The petition of Elizabeth Haydocke of Fulwood, Lancashire, Midsummer 1652
To the right Wor[shi]pp[fu]ll the Justices of peace & Quoru[m] for the County of Lanc[aste]r.
The humble petic[i]on of Elizabeth Haydocke widdow.
<Sheweth>
That the petic[i]oners late husband James Haydocke about 7 yeares sithence att the request of Rob[er]te France of Fullwood became Tenant to the said Rob[er]te vpon his p[ro]mise not to bee removed that the said James Haydocke was employed in the Parliaments service and receiued wounds att Bolton whereof hee dyed although hee lingred A longe tyme after. That since his decease Ellin Birches of Preston widdow (pr[e]tending some tytle to the same house) came vpon the 4th of May last and tooke downe all the doores except one & nailed that vpp, w[hi]ch soe affrighted the petic[i]oners Children that they all fledd and lefte the house and goods, And since the said widdow Birches hath threatned to burne the petic[i]oners goods excep{t} {illegible} shee remoue and hauinge 4 small Children whereof one la{illegible}
Her humble request is that shee may either bee continued peaceably in the same house or bee p[ro]vided for in such sorte as in yo[u]r wisedomes may serue meete. And the pet[itione]r shall pray &c.
Conceaues shee ought to stay vntill it bee recou[r]ed ag[ains]t her in a due course of law & that shee shall sett vp the dores againe as they were or els to bee bound to the Assyses next