The petition of John Locke of Salford, Lancashire, Midsummer 1659
To the Worshipfull the Justices of the peace at the Sessions at Manchester
The humble petic[i]on of John Locke of Salford Linenweaver
<Sheweth>
That yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner hath Inhabited and dwelt in Salford w[i]th his wife three and Fourty yeares and vpwards And did Continue in the States Service from the begineinge of the warrs vntill such tyme as hee was blined and lamed in the same service and his twoe sonns slayne. Now soe it is that the Cottage wherein yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner Inhabited and dwelt in In Salford afores[ai]d is fallen downe and spoyled & yo[u]r poore petic[i]oners goods & hazered his life and since yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner hath some tymes in the night tyme lyne in a barne. And lately yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner with his diseased and decriped wife was put into another Cottage by the overseers of the poore of the Towne of Salford aforesaid which said Cottage is now likely to fall soe as yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner and his said wife beinge both very Ancient liveth in Continvall danger of theire lives. And yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner makeinge redresse vnto the aforesaid overseere of the poore of Salford aforesaid for releife in the pr[e]misses. The said overseers then made Answer that the[y] would observe such orders for buildinge vpp or repaire of yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]rs Cottage as yo[u]r good Worshipps would bee pleased to make therein
The pr[e]misses therefore taken into yo[u]r tender Considerac[i]on yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner humbly prayes yo[u]r good Worships would bee pleased to make such orders for the buildinge vpp or repaire of yo[u]r poore petic[i]oners said Cottage As shall stand with yo[u]r good worshipps pleasure And yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner as in duty bound will ever pray for yo[u]r good worshipps prosperrity in all heath to Continue.
Ch[urchwardens] & Ou[erseers] to p[ro]vide habitac[i]on.
[Illegible]