The petition of Jane Betty of Eccleston, Cheshire, Epiphany 1663
To the R[igh]t Wor[shi]p[fu]ll his Ma[jes]t[y’]s Justices of the Peace for the County of Chester now sitting at the Gen[era]ll Quarters Sessions in the Castle of Chest[e]r
The humble petic[i]on of Jane Betty the distressed wid[ow] of Dauid Betty deceased.
Humbly sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itione]rs said late husband David Betty was a soldier hired for the Towneshippe of [illegible] Eccleston, and was listed in the Wor[shi]p[fu]ll Capt[ain] John Leche Esq[ui]r[e] his company in the late Army commaunded by the R[igh]t Hon[oura]ble the L[or]d Dellamere, and being in fight at Winnington bridge there receaued a mortall wound, of w[hi]ch w[i]thin fiue daies following he dyed leaving yo[u]r pet[itione]r and one daughter in a most sad & deplorable condic[i]on, hauing not receaued the money due in arreare from the said Towneshippe to her said husband,
That yo[u]r pet[itione]r further sheweth yt she was admitted (after his Ma[jes]t[y’s] happie restaurac[i]on to his royall Crowne & dignity) by S[i]r John Booth Kn[igh]t & Peter Dutton Esq[ui]r[e] to be one of his Ma[jes]t[y’]s poore pention[e]rs & to be allowed 30 s. p[er] Ann[um] out of Broxton hundred but hitherto she hath receiued none,
She therefore humbly supplicates & implores yo[u]r wor[shi]pps to take the pr[e]misses into yo[u]r most graue & iudicious considerac[i]ons & yt yow wil be charitably pleased to admitt her a penc[i]on[e]r & to allow her such yearely penc[i]on as to yo[u]r wisedomes shall seeme meet, or otherwise to releeue yo[u]r pet[itione]r & Orphance as to yo[u]r wor[shi]pps shall seeme meet.
And yo[u]r pet[itione]r shall eu[er] pray &c