The petition of John Walmisley of Goosnargh, Lancashire, 4 October 1683
To the kings Maj[e]st[y]s Justices of the Peace at Preston the 4th of October an[n]o d[o]m[in]i 1683 The humble peti[ti]on of John Walmisley of Goosnargh in the County of Lancaster Millner
Sheweth vnto your good wor[shi]pps that your peti[ti]oner heretofore was A soulder in the Late kings service vnder Comand of Captayne Buttler Late of Kerkland: vntill the said Captayne was slayne at Newbery Battell, and After his death your peti[ti]oner Continued in the said service vnder comand of Major Speeed vntill New worke vpon Trent was surrendered, and never was in all his Life on the Contrary p[ar]tie and through the wounds hee receiued in the warrs & by reason of his Adge hee is verie wake [sic.] Lame & Infirme of Body: and is A very pore man About threescore and Sixe yeares of age and hath an old woman to his wyffe of threescoare and Aleven yeares of age & vpwards and hath not Any estate at all in the world to Liue vpon and by reason of theire Age and Infirmitie they nor either of them is Able to worke to get A maintaynance, and all that the towne of Goosnargh will allow them towards theire reliffe is only tenn shillings A yeare, but Thomas Parker who is the pr[e]sent ouersier of the poare within the said towne knowinge the greate Nessesitie of your pore peti[ti]oner, hath for Sixe Munthes Last past giuen your peti[ti]oner twelue pence A weeke towards the reliffe of him selfe and his wyffe, but the Chiffe of the Inhabitants of Goosnarch seemed to be displeased therewith, & threatens the said ouer sier to beare itt of his owne purse, which hee shall giue or allow to your pore peti[tioner] ouer & Aboue tenn shillings A yeare, soe that hee dare not Allow twelue pence A weeke Any longer vnto your pore peti[ti]oner, soe that your pore peti[ti]oner & his wyffe is Lykly to be starved for want of reliffe except yo[ur] good wor[shi]pps be pleased to Comiserate theire sad Condic[i]on &
Therefore your pore peti[ti]oner doth humbly desier your good wor[shi]pps the pr[e]misses duly Considered to grant an order that the ouersiers of the Pore within Goosnargh Afforesaid, may give to your pore peti[ti]oner soe much A weeke towards the reliffe of him and his wyffe, as your good Wor[shi]pps shall thinke fitt, & youre peti[ti]oner & his wyffe will ever pray for your wor[shi]pps health and happinesse &c
referred
xii d. and more if the Ou[erseer] see cause
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