The petition of Richard Williamson of Frodsham, Cheshire, Easter 1656
To the Worshipfull the Justices of Peace of the county of Chester the humble petic[i]on of Richard Williamson of Frodsham Labourer.
Sheweth vnto yo[u]r wor[shi]pps yo[u]r said poore petic[i]oner That at the beginning of the late Civill warres in England hee was possessour of a dwelling howse of three Bayes of building scituate neer vnto the Westward end of the stone Bridge ouer weever which said howse was in the yeare of o[u]r Lord 1643 pulled downe and vtterly demolished by the souldiery on the States p[ar]te for the better securing of their p[er]sons from the shott of their and the States enemies to the great dammage of yo[u]r poore petitioner who to this day was never able to erect another place of habitac[i]on for harbour to him and his wife being both aged p[er]sons: And to aggrauate his losse yo[u]r yo[u]r petic[i]oner is bereaued of the supporte which hee hoped for from his two sonns the one of them being slaine in the States seruice in Ireland and the other after many yeares continuance in the same seruice, lost his eye sight therin and is now alsoe dead. One of them served vnder Collonell William Daniell the other (before his going for Ireland) serued vnder Captaine Thomas Brooke.
Now the humble supplication of yo[u]r poore petitioner is that you will bee pleased to take the pr[e]mises into yo[u]r fauourable consideration and of yo[u]r prompt inclinations to com[m]iserate the miserable to afford him yo[u]r warrant for a yearly pension towardes his meantenance now in his old age (hee being therby disabled to earne his living by handie labour as formerly) Soe yo[u]r wor[shi]ps poore Oratour shall ever bee bound to pray &c
We whose names are vnder written doe testefie the truth of this petition
Tho[ma]s Latham
Thomas [?Chabock]
Thomas Hall
John Hatton
James Gerrard
Thomas Higson
James Cokayne
Robert Pyke
John Hall
Rich[ard] Nangreaue
Richard Smith
Robert Ireland
Peter Hall
Robert Bosier
Tho[mas] Nangreaue
Richard Weston
Edward [Illegible]
Rich[ard] Heath
Rich[ard] Hale
Deborah Littlemore
<The truth of this petition, w[hi]ch the lamentable condition of the poore Petitioner, is very well knowne to and much pittied by>
<H[enry] Brooke>
<the Churchward[ens]: & ou[er]seers to assist him in building a Cottage>