Examination of Andrew Nickson

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[ ] [ ] 4037
The examination of Andrew Nickson of Glanaugherty weauer of the aige of 37 years or there abouts taken at Ballymenah the 17th of Aug: 1653:
Who beinge duly sworne & examined saith That at the begininge of the Rebellion he liued nere Dessartt martin on same Towne land with his father Geo: Nickson and Elline Nickson his mother, both of a very greate aige. And this exam: saith that his brother Jam: Nickson went to yeoman grome O Haigan (then a Captain with the Rebells) to gitt them protection, which the Captain <A> promised, & so this exam: his said father, mother & brother went & dwelt with the said Captain vntill after Candlemas, at which time as this examinant was at the plow for the said Captain O Haigan, one Owen O Gilloone who had the ouersight of the said Captain O Haigans affaires, went & with a sword & a skeine most barbarously did murther both the said Geo: & Elline Nickson father & mother to this examinant as aforesaid, notwithstandinge the promise of safety by the said Captain as aforesaid, and the said Captain beinge tould by this exam and his brother, that the said O Gilloone had slaine theire father and mother as aforesaid, The said Captain did excuse himselfe that he knew not thereof, yet did he not punish the said O Gilloone at all for it tho the act was so offenciue, that the priests in theire masses did three times curse the said O Gilloone for that fact, and as soone as Owen mc Cart came & heard thereof he gaue order to apprehend the said Gilloone, which was done accordingly & the said Gilloone had beene hanged for it had he not escaped as this exam: verily beleeueth. And beinge asked the cause of his knowledge that O Gilloone did so murder his said father & mother as aforesaid, this exam: saith, that he comminge from the plow, it was the common report that O Gilloone did that murder as aforesaid, the which this exam did then & doth still beleeue, for that the said O Gilloone his hand was fresh with the blood thereof, & this exam: with his brother <B> and a scotchman was put into a chamber by the said Captain O Haigan and the women of the house, to safe them v s from the said O Gilloone who would haue beene into the Chamber to haue slaine vs, & the said Gilloone laying his hand vpon the doore to thurst it open the printe thereof was bloudie vpon the said doore whilst that this exam: did stay at that house, which was nere midsomer after, And further saith that marshall Springhurst and one Hen: Cartw rightrick e both now at Colraine doth know the truth of this murder, besides one Henry Gill at Derry whome this exam: brother brothere will gitt to be exam: there by by Commissioners or som Justices of the peace & further saith not

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[ ] 4038
The said Andrew Nickson doth accknowledge to owe vnto the Commonwealth of England the summ of 20 li. ster, The Condicion is that the said Andr: Nickson shall prosecute the said Gilloone in any Court of Justice after ten dayes warneinge or sooner if possible, as witnes his hand the 17th of Aug: 1653
his
Andrew [mark] Nickson
marke
Attested, taken & sworne before me
Rich: Bikkerstaffe

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[ ] 4039

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[ ] 4040

The exam: of Andrew Nickson
agianst
Captain O Haigan & Owen O
Gilloone for the murther of
Geo: Nickson & Elline his
wiffe at or
near Dessart martin

rec 19th August 1653
from mr Sheriffe Richardson