The petition of Elizabeth Stokes of Forebridge, Staffordshire, April 1651
To the right Worshipfull the Justices of Peace for the County of Stafford
The humble petition of Elizabeth Stokes widdow
Sheweth
That your petic[i]oners husband in his lifetime was wounded in the Parliaments service by reason whereof hee yearely had a stipend of forty shillings yearely paide by the treasurers of the County by 10 s. att every quarter sessions towards the releife of himselfe your distressed petic[i]oner his wife & Children hee being unable by reason of the saide wound to gett maintenance for his greate charge now soe it is may it please your good worshipps that your petic[i]oners said husband was most unfortunately by accident killed as hee was att his work & labour by a fall from a house
Whereof your petic[i]oners most humble request is that in respect her saide husband was ever faithfull to the Parliament & was wounded in theire service & now by this most sad & heavie accident hath left your poore petic[i]oner a most distressed & miserable widdow with two small Children which shee in noe way is able to maintaine & p[ro]vide for that your worshipps will in pitty & commiserac[i]on towards her & Children grant her an order to the Treasurer or receiuer for maimed soldiers in this County or whom else it doth concerne that shee may receiue the saide yearely summe of forty shillings as it was formerly paide to her saide husband.
And shee as in duty bound shall ever pray &c.
[?L. W &] P[er] an[num] Paid X