The petition of Margarett Smyth of Worsley, Lancashire, Epiphany 1662
To the Right ho[noura]ble Charles Earle of derbie Lo[rd] Liueten[a]n{t} of Lancashire & Cheshire, and Chamberlaine of the Countie Palatyne of Chester.
The humble Petic[i]on of Margarett Smyth widowe late wiefe of Richard Smyth late of Worseley in the Countie of Lancaster Carpenter deceased
The Petic[i]oner humblie sheweth vnto yo[u]r good Lo[rdshi]p That the Petic[i]on[er]s said late husband was a Souldier and Corporall vnder the com[m]ande of Captaine Raphe Egerton at the late Skermish neare Northwich in Cheshire where yo[u]r Lo[rdshi]p and dyu[er]se other noble p[er]sons were engaged on his Ma[jes]t[y]s behalf against Generall Lambert and his folowers, and where the Petic[i]oners said late husband {was} vnfortunatelie shott and slaine: leavinge the Petic[i]oner a po{or widow} w[i]th three sma{ll} Children and a fourth in her bellie and {no]thinge to men{tain} her & them w[i]thall. That her said late {husband} was in his {illegible} not onelie an Active experienced good {illegible} But alsoe a p[er]fe{ct} workeman in his trade & profession {illegible} sufficien{t} well meineteine himself, the Petic[i]oner {illegible} taken from {illegible} while he lived, and now by his death {illegible} pore children are exposed to extreame pou[er]tie & misery {illegible} able in Regard the Petic[i]oner is a weake sick {illegible} able to doe any worke or labo[u]r whereby to {illegible} Children.
Yo[u]r pore Petic[i]oner therefore humbly {illegible} to take her distressed estate into Conside{ration and} pleased to give order & direcc[i]on for the {illegible} weekelie or monethlie allowance for & to {illegible} Reliefe & meinten[a]nce of yo[u]r Petic[i]oner & {illegible} such and soe much as yo[u]r good Lo[rdshi]p {illegible} shall thinke meete. And for the {illegible} litle children shall (as in duet{y bound) pray} for yo[u]r good Lo[rdshi]p in all hono[u]r heal{th} {illegible} longe to {continue}
I desire the Justices of peace att the next Sessions to take the petic[i]on[e]rs sad Condic[i]on into there considerac[i]on and grant her a convenient weekly allowance out of the parish she liueth in towards the maintainance of her self and Children, and in soe doeing you will obleig
Yo[u]r very louinge Friend
Derby
Lathom 4th {illegible}
{Churchwardens} & o[verseers] & to certyfie {illegible} {mo}nthly meeting.
[Illegible]