The petition of Margarett Buckley of Nantwich, Cheshire, 12 July 1653
<Countie of Chester>
To the right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace at this Sessions assembled, Holden at Namptwich the 12th of July 1653 [sic.].
The Humble Petic[i]on of Margarett Buckley widow
<Sheweth,> That yo[u]r Petition[e]rs late husband Henrie Buckley was a faithfull soldier & serv[an]t to the state vnder the Comand of Captaine Thomas Malbon, & afterwards vnder the Comand of Captaine John Delues & soe contynued whilst any seruice was to be done in these p[ar]ts; And afterwards about foure yeares agone hee went a soldier w[i]th many others of this towne for the states seruice into the North of Ireland vnder the Comand of Captaine Swannish where hee contynued vntill his death And may it please yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps at the departure of the said Henry Buckley from England hee left yo[u]r petition[e]r three children & with Child w[i]th the fourth, since which tyme yo[u]r petition[e]r hath had nothinge to mainteyne her self & her foure small children, saue onelie the charitie of a verie few well disposed p[er]sons of this towne, alsoe foure pence or six pence some tymes in six or eight weeks & sometimes in ten weeks or three months given her from the ou[er]seers of the poore of this p[ar]ish, And what your petition[e]r getts by her owne hand labor in knitting one paire of mens stockings a weeke; All w[hi]ch will not support yo[u]r petition[e]r & her foure children with half theire Liuelyhood, In so much yo[u]r petition[e]r hath byn constrayned to sell her goods & clothes at an vnder rate for want of bread, Soe that vnlesse yo[u]r wor[shi]ps bee pleased to be [illegible] mercifull vnto them they are verie like to starue.
Yo[u]r distressed petition[e]r therefore, & in respect her husband her both in England & Ireland hath longe serued the state, & for that wee now liue in the worst of tymes Charity being growne soe extreame cold, Most humblie beseecheth yo[u]r good wor[shi]ps you wold be pleased to order her a competent pension to be paid her quarterlie from the treasurer of this Countie; or such a convenient monthly allowance from the ou[er]seers of ye poore of this p[ar]ish as you in yo[u]r graue wisdomes shall thinke most expedient:
And yo[u]r petition[e]r & her miserable children will daily pray for your wor[shi]ps &c
<[illegible]>
<At Namptw[i]ch 12 July 1653>
<The Petic[i]on[e]r is to p[ro]cure a Certificate from the Church wardens & Ou[er]seers of the poore & to attend the Justices of peace at their next meeting w[i]thin the Hundred of Namptw[i]ch who are hereby desired to consider her Condic[i]on>
<H[umphrey] Milton Dep[uty] Cl[ericus] Pac[is]>