The petition of Margaret Sharrocke of Standish, Lancashire, 11 April 1650
To the honorable Barron Rigbye one of the cheife Justices of the g[e]nerall Assizes holden att Lan[caster] the 8th of Aprill; Anno D[o]m[in]i 1650 stilo angliae
The humble petition of Margaret Sharrocke & her 2 smale children almost starued to death & living in the parish of Standish.
Most humbly sheweth
That yo[u]r petitioners husband att Midsomer last or there aboutes went with Captaine Goodman into Ireland a sowldier for & in the Parliament and Stats service & hath bin a constant sowldier vnder the said Parlament & states service ever since the warrs began in England.
Yo[u]r petitioners husbands father hath made & conveied away all his present tenement soe that yo[u]r petitioner hath nothing to keepe her self & her twoe children, but is glad to beg their bread. Her husband & her 2 children were boarne & breadd on the said tenement, & is the Eldest sonn [sic.].
May itt therefore please yo[u]r honnor to give order to the church wardens & over seers of the poore of the said parish to allowe her some present Maintaunance or els that shee may haue som allowance forth of the said tenement, to keepe her selfe & her 2 children from starueing. And shee will ever pray to god for yo[u]r honnor.
Aprill the 11th 1650.
Lett the Justices of peace att the nexte Sessions, take Care that the peitc[i]o[ne]r haue a resonable Allowance Either oute of her husbands fathers Estate or from the parishe soe that shee maye not starue.
I refer the petico[ne]r to the Care of the ouerseeres of the poore within the said parishe of Standishe that prouision bee made for her & her children Accordinge to the Statute And to Certefye there proceedings att the nexte Assizes.
Alex[ander] Rigby.