The petition of Richard Stockman of Taunton (St James’s Parish), Somerset, 13 July 1652
To the right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the Peace &c now assembled att the Sessions held att the Castle of Taunton for the Countie of Som[e]rsett
The humble petic[i]on of Richard Stockman of Taunton James in the Countie aforesaid weaver:
Sheweth
That yo[u]r pet[itioner] is a very poore impotent man, and hath been a constant Souldier in the States service vnder the seu[er]all com[m]ands of Capt[ain] Burridge and Capt[ain] Gill, And yo[u]r pet[itioner] having receiued a Shott through the Shoulder during the Seiges ag[ain]st the Towne of Taunton and induring many meseries besides during the late Warres, that your pet[itioner] by meanes thereof is now maymed, and not able to gett his liuelyhood. Soe that w[i]thout your Wor[shi]pps consideracon herein your pet[itioner] is like to p[e]rish w[i]th his poore aged wife.
In regarde whereof yo[u]r pet[itioner] doth earnestly and humbly desire yo[u]r wor[shi]pps to take his deplored Estate into yo[u]r mercifull considerac[i]on, That an order may bee made for yo[u]r pet[itioner’s] p[re]servac[i]on (he beeing a maymed Souldier) according to lawes in that case made & p[ro]vided or other wise as yo[u]r wisdomes may thinke fitt, And yo[u]r pet[itioner] shall eu[er] pray &c
Wee whose names are subscribed to testifie that this petic[i]on is truth
Will[iam] Gill
John Wyatt