The petition of Richard Overton of Leek, Staffordshire, 4 October 1653
To the Com[m]itte[e] of the towne & County of Stafford, the humble Petic[i]on of Richard Overton of Leeke.
Sheweth
That whereas y[ou]r petic[i]on[e]r in service of Kinge & Parliament, receiued many woundes (as the scarres upon his body doe shew) upon which hee lay the space of a yeare & halfe or thereabout, before hee could be so cured as to bee enabled to gett any p[ar]t of his liueinge, and hath att this day a bullet within him to his great greiuance, and was behind in arreares 8th eight shillings
You would bee pleased out of your pitty, and compassion to take into considerac[i]on the case of your poore petic[i]on[e]r; and to p[ro]cure him both his arreares, and what more you in you [sic.] discretion shall thinke meet for a maimed souldier towards his maintenance, The rather because hee is not able to gett his owne liueinge as formerly; and hath beene much prejudiced & damaged all that time in his poore state, wherein hee could gett nothinge att all; whereby hee is necessitated to become burdensome to ye state; [illegible] And for your charity herein shewed towards your poore petic[i]on[e]r, hee shall stand obliged to pray &c:
E. Bownes
Francis Bowyer
Thom[as] Baylye Tho[mas] Gent
Thomas Hamersley
<Rich[ard] Overton>