The petition of Joane Burt of Durleigh, Somerset, undated
To the Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the Peace for the County of Some[er]s[e]tt now in Sess[ions] assembled.
The humble Petic[i]on of Joane Burt of Durleigh, widdow.
Sheweth.
That yo[u]r Pet[itione]r haveinge only one Sonne & Daughter, who through many straites and Difficulties, by the labour of her hands, shee bred vp, w[hi]ch said Sonne Jeffery Burt, out of his good affecc[i]on to the Parliam[en]t, in the beginning of the late Warres voluntarily betooke himselfe to their service vnder the Com[m]aund of Collonell Blake, and haueinge continued in the same Service by the space of two or three yeares, was att length taken in the Actuall Service of the State by the Enemy then in Garizon in Bridgwater, where after some Imprysonm[en]t yo[u]r Pet[ition]ers said Sonne was most cruelly hanged: And also that yo[u]r Pet[ition]ers said Daughters husband John Abbott, haueing likewise served the Parliam[en]t, by the space of two yeares vnder the Com[m]aund of the said Col[onel] Blake, was dueringe the Second Siege slayne in Taunton, leaveing behind him a wife and two small Children, without any Estate or mainteynance att all, w[hi]ch said Childrens Mother is since also deceased, and they cast vpon the Reliefe of yo[u]r Pet[itione]r being neere Fower score yeares of Age and destitute both of an habitac[i]on, and all other out=ward Subsistance to Relieue either herselfe or them,
Whose deplored condic[i]on yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r humbly desires yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to vouchsafe to looke on w[i]th the Eye of pitty, and shee being denyed by Reason of her great age, to apply herselfe to yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps for any Releife but only att this Sessions att Bridgwater, humbly begges she may be now considered of accordingly and Receive a Pension or Allowance somewhat Equivolent to her great distresse & necessity:
And yo[u]r Pet[itione]r shall &c
Wee affirme this Petic[i]on to be true as we are credibly informed
Nicholas Chicke
Major Edw[ard] Sealy
Robert Haviland
[Reverse:]
Johane Burt. Recommend to the overseers of the Poore.