The petition of James Ireland of Mellor, Lancashire, Epiphany 1659
To the wor[shi]p[fu]ll Justices of the peace & Quoru[m] in the sessions holden at Preston in Amondernes these.
The humble petition of James Ireland
Humbly sheweth whereas that the saide James Ireland borne in Meller of ancient parentage & alwayes of good Conversation taking occasion to beare Armes for the State went for Scotland & after some space of tyme came backe to Worster batle & from thence returned home and according to his accustomed manner liued in good estate by the Industrie of his hands vntill such tyme it pleased god to vissitt him w[i]th Impostumes ouer all his body by meanes whereof he became soe weake & feeble he could not worke & then hee was put in the List for one of the impotent pore of the towne & so was maintained for a short tyme & nowe for the space of halfe a yeare or there abouts he hath not receaued aboue nyne shillings in monie he hath sould all his worke loomes & done his endeauor to the vttermost of his power And had not his next adi[a]sent neighbors bine Charitable to him he had starued for want of foode before this tyme, he being not able to goe from dore to dore as they the saide neibors both can & will Justify the truth of the p[re]misses herein & of euery part thereof.
In tender Consideration whereof he humbly desyreth that your worships in mercie would bee pleased to make some order whereby he might not bee starued to death for want of foode but that some speedie Course might bee taken for his releefe and in so doing hee will euer pray as hee is bound in dutie for your healthes & happines &c
Ch[urchwardens] & ou[erseers]
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Here begins Preston