The petition of John Bickerton of Crewe, Cheshire, Epiphany 1647
To the right w[orshi]p[fu]l the Justices of Peace att this Sessions
The humble Pet[ition] of John Bickerton of Crew in the County of Chest[e]r Bricklayer
Sheweth
That whereas yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r (by Gods blessing happy in the said honest & Lawfull co{ndi}tion by w[hi]ch he soberly & comfortably maintained himself) att the very first beginninge of this vnhappy ware forsakeing his tooles by w[hi]ch he accomplished the worke of man, begirt himself with a sword to help forward the work of the Lord, & listed himself a sould[ie]r vnder the comand of Maior Bromhall with whom marching to Loumford in Shropshire yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r receiued by the enemy Nineteene wounds, six whereof fell vppon his right hand, w[hi]ch haue so taken away the vse thereof as that hee is vtterly inabled [sic.] to work any more in his said profession & consequently like to remayne in a poor, sad & beholding condition without some reliefe.
The Premises tenderly considered, his humble pet[ition] to yo[u]r w[orshi]ps is that since hee hath nothing of his owne to mainetaine him & not able to work for an existence, yo[u]r w[orshi]ps would be pleased to take this his sad estate into yo[u]r consideration & to allow yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r such a competency for his relief as you in yo[u]r w[orshi]p[fu]l & graue Judgm[en]ts shall think fitt, soe shall hee eu[er] as hee shall be bound pray &c
Not considered off.