The petition of Margaret Whewall of Stockport, Cheshire, Easter 1650
The humble Petic[i]on of Margaret Whewall the Relict of John Whewall dec[eas]ed
To the r[igh]t wor[shi]p[fu]ll Justic[e]s of the peace for the Countie of Chester.
Humblie shewing
That yo[u]r pore petic[i]o[ne]rs said husband was slaine in the service of the p[ar]liam[en]t vnd[e]r the Comand of Col[onel] Bright at the takeing in of Selbey to the vtter overthrow of yo[u]r pore petic[i]o[ne]r being left a pore widow & six small children.
That yo[u]r petic[i]o[ne]r hath nothing to mayntayn herselfe and children w[i]thall and is by reason of age and want of eie sight vnable to worke towards obtayning of mayntenance for herselfe or them besyds shee is threatned every day to be turned out of dores by her Landlord because she hath not wherew[i]th to satisffie him a small rent shee stands ingaged to paie vnto him.
The p[re]misses considered and for that vnles some course be shortly held & taken for her supply shee must inevitably be cast away through want and p[er]ish her humble request therfore to this ho[noura]ble Bench is that the Tre[asure]r for Macclesfeild hundred (wherein this petic[i]o[ne]r lives) may be ordered to yeeld and paie such and so much money so and in such manner as in yo[u]r grave wisdomes shall seeme meete and expedient & she & her pore children as in duty is bound will therefore pray &c.
Wee the Maior and others Inhabit[ant]s of Stockport whose names are subscribed make bold to attest the truth of the pr[e]misses
Thomas Harlley
Thomas Johnson John Bradley
Michael Parker Rob[er]te Houghe
Edward Harper William Swindes
John Hilma[n] Francis Newtonn
<40tie 50tie shillings yearely the first paym[en]t to begin at Midsom[e]r next>