The petition of Elizabeth Crompton of Turton, Lancashire, 2 May 1650
To the right wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justic[e]s of peace att the gen[er]al Sessions of the peace, houlden att Manchester on Thursday the second day of Maye Anno D[omi]ni 1650.
The humble petic[i]on of Elizabeth Crompton of Turton in the County of Lancaster Widowe.
Humbly complaineing, truly sheweth vnto your good wor[shi]ps. That whereas James Crompton late of Turton deceassed, Late husband too your petic[i]oner being borne & brought vp in the said Towneshippe of Turton & of honest & good reputac[i]on amongst his Neighbors, whoe about nyne yearies agoe marryed & tooke to wyfe your said petic[i]oner, whoe together Lyved honestly & Industriouly amongst their neighbors in Turton afforesaid and mentayned themselues & their Children by their Industry & Labor in an honest (though poore) Condic[i]on soe as they were litle or noe Charge or Burden to their Neighbors, as is well knowne amongst them all; yett att the Scotts Invasion into this Countrey in August 1648: your petic[i]oners husband being in the Parliam[en]ts service vnder the Com[m]and of Capt[ain] Markland, itt soe please God that your s[ai]d petic[i]oners husband was slayne; Leaveing your petic[i]oner destitute w[i]th three small Children, and a foreth in her wombe, whoe hath had noe Reliefe nor pay from the publicke as yett, nor litle or noe maintenance from the Churchwardens & Overseers of the said Towneshippe towards her & her Childrens pr[e]servac[i]on. And that w[hi]ch is worst of all your said petic[i]oner being vnable to pay her Rent for her house as formerly her Landlord Francis Meadowcrofte and Lawrence Fletcher his Guardian have given her notice & warneing to dep[ar]te & remove out of the said house. And w[i]thall threaten to cast her and her Children out and shee cannot attayne to any house or place of aboade w[i]thin the said Towne; nay shee is afraid and knoweth nothing to the contrey. But to fynd the doores shutt when shee cometh home, and her Children cast into the high way; Which would tend to the vtter Impoverishm[en]t and casting away of your said petic[i]oner and her Fower small Children; Vnlesse your good wor[shi]ps wil be pleased to take the pr[e]mises into your serious Considerac[i]ons and to Comisserate her Estate & Condict[i]on, and withall to give Order and provide Remedy for an house of habitac[i]on and some maintenance out of the said Towne of Turton For the p[re]sent preservac[i]on & sustenance of your said poore petic[i]oner and her Children; That the Bodies of your said peitc[i]oner and her Children doe not starve for want of the said necessaries to p[re]serve lyfe. Which shee doubteth not But your godly & wise Iudgm[en]ts will take care of. And your petic[i]oner as in all duty bounden will ever pray for your wor[shi]ps in health & much happines long to continue.
{churchwar}dens & ou[er]seers p[ro]vid habitac[i]on.