The petition of Jane Thomas of Hereford, Herefordshire, 1660 to 1661
To the Right wor[shi]ppfull James Lawrence Esq[ui]r[e] Maior of the Citty of Herefford, and to others the wor[shi]ppfull Magistrates, and Justices of peace of the said Citty;
The humble petic[i]on of Jane Thomas of the said Citty widd[ow] burdened with a Chardge of fower small Children borne & bredd within the said Citty;
Humbly shewinge,
That whereas yo[u]r poore petic[ione]rs husband dec[eased] haveinge bin a freeman a blacksmith by trade late of the said Citty, who was to his very dying hower from the first originall warrs here in England a faithfull, constant souldier for his late Ma[jes]tie & being within this Citty vpon the Scotts invasion here sallying out for the good & defence of the Citty, & Countrey was taken, maimd, & like to bee tortured had it not bin gods blessed prouidence, & by his maimes & wounds ther receaued died thereof. To the vyyter ruine, impouerishm[en]t & vndoeing of yo[u]r poore petic[ione]r & her fower poore fatherless Children, yo[u]r petic[ione]r haueing bin sicke twoe yeares; & most of her poore Children likewise on her hands;
The pr[e]misses considered May it please yo[u]r wor[shi]pps to admit yo[u]r petic[ione]r for Gods sake a graunte of the next vacant Hospitall of any poore Almeswoman departeing life within this Citty for some moderate relief of yo[u]r poore distressed petic[ione]r; & her greate Chardge And shee will daily pray for yo[u]r worshipps &c.