The petition of Isaac Watson of Pontefract, West Riding of Yorkshire, April 1669
To the Hono[u]r[a]ble and Right Worshipfull his Mag[es]ties Justices of the Peace for the West Rydeing of the County of Yorke
The humble petic[i]on of Isaac Watson laite Souldier for his Ma[jes]tie vnder the Com[m]and of Coll[onel] Thomas Wheatley
In most humble Mann[er] humbly sheweth vnto yo[u]r Hon[ou]rs that Wher[e]as yo[u]r poore Petec[ion]er, formerly haueing beene a Souldier in the Garrison of Pontefract (wheare & in which s[ai]d Towne) his habitation and Estate was Consumed by fire by the Enemies of his Ma[jes]tie And for As much as it Pleased God to afflict the s[ai]d Towne with the Pestilence, And Alsoe that yo[u]r poore Petec[ion]er and his poore Family being destitute of harbour theire was Constained (for the safety and pr[e]sarvation of himselfe and Family) to departe from the s[ai]d Towne of Pontifract wheare yo[u]r poore Petic[ion]er was borne & Bred, and against all reason and good Conscience, yo[u]r poore Petic[i]oner was forced to Wander for the Charitable Benevolence, from the hands of well disposed persons, for his releife, and for the releife of his poore wife & Children; And although yo[u]r poore Petic[ioner] hayth often beene desireous, and often supplicated the Officers of the s[ai]d Towne to p[er]mitte and suffer yo[u]r poore Petic[i]oner to inhabitt theirein: yet the s[ai]d Officers hayth vtterly refused and still doth refuse to receiue yo[u]r poor Petic[i]oner, vnlesse sume Speciall Order be directed to them: In tender Consideration wheareof and other the pr[e]mises
May it please yo[u]r Hon[ou]rs (theirefore) in yo[u]r wonted Clemency to grant to yo[u]r poore Peticoner, yo[u]r Hon[ou]rs Order to the said Officers of the said Towne of Pontifract, that some speedy course may be taken by them for An habitac[i]on for yo[u]r poor Petic[i]oner, or else in all likelyhoode yo[u]r petioner and his wife may perish through want theireof
And yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner as in duty bound will daly pray &c
Ord[e]r[e]d that the peticion[e]r & his wife be setled in pontefract vnless cause be showne to this Court in the afternoone