The petition against Dorithy Barton of Dutton, Lancashire, 29 April 1652
To ye right wor[shi]pp[fu]ll ye Just[ices] of the peace & Quoru[m] for ye county Palatyne of Lanc[ashire] assembled att the Sessions of peace Aprill ye 29th 1652
The humble petic[i]on of ye Churchwardens overseers for the poore & ye rest of ye Inhabitance w[i]thin the p[ar]ishe of Ribchester
Sheweth That att ye last presse for Ireland the Constables of Dutton app[re]hended one Thom[a]s Barton of Steed p[ar]ishe & caused him imprest for ye p[ar]ishe of Steed & Dutton That att ye last Sessions but one the wiffe of ye said Thomas Barton vpon misinformac[i]on given to ye Court obtayned & order [sic.] yt shee & her children should bee p[ro]vided for and Maintained w[i]thin Ribchester p[ar]ish In obedience wherevnto although not Lyable ye peticion[er]s haue maintained the said wiffe & children, onlye in obedience to ye said order not as iustlye chargeable w[i]th them
Yo[u]r petic[i]on[er]s humblye pray ye said order may bee repealed And an order granted for the Restitucion of ye moneyes vnto ye petic[i]on[er]s by them alreadye disbursed in Mantayninge her & her children. And the petition[er]s shall pray &c
referred to bee ordered by the Justices at the next monthly meeting & Steed p[ar]ish in the interim to releeffe them
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