The petition of Hamnett Beckett, Cheshire, Trinity 1651
To the right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace at this Sessions assembled.
The Humble petition of Hamnett Beckett.
Sheweth, That yo[u]r petition[e]r serued ye p[ar]lam[en]t of England during the tyme of the wars in these p[ar]ts as a Foote soldier vnder the Comand of Captaine John Lownes & afterwards of Captaine John Acton, And during the tyme of the seruice yo[u]r petition[e]r behaved himself faithfully & valiantly as became a soldier, w[hi]ch Colonell Croxton knoweth to be true; And vpon a tyme yo[u]r petition[e]r being abroad vppon seruice had his left hand most miserably shott, insoemuch hee was maymed, lost the vse of all his hand saving one finger, & is now verie much disabled to worke at his trade for liuelyhood of himself, his sick wife, his lame & important mother in law
May if therfore please yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps to order yo[u]r distressed petition[e]r (as to others of the like condic[i]on) an yearely pension for & towards the liuelyhood of himself & miserable Family.
And yo[u]r petition[e]r as in duty bound will eu[e]r pray &c for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps &c.
<Twenty shillings yearly>