The petition of Margaret Wilson of Colne, Lancashire, Midsummer 1651
To the right wo[rshipfu]ll the Justices of Peace att the Sessions holden at Preston.
The humble pettition of Margaret Wilson
Humbly Sheweth.
That yo[u]r poore pettic[i]oners husband beinge a poore man and getting his liveinge by his hard industrie & paynes whereby he maintayned yo[u]r petticoner & her Child without any burthen or charge to the Countrye Travellinge from the Market att this Towne homewards towards Colne where he inhabited att Longridge was stayed in the beginning of June last & was imprest for a soulider to serue for the Towneshippe of Alston and Hathersall. Soe that thereby yo[u]r poore pettic[i]oner beinge now great with Child and haveinge a nother litle one to keepe is likely to starue beinge exposed to extreame miserie haueing nothinge in all this universe for their present livelyhood but the Charitable benevolence of good people. And now your pettic[i]oner being restrayned to trauell and her husband gone, who was a staffe of bread vnto her is now likely to perish.
May it therefore please yo[u]r good Worshipps to take into yo[u]r pious Considerac[i]on the poore and lamentable of Condic[i]on of yo[u]r petticoner who is now a degree belowe misierie it selfe. And to grant such order as in yo[u]r godly wisdoms may be thought fite to the end that the Townshippe of Alston cum Hothersall may relieue in some smale maner yo[u]r deiected and poore petticoner and her heavye Charge. And yo[u]r petticoner shal be euer bound to
praye
Ch[urchwardens] & ouerseers of Calne parishe.