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The Ulster Rising of 1641, and the depositions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2017

M. Perceval-Maxwell
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Extract

‘We are now’, wrote James Anthony Froude, as he approached the topic of the outbreak of the civil war in Ulster in October 1641, ‘ upon the edge of the gravest event in Irish history, the turning-point on which all later controversies between England and Ireland hinge ’. Froude may have exaggerated, but few would quarrel with Lecky's comment on the same issue that ‘ hardly any page of history has been more misrepresented ’. It is well known that the reason for the controversy surrounding the events in Ulster in 1641 is that they have been linked with a charge against the Irish of perpetrating a ‘ general massacre ’ of British protestants at the outbreak of the war in which tens, even hundreds, of thousands of protestants were killed. The allegation of a ‘ general massacre ’ has, in turn, been used as a moral justification for subsequent English policy in Ireland.

Type
Research Article
Information
Irish Historical Studies , Volume 21 , Issue 82 , September 1978 , pp. 144 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © Irish Historical Studies Publications Ltd 1978

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References

1 Froude, Ire., i (1872), p. 83.

2 Froude, Ire., i, 83.

3 Lecky, Ire. i (1892), p. 46.

4 SirTemple, John, The Irish rebellion (London, 1646), pp 7–8 Google Scholar in the preface.

5 Some of the more important works where the issue is discussed are: Hyde, Edward, earl of Clarendon, The history of the rebellion and civil wars in England, ed. Macray, W. D. (Oxford, 1888), i, 397-8Google Scholar; Touchet, James, earl of Castlehaven, The Earl of Castlehaven's review, or his memoirs (London, 1684), pp 28-9Google Scholar; Carte, Thomas, The life of James, duke of Ormond (Oxford, 1851; first published, 1735–6), i, 354–8Google Scholar; Warner, F., The history of the rebellion and civil war in Ireland (2nd ed., London, 1768), pp xi–xvi, 71–3, 294–9Google Scholar; Hume, David, The history of England (London, 1789), vi, 436–9Google Scholar; Carey, Matthew, Vindicae Hibernicae (Philadelphia, 1819), pp i, xiv, xxxiii, 19, 34–47, 367, 401–24Google Scholar; Reid, J. S., History of the presbyterian church in Ireland, ed. Killen, W. D. (Belfast, 1867; first published 1833), i, 321-40Google Scholar; Prendergast, J. P., The Cromwellian settlement of Ireland (London, 1870), pp 61-7Google Scholar; Froude, J. A., The English in Ireland in the eighteenth century, i, (London, 1872), pp 83-4, 101–12Google Scholar; Lecky, W. E. H., A history of England, i, (New York, 1878), pp 139-67Google Scholar; Lecky, W. E. H., A history of Ireland in the eighteenth century (London, 1913; first published 1892), i, 45–55 Google Scholar; Gilbert, J. T., Appendix to the eighth report of the Historical Manuscripts Commission (London, 1881), 572-76Google Scholar; Hickson, Mary, Ireland in the seventeenth century (London, 1884) i, 122-66Google Scholar (hereafter cited as Hickson, Seventeenth century); Dunlop, Robert, ‘ The depositions relating to the Irish massacres of 1641’ in E.H.R., i (1886), 740-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Hickson, Mary, ‘ The depositions relating to the Irish massacres of 1641 ’ in E.H.R., ii (1887), pp 133-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Dunlop, Robert, ‘ The depositions relating to the Irish massacres of 1641’ in E.H.R., ii (1887), pp 338-40CrossRefGoogle Scholar; Gardiner, S. R., History of England from the accession of James I, to the outbreak of the civil war 1603–1642, x (London, 1884), pp 64-9.Google Scholar

6 Hickson, , Seventeenth century, i, 164 Google Scholar.

7 Dunlop, , ‘ The depositions relating to the Irish massacres of 1641’ in E.H.R., i (1886), p. 742 CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

8 Coonan, T. L., The Irish catholic confederacy and the puritan revolution (New York, 1954), p. 118 Google Scholar (hereafter cited as Coonan, Catholic confederacy). See also: Williams, J. B., ‘ The depositions about the rebellion of 1641’ in Ir. Ecc. Rec., series 5, xv (1920), pp 15–23 Google Scholar.

9 McCartney, Donal, ‘James Anthony Froude and Ireland: a historiographical controversy of the nineteenth century ’ in Irish University Review, i (1971), p. 249 Google Scholar; Love, W. D., ‘ Civil war in Ireland: appearances in three centuries of historical writing’ in Emory University Quarterly, xxii (1966), pp 57–72 Google Scholar.

10 Love, pp 61, 64; cf. Prendergast, Cromwellian settlement, p. 66.

11 Love, p. 69.

12 Ibid.

13 In particular, both Carte and Reid used the depositions for other purposes than proving the charge of a massacre.

14 Gilbert, , Appendix to eighth report of H.M.C., p. 572 Google Scholar.

15 G. S., A brief declaration (London, 1641).

16 Lords justices and council to Leicester, 11 Feb. 1642 (H.M.C., Ormond MSS, n.s., ii, 67).

17 Ibid., p. 67.

18 Gilbert, Appendix to eighth report of H.M.C., p. 576.

19 Coonan, Catholic confederacy, p. 109; MacCurtain, Margaret, Tudor and Stuart Ireland (Dublin, 1972), p. 143 Google Scholar.

20 Captain John Perkins's deposition, 8 Mar. 1644 (T.C.D., MS 840, f.40); Major Patrick Dory's deposition, 21 Feb. 1653 (T.C.D., MS 836, f. 163); William Skelton's deposition, 26 Feb. 1653 (Hickson, Seventeenth century, p. 203); Nicholas Combe's deposition, 4 June 1653 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.62); Lt. Anthony Stratford's deposition, 7 Feb. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.36); cf. Reid, Presb. ch in Ire., i, 311–12. The printed versions of the depositions (with the exception of those published by Temple) are used whenever possible. Hickson's edition contains numerous errors of transcription, but only occasionally is the sense altered by these mistakes. Hereafter all citations of the depositions will include only the name of the deponent and the date on which it was given, along with the shelf mark or published reference.

21 Carte, i, 378–9.

22 See Fitzpatrick, Thomas, ‘ The sack of “The Lurgan” ’ in U.J.A., series 2, x (1904), pp 170-87Google Scholar.

23 Unsworn but signed statement by Sir William Brownlow, 26 Feb. 1653 (Fitzpatrick, pp 174–5); Sir William Brownlow's sworn statement, 24 May 1653 (ibid., p. 176).

24 Alexander Gill, 20 May 1653 (Fitzpatrick, p. 180); Henry Ogle and his wife Jane, (ibid., p. 183); William McGinn, 2 May 1653 (ibid., p. 182); Owen Roe McKeene, 5 May 1653 (ibid., pp 182–3).

25 Carte, i, 378 ; Michael Harrison, 11 F e b . 1652, (Hickson, Seventeenth century, p. 224); Captain Thomas Chambers, N.D. [1642?] (T.C.D., MS 836, f.37); John Wisdom, 8 Feb. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 836, f.14).

26 Col. Chichester to Viscount Montgomery, 24 Oct. 1641 (Cal. S.P. Ire, 1633–47, p. 341); Montgomery to Secretary Vane, 24 Oct. 1641 (ibid., p. 341); Montgomery to king, 24 Oct. 1641 (ibid., p. 341); Henry Leslie to Montgomery, 23 Oct. 1641 ( Montgomery, W., The Montgomery manuscripts, ed. Hill, G. (Belfast, 1869), p. 151 Google Scholar); Robert Waring, 12 Aug. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.108); Anne Smith, 15 Oct. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.102); Phillip Taylor, 8 Feb. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 836, f.7).

27 Roger Markham ‘A note of what passages happened in the Com. of Tyrone and Londonderry since 22nd October 1641’, 14 Feb. [1642] (T.C.D., MS 839, ff 18–18v.); Proclamation by Sir P. O'Neill et al. 24 Oct. 1641 (C.S.P. Ire., 1633–47, p. 342); Perkins, 8 Mar. 1644 (T.G.D. MS 840, f.40).

28 Michael Harrison, 11 Feb. 1653 (Hickson, Seventeenth century, i, 224).

29 John Wisdom, 8 Feb. 1642 (T.G.D., MS 836, f.14); Capt. Thomas Chambers, N.D. (T.C.D., MS 836, ff 37–37v).

30 Reid, Presb. ch. in Ire., i, 318–21; Mervin, Audley, A relation of such occurrences as have happened in the severall counties of Donegall, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and London-derry since the beginning of the rebellion in Ireland, in October last (London, 4 June 1642), p. 6 Google Scholar.

31 Lords justices to Ormond, 2 Nov. 1641 (Bodl., Carte MS ii, f.16); same to lords of council, 5 Nov. 1641 (H.M.C., Ormond MSS, N.S., ii, 8.)

32 Rushworth, John, Historical collections (London, 1721), iii, pt i, 400 Google Scholar.

33 Carte, Ormond, i, 379–80; Nalson, J., An impartial collection of all memorable events from the Scotch rebellion to the king's murther (London, 1683), ii, 905 Google Scholar. Carte cites Nalson as his source, but Nalson does not give the dates provided by Carte. Lords justices to Leicester 25 Nov. 1641 (H.M.C., Ormond MSS, N.S., ii, 22); ‘A brief relation of the miraculous victory there [Lisburn] that day (28 November] over the first formed army of the Irish, soon after their rebellion, which broke out the 23d of October, 1641 ’ in U.J.A., i (1853), pp 242–5. Carte describes the first two assaults, but not the most determined one of 28 November.

34 Mervin, Relation, p. 6; Markham, 14 Feb. [1642] (T.C.D. MS 839, f-2iv); Sir P. O'Neill to Sir W. Hamilton, 23 Nov. 1641 (Nalson, Impartial collection, ii, 895); Harrison, 11 Feb. 1653 (Hickson, Seventeenth century, i, 224).

35 Harrison (ibid., pp 225, 229).

36 Harrison (ibid., p. 232); Perkins, 8 Mar. 1644 (T.C.D., MS 840, f.41).

37 Mayor of Derry and others to lords justices, 8 Jan. 1642 (P.R.O.N.I., T545/4, f.9).

38 Mervin, Relation, p. 5.

39 Chambers, N.D. (T.C.D., MS 836, f.37).

40 Markham, 14 Feb. [1642] (T.C.D., MS 839, f.17); Sir Baptist Staples, 19 Apr. 1653 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.74); Neil Oge O'Quin, 17 Mar. 1652 (Reid, Presb. ch. in Ire., i, 312).

41 Markham, 14 Feb. [1642] (T.G.D., MS 839, f.22v).

42 Ibid., ff 17–19.

43 Ibid., ff 19–20.

44 Ibid., f.20; Mervin, Relation, p. 5. Markham stated that Staples and the Scots reached Newtonstewart on 30 October and marched on to arrive at Augher in the evening of the same day. Apart from the unlikelihood of them being able to accomplish this march in this period of time, both Markham and Mervin make reference to a wait of two or three days at Newtonstewart. It is assumed, therefore, that Markham was confused in his dating from 30 October.

45 Markham, ibid., ff 20–20v.

46 Ibid., ff 22–3.

47 Markham (ibid., f.2iv); Mervin, Relation, p. 6. Mervin accurately described his account as ‘ this disorderly discourse ’, and it is sometimes difficult to work out the order in which events were supposed to have occurred, but a careful reading bears out Markham's version.

48 Markham (ibid., f.21); Mervin, p. 5.

49 Turlough O'Neill to Sir Robert Knight, 22 Nov. 1641 (J. T. Gilbert, Contemp. hist. 1641–52, i, pt 1, p . 371).

50 It is usually stated that Scots were murdered after Sir Phelim had failed to take the castle at Augher, but those that asserted this resided in County Armagh and recounted murders that occurred in Armagh (John Kerdiff, 28 Feb. 1641, James Shaw, 14 Aug. 1653, in Hickson, Seventeenth century, i, 193, 198). Turlough O'Neill clearly referred to what happened ‘ neere Augher ’. Moreover the timing suggests that O'Neill was writing about an event that occurred before 17 November, when Sir Phelim is supposed to have launched his attack. Before he wrote, news of what had happened at Augher had reached Knight, who had made some representation to O'Neill, and O'Neill says that ‘ since ’ the event much blood had been spilt.

51 Mervin, Relation, pp 5, 7. When Mervin listed the castles in British hands in May 1642, Augher was not included (ibid., p. 14).

52 Ibid., p. 12.

53 Ibid., p. 3.

54 Sir P. O'Neill to Sir W. Stewart, [Nov. ? 1641] (fid. S. P. Ire., 1647–60, p. 253); Neil Oge O'Neill et al. to Sir W. Stewart, [Nov. ? 1641] (ibid., p. 252); Philip O'Reilly to Con. O'Rourke and Owen O'Rourke, 27 Dec. 1641 (Gilbert, Contemp. hist, i, pt 1, p. 373).

55 Mervin, Relation, p. 4.

56 Turlough O'Neill to Knight, 22 Nov. 1641 (Gilbert, Contemp. hist., i, pt 1, p. 371).

57 Henry Boyne, 16 Feb. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, ff 10–11).

58 John Kerdiffe, 28 Feb. 1642 ( Hickson, , Seventeenth century, i, 195 Google Scholar).

59 Ann Dutton, 2 Nov. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.129); Christopher Parmenter, 28 July 1643 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.132v); Charles Anthony, 12 June 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.96v); Robert Barton, 7 Jan. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 835, f.73); Robert French, 12 Mar. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 835, f.109).

60 Charles Anthony, 12 June 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, ff 96–7); Robert Waring, 12 Aug. 1642 (T.G.D., MS 839, ff 108–10); Carte, Ormond, i, 379.

61 Perceval-Maxwell, M., ‘ Strafford, the Ulster Scots and the Covenanters ’ in I.H.S., xviii (Sept. 1972), pp 524-51Google Scholar.

62 O'Neills to Sir W. Stewart [Nov. ? 1641)] (C.S.P. Ire., 1647–60, p. 252).

63 Turlough O'Neill to Knight, 22 Nov. 1641 (Gilbert, Contemp. hist., i, pt 1, p. 371).

64 O'Neills to Sir W. Stewart [Nov. ? 1641] (C.S.P. Ire., 1647–60, p. 252).

65 Remonstrance from Co. Cavan to lords justices, 6 Nov. 1641 (Gilbert, Contemp. hist., i, pt 1, p. 365).

66 Demands of Irish, 3 Feb. 1642 (ibid., pp 382–3).

67 Proclamation of Sir P. O'Neill, 24 Oct. 1641 (ibid., p. 363).

68 Remonstrance from Co. Cavan, 6 Nov. 1641 (ibid., pp 364–5).

69 O'Farralls of Longford to Viscount Dillon, 10 Nov. 1641 (ibid., pp 367–8).

70 O'Neills to Sir W. Stewart, [Nov. ?1641] (C.S.P. Ire., 1647–60, p. 252). See also the examination of Sir Phelim O'Neill, 23 Feb. 1653 (T.C.D., MS 836, f.167), where Sir Phelim claimed that the intention had been only to replace the lords justices and send an address to the ring.

71 Demands of Irish, 3 Feb. 1642 (Gilbert, Contemp. hist., i, pt 1, p. 382).

72 Turlough O'Quinn, 2 June 1653 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.91); Mulrony Carroll, 26 Apr. 1643 (T.C.D., MS 839, ff 125, 134v); Francis Sacheveral, 21 July 1643 (T.C.D., MS 836, f.107); Grace Lovett, 5 Jan. 1642 (T.G.D. M-S 835, f.6v). Sometimes the Scots were linked with the puritans, which may explain why Scots did not receive the same consideration from the general populace as from the gentry.

73 Ann Marshall, 3 Jan. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 835, f.2); John Kerdiff, 28 F e b . 1642 ( Hickson, , Seventeenth century, i, 193 Google Scholar).

74 Edward Wilson, 12 Oct. 1642 (T.D.C., MS 839, f.6v); George Burne, 12 Jan. 1644 (ibid., f.8); Alice Champion, 14 Apr. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 835, f.200).

75 Elizabeth Moore, 5 Mar. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 839, f.8v); Anne Bullinbrooke, 22 Dec. 1642 (ibid., f.30); John Parry, 31 May 1642 (T.C.D., MS 836, f.63); Robert Flack, 12 Aug. 1642 (T.C.D., MS 835, f.201v).

76 Katherine Madison, 7 Nov. 1642 (ibid., f. 210v).

77 John Moore, 4 Jan. 1642 (ibid., f-33v); John Kerdiff, 28 Feb. 1642 ( Hickson, , Seventeenth century, i, 193 Google Scholar).

78 Margaret Phillis, 15 Mar. 1642 ( Hickson, , Seventeenth century, i, 289 Google Scholar); Anne Smith and Margaret Clark, 16 Mar. 1642 (ibid., p. 290); Joan honstable, 6 Feb. 1643 (ibid., pp 292–3); Elizabeth Price, 26 June 1643 Ibid., pp 176–83); William Clark, 28 Feb. 1653 (ibid., pp 184–5); Thomas Taylor, 24 Feb. 1642 (ibid., pp 185–7); Alice Gregg, 21 July 1643 Hickson, Seventeenth century, ii, 91); Gertrude Carlisle, 13 Mar. 1643 T.C.D., MS 839 ff 31v-32); Hugh Jones, 23 Feb. 1652 (ibid., ff 51–2); ady Charity Staples, 25 Apr. 1653 (ibid., f.72); James Kennedy, 4 Mar. 1643 (ibid., f. 126v); William Clark, 7 Jan. 1643 (T.G.D., MS 36, f.2); Philip Taylor, 8 Feb. 1642 (ibid., f.7); William Skelton, 26 eb. 1653 (ibid, ff 171–2); Richard Miles, 3 May 1653 (ibid., f.214).

79 Coonan, Catholic confederacy, pp 111–12.

80 Proclamation by Sir P. O'Neill, 24 Oct. 1641 (Gilbert, Contemp. ist., i, pt 1, p. 363); Remonstrance from Co, Cavan, 6 Nov. 1641 (ibid., p. 365); Alice Gregg, 21 July 1643 ( Hickson, , Seventeenth century, ii, 91 Google Scholar).

81 Henry Boyne, 16 Feb. 1642 (T.G.D., MS 839, ff 10–11).

82 R. Markham, 15 Feb. [1642] (ibid., f.22).

83 Francis Sacheveral, 21 July 1642 (T.G.D., MS 836, f.109).