Examination of James Nickson

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The examination of James Nickson of the parish of Clandermand nere Derry husbandman aiged 35 yeares or thereabouts taken at Ballymenah the 16th day of August: 1653
Who beinge duely sworne & exam: saith that in the begininge of the Rebellion he liued with his father Geo: Nickson of the aige of 116 yeares, & his mother of 60 & odd years of aig in the (as they often tould this exam) in the parish of Kilcrinohan, and about a fortnight after the begininge of the said <A> Rebellion this exam: with his said ffather & mother & brother Andrew Nickson did remoue to yeoman mc Teig O Haigan then a Captaine of the Rebells, by his leaue, who promist this exam: father etc: protection, & accordingly did performe the same till about 5 or 6 weekes before the next month of may followinge At which time one Owin O Gilloone a souldjer vnder the said Captain O Haigan came and cruelly murdered this exam said ffather and mother, after the maner ffollowinge Viz: to his said father the said O Gilloone gaue a greate cutt into the head with a brode sword and three stabbs into the belly with a skeine, & to his said mother the said Gilloone <B> gaue one cutt into the head with same sword that it did cleaue her head to the teeth, & then cutt her into the Arme & then gaue her two stabbs about the heart whereof they dyed imediatly before he left them. The cause of this exam: knowledge is that he dwelt then with the said Captain O Haigan as his groome & was in the stable, and when the said Gilloone was murderinge his father, and as this exam: mother did see the act she gaue a cy cry & clapt her hands at which this exam: went out of the stable towards his fathers house being but a pearch asunder & did see the said Gilloone with his drawne sword murtheringe this exam: mother as aforesaid but did not see him when he murthered his father for his father was within the house, but this examinants mother was murthered in the doore, yet knoweth that there was none ells in his said fathers house but the said O Gilloone, and for that the said Gilloone did brag thereof that night layinge his hand vpon the doore where this exam: & his brother with another scotch man was put into an house as prisoners, where the printe of his foure fingers & thumb was plainely to be seene with the blood that was on his hands, And the said Gilloone would haue beene within the said house to haue murthered this exam etc saying

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let me into & I will make an end of the Deuills seed, but the said Captain O Haigan would not let him doe his intended euill, And about eight a clocke the day followinge the said Captain O Haigan did suffer this exam: &c to bury his said father & mother vnder an Oke but would not suffer them to be buried in the Church yarde <C> for that the priests said that no protestants were Christians And the day after the buriall of this said exam: father & mother, this exam said vnto the said Gilloone, why did you kill my ffather & mother, to the which Gilloone said, you may hould your tonge you may thanke god that you escaped your selfe. And this exam: taried with the said Captain O Haigan till about Midsomer after at which time this exam made an escape & came vnto old mr Church And this exam further saith that one William Springham martiall at Colraine did tell this exam: & divers others that Owin Roe mc Cart would haue hanged this said Gilloone for the said fact had he not escaped. and further saith that one Henry Gill of Derry and one John Austine of Macrafelt can testify to the report of the said act, besyds this exam: brother Andrew Nickson can testify the same, And further saith not
Attested & sworne before me
Rich: Bickerstaffe

The said A Jam: Nickson accknowledgeth to be bound & to stand in debted to the Comon Wealth of England in ye summ of 20 li. ster to prosecute this said murther against the said O Gilloone, at any court of Justice after ten dayes notice giuen him or left at his wellinge house as wittnes his hand the 16th of Aug: 1653
his
John [mark] Nickson
marke
Acknowledged before me
Rich: Bickerstaffe

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