The petition of Margarett Bradshaw of Middlewich, Cheshire, Epiphany 1647
<Com[itatus] Cestr[iae]>
To the right hon[oura]ble the deputie Leiffe[te]n[an]ts of this County at Knuttesford or Els where
The humble petic[i]on of Margarett Bradshaw widdow
Humbly sheweth that yo[u]r poore petic[i]oners husband John Bradshaw deceased was a souldier vnder Collonell Croxton all this tyme of warr for the service of king & p[ar]liament till the seige att Litchfield where he gott such an extreame cold that sett him into a Consumption w[hi]ch held him in a Languishing & diing Condic[i]on aboue a yeare & halfe & exhausted all that small meanes w[hi]ch he had to maintaine him w[i]th food & physick, soe that now yo[u]r petic[i]oner hath nothing left to maintaine her selfe & two small Children besids the case is more Lamentable in regard yo[u]r petic[i]oner (through gods visitation of the towne of Middlewich) was forced to for sake her owne habitation and is exposed to much hardship for want of such necessaries as otherwise she might haue enjoy’d there.
The premises considered (right hon[oura]ble) yo[u]r petic[i]oner humbly desireth yo[u]r order to the sequestratirs [sic.] of Northwich hundred, & to grant her so much reliefe as may be best agreeable to yo[u]r wisdomes & yo[u]r petic[i]oners necessity and in soe doeing yo[u]r petic[i]oner will pray for the wellfare of yow & yo[u]rs long to continue.
<The Continuance of 3 s. 4 d. p[er] weeke vntill further order>