The petition of Elinor Bostock of Occlestone, Cheshire, 15 April 1656
To ye right Wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of peace of the County Pallatine of Chester, assembled at this their present Quarter Sessions of ye peace houlden at Midlewiche the 15th day of Aprill 1656.
The humble Petic[i]on of Elinor Bostock of Wimboldesley spinster widdow
Sheweth
That your petic[i]on[e]rs late husband John Bostock was a souldier in the Parliam[en]t service vnder the Command of Colonell Thomas Croxton dureinge the tyme of the late warrs, in w[hi]ch tyme bee behaved himself both actively and faithfully (as is well knowne to his sayd Colonell and officers) and that at ye Battle at Worcester it pleased God hee was slayne, to your petic[i]on[e]rs vtter vndoeinge (she haveinge three small Children to menteyne and nothinge to keepe them on) insomuch as yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r was enforced to moove your Wor[shi]ps to bee admitted to bee a penc[i]oner w[hi]ch was most graciously condescended vnto, and the summe of 40 s. Annually allowed. But your petic[i]oner finding the same to bee too short, notwithstandinge for all that she can gett by her paynes and in{dustry} besides, that shee is not able to keepe and menteyn{e} her aforesayd 3 small Children, vnlesse her sayd annuall penc[i]on may bee augmented Now forasmuch as your petic[i]on[e]r is able to make it to appeare that one John Hickhock a penc[i]oner haveinge 40 s. a yeare allowed him, is an inlisted souldier in the Garrison of Chester, a man of able body, and one that contends in maisteries with any souldier in that company, worth 200 li. in p[er]sonall estate, a Chandler by trade, and freeman of Chester.
Yo[u]r petic[i]oner therfore humbly prayes that the sayd penc[i]on of 40 s. p[er] ann[um] may bee taken from the sayd Hickhock, and conferred vpon your petic[i]on[e]r, or such parte thereof {illegible} thinke fitt, for ye menteynance and support of her self and her sayd 3 small children
And your petic[i]on[e]r shall eu[er] pray &c
<Referre to Col[one]l Croxton>
<Midlew[i]ch 15th Aprill 1657>
<It is referred to Colonel Croxton to consider of the petic[i]on and to relieue the petic[i]on[e]r out of the said Hickockes penc[i]on as hee shall find meet>
<H[umphrey] Milton Dep[utatus] Cl[ericus] Pac[is]>