The petition of Jane Rusbridger, Sussex, October 1651
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace at the Generall Quarter Sessions for the West part of the Countie of Sussex:
The humble Petic[i]on of Jane Rusbridger widdow:
<Humbly sheweth>
That your peticoners husband hauing listed himselfe a foote souldier vnder the Lord Generall Cromwell was drawne forth about a yeare since in the States service for Scotland in which service he died leaving your poore petic[i]oner w[i]th two smale Children whoe are not any waies able to helpe themselues by reason she could not gett her husbands arreares your petic[i]oner haue been constrayned to sell her goods to releiue her selfe and children.
Her humble request is that you would be pleased out of your goodnes to take the deplorable condic[i]on of your poore petic[i]oner and her smale weake children into your pious considerac[i]on and to graunt your order that shee may haue such maintenance as the Parliament hath directed for the releife and maintenance of the widdowes and orphanes of such as haue died in the service of ye Parliament during these late warrs.
And shee and her poore children shalbe bound to pray &c.