The petition of Joane Stockton of Stockton, Cheshire, Michaelmas 1653
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Justic[e]s of peace att this pr[ese]nte Sessions assembled.
The humble petic[i]on of Joane the wyfe of Thomas Stockton of Stockton w[i]thin this Countie.
Humblie Sheweinge that yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs husband, aboute five yeares since went into Ireland a souldier vnder the Com[m]and of Collonell Venables, dureinge whose abode and staye w[i]th yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] they mainteyned themselves, and three smale Children, by their industrie and paines takeinge w[i]thout beinge troublesome to anie, Att whose dep[ar]ture hee left yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] distitute of a place to harbour in: or mainteynance eyther for herselfe or children; But what yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] hath by her paines takeinge and th[e] assistance of her mother (who is latelie deceassed) mainteyned themselves w[i]thall: And that now sythence yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]rs mothers death the[y] haueinge noe place to live in but what they haue taken: The Constables and overseers of the poore for the Towneshipp where they now are will not suffer them to staie nor the Constables of Stockton to returne thyther so that yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r and her three smale children this ensuinge winter haueinge noe place to harbour in: are like to staru[e]d.
The pr[e]misses tenderlie Considered yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r humblie implores this Wor[shipfu]ll Bench wil be pleased to graunt their order to the Constables and ou[er]seers of the poore for the towneship of Stocketon, thereby Comandinge them to p[ro]cure some habitac[i]on for yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r and children; or else some weekelie paie for and towards their mayntenance: And yo[u]r petic[i]on[er] as in all dutie bound will eu[er] pray &c
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