The petition of Jennett Pearson of Hardhorn, Lancashire, Easter 1653
To the Right Wor[shi]pp[fu]ll the Justices of the peace and Quoru[m] for the Countie of Lanc[aste]r assembled at [illegible] the sessions of peace holden att Preston.
The humble petic[i]on of Jennett Pearson of Hardhorne widdow
<Sheweth>
That the petic[i]oners late husband John Pearson was in his life tyme A souldier in the Parliaments service att the seige against Lathome and att the losse of Bolton from whence hee returninge to his owne house was thence carried away by Prince Ruperts Forces and there dyed, That after his decease the petic[i]oner was admitted and entered into the List of widdowes and ought to haue receiued her monthly allowanc{e} but was deprived thereof by some indirect meanes of the paymaster And beinge left w[i]th Fiue Fatherlesse Children whereof Fower as yett liueinge and all her meanes beinge exhausted and spent in vnnaturall suites betwixt her and her stepsonne and humbly comeainge widdowes and poore Fatherlesse Children of the like condic[i]on are by yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps provided for and releeued
Her humble request is That yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps would bee in mercie pleased to commiserate the low and distressed estate of A poore widdow and her Fatherlesse Children (the eldest beinge infatuate and imperfect in his sight) & another of them lame And favourably to grant her yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps Order to the Treasurer whereby shee and her poore Children may bee enabled to receaue such allowance as is granted to others of the like condic[i]on. And shee shall dayly pray &c.
[Illegible]
to Ch[urchwardens] & Ou[erseers] for her children