The petition of Anne Johnson and Elizabeth Goodine of Whittingham, Lancashire, Midsummer 1651
To the Right Worsh[i]pp[fu]ll the Justices of the peace att the Quarter Sessions houlden att Preston theise present.
The humble petic[i]on of [illegible] Anne the wyffe of George Johnson and Elizabeth the wyffe of Thomas Goodine of Whittingham And their Eighte Chilldren vidzt Elizabeth Goodine hath fyve Children And Anne Johnson hath three Chilldren.
Humbly Sheweth vnto yo[u]r good worrshipps That whereas yo[u]r poore petitioners husbands the one of them is A Souldier in the Army in Scotland vidzt Thomas Goodine. And your petitioner haueing fyve smale Chillderen hath nothing to mainteyne them for lyvelyhood nor know nott howe to subsiste. And I George Johnson haueinge beene A Souldier and his wyffe haueinge three smale chillderen. And haueinge noe meanes whereby to mainteyne himselfe his wyffe and smale Chilldren. And haueing noe meanes whereby to sibsiste for lyvelyhood. And haueinge noe meanes Allowed them by the parishe or inhabitants of the parish Towneshipp where they inhabite and dwell Are lyke to Starue Except some course bee taken for their Releeffe According to the Statue in that case made and provyded.
The premisses duly considered yo[u]r petitioners humble Requeste is that yo[u]r worshipps would bee pleased to graunt them yo[u]r warrant for thir Releeffe within the parishe of Goosnarghe Or ells they and their Eight smale Chillderen are lyke to starue for mantenance of foode. And in soe doeinge they shall as never the lesse in all duty bound pray for yo[u]r good worrshipps in all health and happie Estates long to contynue.
And yo[u]r warrant to be directed vnto the Church wardens and overseers of the poore within Goosnarch and Whittingham vidzt Robert Beesley and Richard Ratcliffe.
She & her children to bee brought to her husb[and] & there hee to manteyne them or bee bound.