The petition of Elizabeth Thomas, Eadith Snow, Julian Kitts, Elizabeth Warden and Priscilla Ambrose, all of Plymouth, Devon, 27 September 1651
To the Wo[rshi]pp[fu]ll the Justices of the Peace of the County of Deuon sitting in Session att Exon.
The humble Petition of Elizabeth Thomas Ead[ith] Snow Julian Kitts Elizabeth Warden and Priscilla Ambrose all of Plymouth in the Countye of Deuon widdowes.
Humbly sheweth
That your poore petitioners haue theise many yeares last past liued with theire poore chilldren in very greate want and pouerty by reason theire husbands who faithfully serued the Parliament in the tyme of the Late warrs in the defence of Plymouth all lost theire lyues in that seruice and allthough your petitioners haue often put themselues to much charge and trouble paine and trauell in petitioning for some releife according to the meaneing of the Parliament who by seuerall Acts and ordinances haue allowed a yearely maintenance to the widdowes and orphanes of those who lost theire lyues in theire seruice yet hitherto haue your poore petitioners beene neglected and noe releife afforded other then Twenty shillings to each of your petitioners about a yeare and halfe since, which is but a small recompence for soe great a losse.
The premisses considered and in regard yo[u]r poore petitioners haue suffered such great want and hardshipp soe longe a tyme and in regard they haue not receiued the benefitt of the seuerall Acts of Parliam[en]t in that beehalfe made and in regard your petitioners haue spent soe much tyme in vayne in petitioning for some releife already they therefore most humbly and earnestly desire and pray yo[u]r wor[shi]pps now to order them some speedy and present releife without which your poore petitioners must needes perrish and they shall euer pray &c.
Wee doe heereby Certifie that the petitioners aboue named are all widdowes of Plymouth and that the Contents of theire petition are true
Wittnes o[u]r hands the 27th September 1651
Philip Francis Robert Gubbes maior
Timothy Alsop Justinian Peard
[Overleaf:]
Peticion of Plymouth widd[ows]