The petition of Mary Brooks of Whittle, Lancashire, Easter 1652
To the wor[shi]pfull Rich[ard] Standish and Rob[er]t Maudesley Esq[ui]r[e]s Justices of peace w[i]th in the County Palletyne of Lancaster;
The humble petic[i]on of Mary Brooks widd[ow];
Sheweth;
That wheras Rob[er]t Broocks her late husband haueinge beene in the states s[e]ruice; first vnd[e]r the wor[shi]pfull Rich[ard] Standish, and Lastly vnd[e]r comand of Col[one]l Daniell in Scotland, where he lost his lyfe vppon the feild, and left his wyfe (yo[u]r petic[i]on[e]r) & two smale children in Whittle in Lewoods where one of his children was borne (she haueinge Liued in Whittle w[i]thout pr[e]iudice of the towen, fiue yeares last past, and now soe it is may it please yo[u]r wor[shi]ps, the Inhabitance of Whittle haue comanded yo[u]r pet[i]t[ioner] to dep[ar]t out of the towen of Whittle, w[i]th her Children, her husband beinge slaine, shee hath noe freind or repose els where, to flee or reside in, to her dolor.
The pr[e]misses Considred and in tend[e]r [sic.] of her weake and desolate Condic[i]on, shee humbly prays yo[u]r wor[shi]ps wil be pleased, she may haue some place of residence in Whittle afforesaid, where she hath soe longe Continued, for the norishment of her children, other wyse she must be constrayned to Leaue th[e] one child there borne, amongst them, w[hi]ch shee is vnwillinge to doe, if shee may haue any smale place of residence allowed her there to bringe them vpp, And yo[u]r petic[ione]r will as in all duty bound eu[e]r pray for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps health & hapinesse
Ch[urchwardens] in thar meane tyme to p[ro]uid her relieffe a place of habitac[i]on & refeeffe & she to bee retorned into the list.
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