The petition of Issabell Smyth of Larbreck, Lancashire, 26 April 1655
To the right wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of peace & Quoru[m] for the county of Lanc[aste]r at their Quarter sessions at Preston Aprill the 26th 1655
The humble petition of Issabell the wife of Edward Smyth then souldier in Ireland for the Commonwealth of England
Humblie sheweth
That y[ou]r poore petition[e]r beeing borne in Lurbrecke & married to the sayd Edward Smith [illegible] had by him diuers chyldren where{of} one is living, And shee left [illegible] by her husband w[i]th that chyld wonteth habitation, Now soe it is may it please y[ou]r good wor[shi]pps that one James Benson a tenant to John Woodhouse of Lurbrecke aforesayd gent[leman]: is willing that a litle house for y[ou]r poore petition[e]r may bee erected neare vnto the sayd Bensons house, if the sayd Mr Woodhouse his Landlord would consent thereto who is very willing, so it may be done, by ord[e]r from y[ou]r wor[shi]pps at y[ou]r Sessions to avoyd the penalty of the Law for erecting of Cottages
The humble desyre of y[ou]r poore petition[e]r is that y[ou]r wor{ship}s would bee pleased to graunt y[ou]r order for the erecting {of} such a mored for habitation for y[ou]r poore petitioner to & inhabite in & her chyld, accordingly as in y[ou]r wor[shi]ppes {discre}tion shall bee thought meet & requisite (her lamentable distressed cause in y[ou]r wor[shi]ppes sight always pr[e]suppose shee is howeuer in duty bound will dayly pray &c.
That the matter of this petition is True is Certifyed by mee
John Woodhouse.
to erected