The petition of Lettice Welden of Stafford, Staffordshire, September 1651
To the right wo[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of peace for the County of Staff[ord] now assembled in this p[re]sent Sessions.
The humble petic[i]on of Lettice Welden wid[ow] the Relict of Rob[er]t Welden deceased late Gunner of the garrison of Stafford.
Humbly shewes.
That whereas yo[u]r petic[i]oners said late husband hath ever bin in the Parliam[en]ts service from the beginninge of the late wars & hath served as A Gunner or Can[n]oneer in this County of Staff[ord] for the space of seven yeares, which trust shee hopes hee p[er]formed with much care & faithfulnes, till It pleased God that in the very execuc[i]on of his said office hee was most strangely & sadly wounded, whereof hee shortly after died, to ye great griefe & vtter vndoeinge of yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner & three small children unles yo[u]r wo[rshi]ps wil be pleased to tender her sad & deplorable condic[i]on.
Yo[u]r petic[i]oner therefore humbly praies that in respect her said late husband had noe estate whereby to maintaine himselfe & family but his pay & what else when hee could bee spared from yt Imploym[en]t by hee gained by day labo[u]r, & much of his pay beinge in arrere, & yo[u]r petic[i]oner beinge left in debt without any estate to maintaine her & her children.
Shee therefore humbly praies this C[our]t to take her sad case into yo[u]r tender & serious considerac[i]on & to allow & assigne yo[u]r petic[i]oner an yearly penc[i]on duringe her life, whereby shee may bee inabled to educate & bringe vp her children in the feare of God & fitted for some imployment.
And shee wil be ever bound to pray &c.