The petition of James Turner of Middleton, Lancashire, Midsummer 1659
To the right wor[shipfu]ll, the Justices of the peace and quor[um] at the gen[er]all Sessions of the peace to bee holden at Manchester for the hundred of Salford.
The humble petic[i]on of James Turner
in behalfe of himselfe his wife and
sixe small children.
Humbly sheweth
Vnto this hon[oura]ble Bench that yo[u]r pet[itione]r is a very poore man and was borne and brought vp within the parrish of Midleton was a souldier for the good of parliam[en]t and comon wealth vntill the tyme of his marriage, and hath continued as subtenant to one Richard Wolstenholme of Langley of for nyne yeares, hee is not any in areere of rent, hee the pet[itione]r is a very poore man and hath beeene very paynfull in his calling and not burdensome or chargeable vnto his neighbors in any wise, the said Richard Wolstenholme hath no occasion to inhabitt in the house himselfe in regard hee is possessed of a good Tenement in Hopwood. And vpon the xxxth day of June last past came Ann wife of the said Richard Wolstenholme and Richard Wolstenholme his sonne and knocked downe foure paynes of three panes of walles and spoyled the woorke yo[u]r pet[itione]r was to worke and the beds where his children lay, but if hee bee outed hee hath no place of residence but hee and his family are in danger to turne vagrant, and without yo[u]r assistance yo[u]r pett[itione]rs are remediles.
May it please yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps the pr[e]misses considered to Comisserate yo[u]r pet[itione]rs sad condic[i]on and to giue order hee may inhabitt where hee hath done form[e]rly paying his rent, or that the Churchwardens of the parrish to prouyde him housing for his money or otherwise that hee may haue order to erect some Cottage for his habitac[i]on in some conuenient place within the said parrish and yo[u]r pet[itione]r will dayly pray &c
Ordered that the Churchwardens and ou[er]seers of the poore of the parish of Midleton shall p[ro]uide habitac[i]on for James Turner and his family w[i]thin the hammell of Midleton where he hath alwayes inhabited.
[Illegible] Ordered