The petition of Edward Coleridge of Drewsteignton, Devon, 1702
To ye Worshipful his Majesty’s Justices of ye Peace for this County of Devon in their general Sessions.
The humble Petition of Edward Coleridge of Drewsteignton in the County afores[ai]d Carpenter Sheweth
That y[ou]r Petition[e]r serv[e]d his late Majesty King Charles ye First, of Blessed Memory, in ye then unhappy Wars, as a Foot Souldier under ye com[m]and of Captain Gidley, & in ye s[ai]d service suffer[e]d many hardships, w[hi]ch now in his old Age render him ye more infirm & impotent:
And for yt y[ou]r humble Petition[e]r always demean[e]d himself as a loyal Subject in ye said unhappy War, & from yt time has most honestly & industriously follow[e]d his Calling, & being well assur[e]d yt y[ou]r Wor[shi]ps are wont to reward & encourage such as have, or shall hazard their lives, & readily undergo ye hardships & dangers incident to a War, for ye Safety & pr[e]servation of ye King & his Goverment
He humbly prayeth yt of y[ou]r wonted goodness & clemency you w[oul]d please to afford him a Penc[i]on of ye Publick-Stock, w[hi]ch being now very old, he cannot long enjoy
And y[ou]r Petic[i]on[e]r, as in duty most bound, shall ever pray &c.
We are assur[ed] of ye truth of this Petition.
Jo: Pole Will[iam] Reade, Rect[o]r of Drewstaignton.
Nicholas Martyn James Battishill
Ri[chard] Carew Churchwarden
John Brock }
[?Jean] Puddicombe }
James Curtes }
Frances Ranapman }
Overseres
Thomas Poulford } Jno Floud
Edward Doome }Constables William Stord
Robert Smale
John Snell
[Overleaf:]
20 s. p[er] Ann[um] 5 s. in hand