The petition of Elizabeth Green of Thurnham, Lancashire, Epiphany 1658
To the Right worshipfull the Justic[e]s of the peace and Quoru[m] att the quarter sesions att Lancaster
The humble petic[i]on of Elizabeth Green a poore distressed widdow late wife of James Greene of Thurnham who was a souldier for the king & p[ar]liament
Sheweth that her said husband left her two smale children to maynteyne, the elder being of the age of six yeares & the other about the age of two yeares having noe meanes to maynteyne them but what shee getts by her handy labor being very litle & the Charity of well disposed neighbors the premisses considered
yo[u]r pet[itione]r most humbly beeseecheth yo[u]r good worshipps to order the Churchwardens & ouerseers of the p[ar]ish of Lancaster to give vnto yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r some compotent weekly allowance for the maynteynance of her said two smale Infants vntill they shall accomplish there age of maturity And shee as neuertheles in all duety bound will euer pray &c
Wee whose names are herevnder subscribed doe know the contents of this petic[i]on to bee true and doe hould it a deed of Charity to grant her request
the marke [symbol: mark] of William Gardner
the marke [symbol: mark] of William Lambe
the marke [symbol: mark] of James Gardner
Edward Briggs [symbol: mark] Tho[mas] Yeats
{Illegible} [?Haresnaepe] {Illegible}
<Ch[urchwardens] & Ou[erseers] to allow her viii d. a weeke>
<[Illegible]>