The petition against John Rigby of Tarvin, Cheshire, 7 April 1657
To the wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of peace for the County of Chester at Middlew[i]ch Aprill 7o 1657
The humble petic[i]on of the Churchwardens & Overseers of the poore on behalf of the Parish of Tarvin
<Humbly sheweth>
That whereas John Rigby of Tarvin receiveing encour[a]ggem[en]t from his officers and some others to petic[i]on the Sessions held at Middlew[i]ch Aprill 15: 1656 to bee admitted a penc[i]on[e]r by reason of some colds hee had gott in the service did vpon his petic[i]on procure an order for twelve pence p[er] weeke from the said parish and did likewise at the last sessions held at Chester complaine that the Parish was something in arreare to him wherevpon it was ordered that his allowance should bee continued till this sessions and that the parish should bee at Liberty to shew cause then why it should not bee continued wee humbly offer
<1> That hee was not a voluntary but an hired souldier for the service at Worcester where hee pretends hee gott his colds and in the former sercice wee are credibly informed hee overrunne his Coulo[u]rs
<2> That wee haue in o[u]r parish 218 poore most of w[hi]ch doe begge their bread and many more that are in greater necessity then the said Rigby hee haueing noe charge of Children, his wife teaching schoole and by other meanes getting a Competent livelyhood for them both
The premises considered wee humbly pray that the said Rigby his allowance may bee taken of and wee shall releive him if there bee occasion as we doe other poore in the Parish
And we shall pray &c
<to ye 2 next Justic[e]s>