The petition of Richard Hillersdon of Dittisham, Devon, 28 April 1685
To the worshipfull his Ma[jes]tys justices of ye peace for the county of Devon at ye Generall Sessions held for the sayd county the 28th day of Aprill Anno Dom[ini] 1685
The humble Petition of Richard Hillersdon of the parish of Dittisham in ye abouesayd county.
Humbly Sheweth
That whereas yo[u]r poor petition[e]r hath been a Souldier for about 50 years since in the Service of his late Ma[jes]ty King Charles the first of Blessed memory, under the command of S[i]r Edward Seymour Bar[one]t, and a greate part thereof Sarjeant to his owne company (in which place he still continues) And having in ye late civill warrs in his sayd Ma[jes]tys Service, received severall wounds as he lay before Plymouth, by reason of which, and the infirmitys of old age, he is become impotent and unable to get his livelyhood, yo[u]r Petition[e]r therefore humbly prayeth his Hon[oura]ble Bench to take his poor distressed condition into yo[u]r compassionate consideration, and to grant him a pension out of ye county stock sutable to his sayd office, towards his better maintenance.
And yo[u]r Petitioner shall ever pray as in duty bound &c.
I certify the truthe of this petition
Edw[ard] Seymour
Ro[ger] Pomeroy
R[icha]rd Hillersdon