The petition of Rachell Johnson of Bulwick, Northamptonshire, 16 May 1668
To ye hono[ura]ble ye Justices of ye Peace for the County of North[amp]ton[shire].
Humbly
Shewinge that yo[u]r Peticioner Rachell Johnson of Bullwicke in ye County of North[amp]ton[shire] late widdow of Humphry Johnson deceased, who serued his late Ma[jes]tie Charles ye first of ever blessed memorie, in ye late vnhappie warres & was slaine in his Ma[jes]ties service in the office of a Quartermaster gen[er]all of ye lifegard of the then Prince, And now Kinge Charles ye Second, vnder the Conduct of Collonel Traver, which place was conferred vppon him, for his Loyalty & good service done in ye said warres by reason of w[hi]ch said service his wife & family was seu[er]all tymes, plundered & vtterly ruinated by the Contrary p[ar]te, soe that yo[u]r peticioner is left in a deplorable condition, she not beinge able, in respect of her age & impotency, nor hath beene for seu[er]all yeares past, to gaine any thinge towards her liuelehood, but is likely to perish.
May it therefore please yo[u]r hon[ou]ers the premises considered to take your peticioner into yo[u]r pious considerac[i]on amongest other distressed widdowes of her like Condition, there not beinge any fitter obiect of yo[u]r Compassions & as dayly bounded shee shall ever pray &c.
In confirmatc[i]on of the truth hereof wee her Neighbours & Inhabitants of Bullwicke, haue herevnto subscribed o[u]r names May ye 16th 1668.
John [?Rassill]
Walter Exton
Henry Stafford
John Hotines
John [?Hiean]
Ralph Exton
Phillip Ellis
William Happam
Nathaniell [?Leaueratt]
Henry Cornewell
Will[iam] Watts
Henery Willkeson}
Richard Coy} Constables
Edward Drake}
Abram Robeson} Churchwardens
<Accordinge to a former order of sessions to vs directed we did consider of this poore widdows pention and did allowe of it>
<Cullen>
<R[oger] Norwich>
G[eorge] Tresham>
<yt the ou[er]seers of Bullwicke to pay her x s. ye quarter from ye tyme former order for yt allowance & to continue it till further order from Mich[aelm]as Sessions 1668.>
<Allowed>
<The p[ar]ish of Bullwicke ordered to pay 10 s. a quarter till cause shewed to the Contrary>