The petition of Ellin Clark of Peckforton, Cheshire, 22 January 1650
To the right hono[ura]ble Justices of peace at this p[re]sente Sessions assembled
The humble petic[i]on of John Ellin Clark of Pecfordton widdow
Humbly sheweth vnto this hono[ura]ble bench That yo[u]r petic[i]onor being stepmother vnto one Elizabeth Clark who intermarried with one Hugh ap Bedworth who lived within the parish of Minchall and Over [illegible] for a long space & had by her divers children, three whereof are yet liuing two of them being borne within the p[ar]ish of Over Minshall & th[e] other in Minshall Over parish & beinge a poore labouring man & his wife being [illegible] lame of one side & not able for her selfe the said Bedworth in seeking for help for her spend [sic.] all or the greatest p[ar]t of his meanes for the obteyning help for her but could not, vpon w[hi]ch disease & other sicknesses the said Elizabeth dyed. [several illegible words] & that the said Bedworth 1/2 a yeare before her decease listed himselfe a Sould[ie]r & went for Ireland vnder the States service
And yo[u]r petic[i]onor seeing the said 3 children left both fatherles & motherles out of her owne Comisserac[i]on taking Compassion of the said children tooke them vnto her 2 whereof shee hath kept with her & th[e] other sett forth to Nurse w[hi]ch hath bin a greate charge & burthen vnto her.
Her humble request vnto this hono[ura]ble Bench is that in that considering the dearth of all things & yo[u]r petic[i]onors pou[er]ty & her exceeding greate charge already towards them this bench wil be pleased to graunt her orders for the bringing of them to the seu[er]all p[ar]ishes wherein they were borne & that the churchwardens & ou[er]seers thereof may p[ro]vide for them according to Lawe.
And yo[u]r poore petic[i]onor &c
<The Overseers to the seu[er]all parishes p[ro]vide for them & they to be brought to the place of their birth.>