The petition of Margaret Wright of Nantwich, Cheshire, Trinity 1651
To the right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace at this Sessions assembled
The Humble Petic[i]on of Margaret Wright
Sheweth, That yo[u]r Petition[e]rs late husband Henrie Wright of Namptw[i]ch in the beginning of the warrs in Ireland went a soldier thither against those bloodie Rebells there in the Regim[en]t & vnder the Comand of that valiant gentl[eman] S[i]r Charles Vauasor; In w[hi]ch seruice S[i]r Charles made an assault against that Arch Rebell Condell his house called Cloughley Castle scituate neere Blackwater, & after his men had made seu[er]all breaches in the said Castle walls S[i]r Charles comanded eight of his soldiers (whereof yo[u]r petition[e]rs husband was one) to goe vp to the said Castle in a woodden Sowe to fire the said Castle gates But it pleased God about two roode distant from the said Castle the Sowe hapned to be turned over & yo[u]r petition[e]rs husband onely issued forth to heaue it vp againe, whoe vppon his offer soe to doe was im[m]ediately shott throw the bodie neere vnto the heart with a brace of muskett bulletts from the sayd Castle; But S[i]r Charles went on tooke the said Castle, fired it & killed all the p[er]sons hee found therein, All w[hi]ch will appeare to be true by the testimony of Sergeant John Cumberbache Sergeant Richard Jeffes, Richard Fleete & Dennis Brayne then p[re]sent & now living.
Yo[u]r petition[e]r in respect her deceased husband left her w[i]th child w[i]th a boy w[hi]ch shees vnable to mainteyne, but since his birth hath put the charge of him vppon his grandfather whoe thereby is much impou[er]ished, & for that others vppon yt seruice receiue yearly pension most humbly beseecheth yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps to order & allow her an yearely pension for the liuelyhood & bringing vp of her Child;
And yo[u]r petition[e]r as in duty bound will eu[er] pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps &c
<absent>
<20 s. p[er] Ann[um] for the bringing vp of the Child from the Trea[sure]r>