The petition of Ellen Kennard of Rostherne, Cheshire, 22 April 1650
<xxiith Apr[il] 1650>
To the right wor[sh]ipfull S[i]r George Booth kn[igh]t and Barron[e]t and the rest of the Justices of the peace at the quarter sessions houlden att Middlew[i]ch
The humble petic[i]on of Ellen Ken[n]ard wife of John Ken[n]ard and her Fower poore children
<Shew>
That yo[u]r distressed petic[i]on[e]rs were borne, brought vpp and educated w[i]thin the chappelry of Hulme cu[m] Cotton at a tenem[en]t of the vallue of 20 li. p[er] Annu[m] and eu[er] since (till w[i]thin theis few yeares) have by theire great paines and industry therevppon lived w[i]thout burthen to their freinds or neighbours but now since theis great warrs & distracc[i]ons have beene enforced to sell their right and interest in the said premisses and yo[u]r petic[i]oners husband for the gaineinge of some small subsistance hath eu[er] since theis troubles borne Armes for the Service of the parliam[en]t and still doth Continue therein in the Kingdome of Ireland.
Now soe it is, that yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]rs husband hath lefte this kingedome and them destitute of all releife in the parish of Roastorne where the Inhabitants find themselues much discontente and agreived endeavoringe to expose yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs to the charity of the Countrey.
May it therefore please this worshipfull Bench the pr[e]misses considered to take into yo[u]r serious and Iudicious apprehensions the lementable and miserable estate and Condic[i]on of yo[u]r poore petic[i]oners and to gr[an]t forth yo[u]r order (accordinge to the stattute in that case provided) vnto the Inhabitants of Hulme cu[m] Cotton for the erectinge of some small habitac[i]on or dwelling house w[i]thin their said towne vppon the waste otherwise yo[u]r poore petic[i]oners are likely to bee starved w[i]th great want and misery.
And yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs will eu[er] pray &c
<Cottage to be erected obteyning consent from the Lord of the Soile & the neighbourhood thereabouts>
<To my loving frends the Justices of the Peace at this presente Sessions>
<I would desire yow to take this poore Petic[i]on[e]rs sute into Considerac[i]on And vppon examinac[i]on to p[ro]vide for her relife according to Lawe And I will remayne yo[u]r very loving frende>
<G[eorge] Booth.>