William Burke born in the Co's Limerick, [is?] now
about 24 - my father was a farmer I remained there
till my father died about 12 years ago. My Mother was
a Dublin woman & her name was Sheridan. She then returned
to Dublin & brought me & my elder Brother married [----?]
& a sister named Mary with her - My Brother first settled
in Phoenix St with an uncle of mine named Mick Sheridan
at No 1 Phoenix St. He was a Stucco Plasterer - About 4
years after I came to Dublin I went for a few months to
a Ragged School in Mill st. So I did not get any other
Education. In 1855 I enlisted in the 94 Regt. [Regiment?]
I was then about 19 but I gave my age as 17« - I went
with the Regt [Regiment?] to Galway - to the Curragh -
Bristol & Plymouth I in the year 1857 left Plymouth for
India where we landed in Kuratche [Karachi?] in the
[Residence?] of Bengal in Jan 1857. I returned [invalided?]
in 1860 & landed at Gravesend in August of that year & in
the following month came onto Dublin. I went to my brothers
wife then lived New [Lane?] & remained with her till about
8 or 9 months ago when she went into the Poor House - My
Brother had been [-----?] enlisted (in 1854) in the 60 Rifles
the 20th Battalion. He entered in the name of Pat Sheridan -
My sister was then with my mother & went with her to & [share?]
with her in the Work House. In Nov 1860 I married the Daughter
of Ellen Kilmartin [when?] [around?] the house in which my
Brother lodged in for 6 months after my Return from India I
had 6d a Day & did occasional labouring work with Mr Lamb the
Builder & for other Persons & so supported myself.
For the last 2 months I went [messages?] cleaned windows &
did any jobs for whoever would employ me
On Thursday last, the 12 [I---?] [----?] at the Aldborough
Barracks & was asked by a Sergeant there if I would enlist. I
[-----?] but told him I was in the Dublin Artillery, which I
entered about June last but in which I never got uniform or
Arms or [military?] Drill - I stopped in the Barracks that
night till next morning was brought before the Doctor who
received me & pronounced me too slight for service.
Before going to the Doctor I was walking outside the
Barrack gate with two serving men who had enlisted, one in
the Royal Sappers & [Lancers?] & the other in the Royal
Artillery - As we turned the corner of the Barrack ground
at [Gloucester?] St a genteel looking man came up to us &
asked us if were thinking of enlisting. I told him that the
other two had enlisted & were sworn in but that I was wanting
to go before the Doctor - He said would it not be better for
us to enlist in the American Army then under the Bloody
[Queen?] & be sent out to kill our & others Mothers & sisters
& brothers. He told us to [go?] to No 2 Marlboro [street?],
where [McManus?] was [worked?], at 7 of but that [evening?]
& said that if we enlisted then we would at morning & two
suits of Clothes (sic). He told us to keep it private &
we would be sent [by?] Galway the same as the Popes army I
[enlisted?] & went to 2 Marlboro [street?]. where I saw a
woman & asked her if the Clerk was there who [being?] charge
of sending People to America & she said the officer was removed
to 32 Eden Quay. Two other men who had heard from the 2 recruits
about the offer made us, accompanied me to Marlboro [street?]
The three of us went to 32 Arthur Quay where we saw a little
humpy backed man who I asked as to sending [Privates?] to
America.
We asked a gentleman inside who said that they were not now
allowed to send any one & the two other went back to Marlboro
[St.?] & again saw the same woman who told us to come back at
7 in the evening as the [?] would be there then - I dont know
who the two men who went with me then are. I never saw them
before but I would know them again if I saw them
This above is correct
His
William X Burke
mark
8 Bedford St.
Present & truly read by
me to William Burke
Mattw [Matthew?] Anderson
16th Nov 1861
