The petition of Jane Simpson of Whittingham, Lancashire, Easter 1650
To the right wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of peace and quor[um].
The Humble petic[i]on of Jane the wife of William Simpson of Whittingham.
Humblie sheweth
That yo[u]r petic[i]oner [sic.] husband hath in all theise tymes of warr beene a soildier vnder the command of Col[one]l Rigby, vntil the last yeare who then left her yo[u]r petic[i]oner & five younge Children & is gone into Ireland the eldest being vnder seaven years of age & haueinge noe meanes for their releife is constrained to beg & nowe beinge growne soe weake of their bodies is [sic] not able to travel but like to starue for Want of reliefe.
The premisses considered yo[u]r peti[i]coner desyres yo[u]r worships to giue order that some good course may be taken for Releif of her poore Children & they as in duty bound will ever pray &c.