The petition of Margaret Johnson of Halstead, Essex, 1653
To the hon[oura]ble and wors[hip]full ye Judge and Justices assembled in the Court of Quarter Sessions for ye County of Essex
The humble petition of Margaret Johnson, A poore distressed widdow of Halstead, in the s[ai]d County
Humbly sheweth That yo[u]r pet[itione]rs husband namely Abell Johnson, hath beene from ye begining of the warres imployed in ye service of this Commonwealth, and done and p[er]formed honest, and faithfull service therein, and since that, for ye space of 4 yeares and vppwards in ye affaires of Ireland, wherin As Credibly reported, he valiantly spent his Life, in ye opposic[i]on of that grand rebellion, Leaveing yo[u]r poore pet[itione]r w[i]th two small and sickly children, to p[ro]vide for, the which for {illegible} want together {wi}th her selfe are altogether remidiless and in a deplorable sad Condic[i]on vnlesse the Clemency of this hon[oura]ble Court be extended to them.
<3 li. gratuity>
[Illegible] xx s. p[er] an[num]