The petition of Barbary Ward of Plompton, West Riding of Yorkshire, 6 October 1685
To ye Hon[oura]ble his Ma[jes]t[y]s Justices of the peace at the Quarter Sessions at Knaresbrough.
The humble petic[i]on of Barbary Ward of Plompton widow.
<Shew[e]th>
That yo[u]r peticon[e]rs father was sonne to S[i]r Edward Plompton deceased and had an Annuity of 40 li. p[er] Ann[um] dureinge his life, w[hi]ch after his death fell vnto ye heire of Plompton, And that her sayd father lost a Thousand pounds w[hi]ch [h]is eldest brother was indebted vnto him at ye tyme of his death beinge slayne in his late Ma[jes]tyes Service, Soe that yo[u]r pet[itione]rs father dyed in great poverty, and left noethinge to mainteyne his poore Children. w[hi]ch hath enforced yo[u]r pet[itione]r to labour for her livinge. But now beinge troubled w[i]th infirmityes of body is disabled for labour; & hath spent that whole those few goods w[hi]ch by her hard labour shee had gathered together in Mainteyninge her selfe, Soe that shee hath now noething left to provide her Susteynance to pr[e]serve her from famishinge.
Yo[u]r petition[e]r therefore humbly prayes yo[u]r hono[u]rs to take her sad Condic[i]on & extreame poverty into Consideracon & graunt her such allowance out of the said Towne for her releife as yo[u]r hono[u]rs shall thinke fitt. And shee shall pray &c.
The Co[u]rt duly desire Mr Midleton & Mr Claveringe to examine this businesse And Grant such releife to the Petitioner as they shall thinke fitt yt th[ei]r wor[ship]s may receive [illegible] noe further trouble from the Petitioner.
W. S[impson].