The petition of Ann Massie of Nantwich, Cheshire, Trinity 1651
To the right Wo[rshipfu]ll the Justic[e]s of Peace in the Countie of Chester,
The humble Petic[i]on of Ann Massie, wife of William Massie late of Wich Malbancke in the said Countie Skynner.
<Shewinge>
That yo[u]r Petic[i]oner, att the Quarter Sessions held att Namptwich the 9th of July MDCL. Petic[i]oned this ho[noura]ble Bench for the takeinge of some speedy course to compell Thomas Wicksted father of the said Ann (beinge a man of very large estate) to afford the said Ann, a lively=hood & subsistence, for her selfe & Family being six small Children, and not haveinge wherew[i]th to subsist, now left destitute of Releife by her husbands desertinge her and now remaynynge in Ireland in service for the Parlyament vnder the comaund of Captaine Talbott, in the Regyment of Colonell Fenix: And vpon her Petic[i]on obteyned an Order that the said Thomas Wicksted should afford & p[ro]vide for the releife and maynten[a]nce of her said Children, vpon the Penalty of twentie shillings a moneth to be As by the said Order (ready to p[ro]duce) doth appeare And no that notw[i]thstandinge the said Order, the said Thomas Wicksted hath in contempt thereof refused to afford any releife for the said Children, contrary to the Statute in that case made & p[ro]vided
Yo[u]r Petic[i]oners humble request therefore is, that yo[u]r Wor[sh]ips would be pleased to take her deplorable condition into yo[u]r judicious and pyous considerac[i]ons and to take a speedy course [illegible] for her vse & her pore Children & to ympell the said Thomas to afford such constant releife for yo[u]r Petic[i]oner and her said Charge as yow in yo[u]r grave Wisdomes shall conceive meete & equall,
And yo[u]r Petic[i]oner shall pray &c
<granted>