The petition of Mary Birch of Salisbury, Wiltshire, Hilary 1652
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace for the County of Wilts[hire].
The humble petic[i]on of Mary Birch of the Citie of New Sarum widowe.
<Humbly sheweth>
That Daniell Birch yo[u]r poore Pet[itioner]s late husband hath faithfully served the States at Sea vnder the Com[m]and of Captaine Jordaine in a Ship called the Expedic[i]on As alsoe many yeares by land vnder the Com[m]and of Colonel Tomlinson & others w[i]th his owne horse & Armes As may appeare to yo[u]r wor[shi]pps by a credible Certificat now in the hands of the hono[ura]ble Colonel John Dore In w[hi]ch service yo[u]r Pet[itioner]s said husband died of his wounds in Scotland about October last leaving yo[u]r Pet[itione]r Two smale children not able to help themselues w[i]thout any maintenance for theire subsistence.
Yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r humbly desireth yo[u]r wor[shi]pps in pursuance of the Act of Parliam[en]t for the reliefe of poore widowes & Orphans whose Fathers & husbands haue lost theire liues in the States service to extend some weekelie reliefe for the maintenance of yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r & her Infant children And yo[u]r poore Pet[itione]r shall pray &c
Mary Birch
<4 li. 10 s. penc[i]on yearly from the Treasurer of the South p[ar]te>