The certificate for Elizabeth Wilkinson of Minshull Vernon, Cheshire, 13 October 1651
Wee the Inhabitants of Minshall=Vernon whose names are vnderwritten doe hereby humbly Certifie all those whom it may Concerne that Raphe Wilkinson late of our sayd Towne labourer deceased did serue as a souldier for our sayd Towneshippe vnder the Com[m]and of Capt[ain] Walley and in Col[one]l Croxton his Regim[en]t and that hee was slayne in the late great fight at Worcester, And that wee are Credibly informed that the sayd Raphe Wilkinson was bound by the Contract & agreement betwixt John Harrison and him to keepe the sayd Ellen Crew noe longer then dureinge the ioynt liues of him the sayd Raph & the sayd Ellen, and that hee hath kept her aboue two yeares and a half by reason wherof hee was brought to very great want and misery and that as wee are likewise credibly informed the sayd John Harrison had all the money and goods w[hi]ch did belonge to the sayd Ellen when shee first fell sicke, and that hee is reputed to bee a very able and rich man and keepeth a Dayrie at Ridle hall; And wee knowe of our owne knowledge that the petic[i]on[e]r Elizabeth Wilkinson is a very poore woeman and not able to keepe herselfe and Children w[i]thout the helpe and assistance of her frends and neighbours, for that wee humbly Conceaue that vnlesse some speedy Course bee taken to ease her and the Towne of that insupportable burthen and Charge of keepeinge the sayd Ellen Crew shee and her Children wil bee constrayned either to begge for theire liuelyhood, or else they must bee releeued by the Parrishe, All w[hi]ch at the request of the petic[i]oner wee thought our selues bound in Conscience to certefie and In witnes hereof wee haue hereunto subscribed our names this 13th of October 1651.
Tho[mas] Mineshull
Thomas Woolley John Wilson
Will[iam] Harison Tho[mas] Minshall
John Gibbons Charles Ince
Will[iam] Smith Robert Jackson
Charles Twisse Richard Bosworth
Randle Hardinge
Tho[mas] Harrison
<the same touching him slayne & the rest referred to Mr [?Mann] & Col[one]l Croxton>