The petition of Margaret Brayne of Nantwich, Cheshire, Easter 1655
To the Right wor[sh]ip[fu]ll the Justices of peace at the Quarter Sessions assembled
The humble Petic[i]on of Margret Brayne of Namptw[i]ch widdow
<Sheweth>
That whereas dureing the life of Dennis Brayne her late husband shee inioyed a Competent liuelyhood w[i]thout being Chargeale to others, hee haueing an house granted to him by the Lady Norton during his life and alsoe hee being a maymed Souldier obtayned an Annuall penc[i]on of Forty shillings, and by other lawfull meanes & paynes takeing of her s[ai]d late husband: of w[hi]ch liuelyhood by his death shee is vtterly depriued, and now exposed to want in her old age, whereby shee is not onely disabled to take any habitac[i]on for the future to dwell in, but alsoe to mayntayne herselfe w[i]th food and Apparell, w[i]thout the greate Celemency & Charity of others
May it therefore please yo[u]r wor[sh]ipps to grant yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r the afores[ai]d Annuall penc[i]on lately payable to her s[ai]d husband or the greatest parte thereof, to bee Continued vnto her for her releife and mayntenance, or otherwise to affoard vnto her such Releife as to yo[u]r wisdomes shall seeme most fitt
And shee will pray &c
wee whose Names are subscribed Inhabitants of Namptw[i]ch doe make bould to Certifie that wee beleiue the most of ye Contents of his petic[i]on are true
Rog[er] Wilbram
G[abriell] Wetenhall
Richard Jackson Cl[e]r[ic]us
Rich[ard] Wright
John Delues
Thomas Malbon Jun[ior]
John Ravenscroft }
Humphrey Sparrow} Church Wardines
J[ohn] Bromhall
<1 li. a yeare penc[i]on>