The petition of Ellen Kennard of Ollerton, Cheshire, Easter 1652
To the ho[noura]ble the Justices of the peace for the County Palatine of Chester
The humble petic[i]on of Ellen Kennard widdow
Sheweth that yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[er] was borne and brought vpp in Ollerton in the parish of Rosthorne That she married w[i]th one John Kennard whoe was a faithfull souldier, duringe his lifetyme from the beginninge of the distracc[i]ons in England to the Stats Service and therein was slaine in Ireland and Lefte yo[u]r petic[ioner] and Fower small Childeren vtterly w[i]thout any estate They now beinge in greate want not hauinge any where to lay there heads but where the[y] are Lodged by Charitable neighbours The sad and lamantable Condic[i]on of the petic[i]on[er] Considered
May it please yo[u]r ho[nou]rs to grant yo[u]r Order that yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] may haue a Cottage erected in or vpon the wasts of Ollerton aforesaid for the releife of yo[u]r petic[i]oner and her four small Children and such allowance weekely as yow in yo[u]r graue Judgm[en]ts shal thinke meete and shee will euer pray &c
<by Consent of the L[or]d>