The petition against John Birchenhead of Runcorn, Cheshire, 23 October 1655
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace at their sessions to bee houlden att Nether Knuts[for]d the 23th day of October 1655:
The humble Petic[i]on of the Inhabitants of the parish of Runcorne.
Humbly sheweth:
That whereas one John Birchenhead of the Parish of Runcorne is an idle vagrant person and a man of a verie disorderlie carriage and behaviour amongst his neighbours and meerelie vppon pretence yt hee hath served in the service of this Comonwealth hath obtayned an Order from the Justices of Peace of this Hundred of Bucklowe for the weekly receiveing of twelue pence by the weeke of the Churchwardens and Ouerseers of the Parish of Runcorne affores[ai]d who is a man able of bodie, and fitt for labour but liueth out of anie callinge a com[m]on quarrell[e]r and mover of dissenc[i]on & difference amongst his neighbours, refuseinge to conforme himselfe to anie imploym[en]t relyeinge whollie vppon ye Charge of the Parish whereas there are seuerall persons within out Towne[shi]pp and Parish of Runcorne that lye bed rotten & aboue a Hundred that receiue Almes who are a great deale more fitt obiects of Charitie.
May it therefore please your wor[shi]pps the premisses considered to accquitt the said Parish of Runcorne (fromor the future) from the vnnecessarie charge they are exposed vnto by the said John Birchenhead (being a man able to maynteyne himselfe) and that ye s[ai]d order may bee speedile revoked
And yo[u]r Peti[t]io[ne]rs shall euer pray as in duty bound &c