The petition of Anne French of Antrobus, Cheshire, 7 October 1645
<Com[itatus] Cest[ri]>
<s[ession]s>
To the Ho]nourab]le his ma[jes]t[y]s Justices of peace at the generall Sessions of the peace assembled at Knotsford the viith of Octob[er] 1645 &c
The humble petic[i]on of Anne French of Antrobus in Overwhitley widowe late wife of John French deceased.
Sheweth
that yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs late husband about three yeares since at Easter last went for a soldier against the Rebells in Scotland where he lost his life. And left yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner and three poore little infants who had noe place of aboade. That yo[u]r petic[i]oner, her husband & little children were all borne in and ever lived in the parish of great Budworth. By reason whereof yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r moved the right wor[shipfu]ll William Marbury, Esq[uire] and most of the Lor[dshi]p of Overwhitley for some smale parcell of ground in the s[ai]d Lor[dshi]p to erect a little cottage vpon to bring vp her children in (not being able to vndergoe an Annuall rent & maineteyne her children from beging) which they all willingly consented vnto, and accordingly sett her forth a place by the spetiall appointm[en]t of the s[ai]d Mr Marbury and the rest which afterwards was confirmed by the Ho[noura]ble S[i]r George Booth: Yet neverthelesse one Marie Gandie and William Gandy her sonne vpon some private discontent ag[ains]t yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r by the assistance of some other ill affected persons have pulled downe & caused yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs cottage three times pulled downe to the vtter vndoeing of yo[u]r petic[i]oner and her poore children and in open contempt of all authoritie and the great incouragm[en]t of other evill disposed persons who in these distracted times wil be forward to comitt the like.
The premises tenderly considered and that yo[u]r poore [illegible] petic[i]on[e]r and her children are destitute of harbour and shee by meanes of the hard vsage aforesaid vtterly disabled to erect it againe but like to put her children vpon the charitie of the s[ai]d parish [illegible] vnlesse shee be releived for her s[ai]d losses and wronges: May it therefore plese this ho[nourab]le bench to grant yo[u]r order to confirm the s[ai]d Mr Marbury his order that shee may have a cottage Erected in the s[ai]d towne and sett vp at the charges of the s[ai]d Marie Gandy, William Gandy and one Thomas Dokin who were chieffe in pulling downe the s[ai]d cottage and to [illegible] inflict such exemplary punishment vpon them as you in yo[u]r greate wisdomes shall seeme meete and yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r and her children may be in safetie from violence And yo[u]r petic[i]oner and her poore children will ever as in dutie bound pray &c
The p[ar]ties that pulled downe the Cottage to build it vp againe, vppon paine of 10 s. a peece to be levied of theire goods to the vse of the poore woman.