The petition of Elizabeth Rawnson of Woodplumpton, Lancashire, Easter 1654
To the right worshippfull the Justices of the peace & Quoru[m] for the County of Lanc[aste]r assembled att the Sessions holden att Preston.
The humble petic[i]on of Elizabeth Rawnson widdow.
<Sheweth>
That the petic[i]oner was borne and brought vpp within the Townshipp of Woodplumpton and after her Intermarriage w[i]th Richard Rawnson her late husband (who in his life tyme was A souldier for the Comonwealth both in England and Scotland) they lived together in Woodplumpton Fower yeares and vpwards and hadd two Children borne there, afterwards beinge entreated by his brother to become p[ar]tner w[i]th his brother him att the Trade of A Shoomaker in Garstange liued there p[ar]te of A yeare And after returninge to Woodplumpton (where hee dyed) they Farmed a house of John Eccleston who is Fyned for his entertaininge the petic[i]oner By reason whereof shee is in danger to beare her childe in the Feilds or highe ways vnles yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps releeue them
May itt please yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps Comisserate [sic.] the heavie and sad condition of A poore distressed widdow and her Fatherlesse children And in mercie to giue Order to the Churchwardens and Overseers of the poore w[i]thin Woodplumpton to make such provision for the petic[i]oner whereby her life may bee preserved And such provision made for her children as the Statue in such cases appointeth And the pet[itione]r shall pray &c.
Ch[urchwardens] & Ou[erseers} to p[ro]vide her Consider & make it appeare & the same to be respected vntill the[y] shew cause &c.