a foolle for that there was not one of them to be spared, that they would all goe into Rebellion, when they saue their opportunity
This examinat further sayeth That there was was one of the sayd Capten Adaires soldiers called (as he this Examinat remembers) <B> Sandy McDowell, who att that tyme sayd to his Capten That he had been his seruant before he was a soldier And also since, And he expected to haue the same fee from him which he had in the County of Antrim: And the Captaine asking what fee that was the soldier answered, you knowe Captaine I had a shilling for euery person I killed of the Irish That the sayd Captayne sayd you shall haue as much here, And the soldier demanding to haue some earnest in hand, The Captayne had him sitt downe saying that he should haue itt: But this examinat sayeth, that he knoweth not whither they thus spoke in Jest or in earnest And further he sayeth not

Bryan O Kelly his marke [mark]

Taken before me
Ja: Traill

fol. 190v

4123 4030

6o Juny 1653
The Examinacion of Bryan o Kelly:
together [ ] of
against
Allexander Adayre
(3)