The petition of Ann Fookes of Halstead, Essex, 1652
To the honorable {illegible} ssesions for the peace for the Cou{nty} of Essex
The humbull petition of Ann Fookes a poor distressed widdow of Halsted in the County aforesaid.
Humbuly sheweth that whereas yo[u]r poore petitioners husband William Fookes beinge a soldier in the parliam[en]ts service vnder the Command of Capt[ain] Halls at Plimoth lost his life leaueinge your poore petitinor bigg w[i]th child and in a very sadd condition haueing nothinge to subsist uppon but was forced to be burdenson to hir Friends they beinge poore people and yo[u]r poore petitioner sould away that w[hi]ch shee hath to maintaine hirselfe and hir child Wherefor yo[u]r poore petitinor humbuly prayeth this honorable courte seriously to consider the sadd condition of hir and hir poore child and to allow hir such relefe as to your wysdoms shall seeme fitt and your poore petitinor as in duty bound shall ever pray.