The petition of Robert Elston of Drewsteignton, Devon, Midsummer 1687
To the right Wor[shipfu]ll his Ma[jes]ties Justices of the peace of & for the County of Devon now assembled att this pr[e]sent Midsom[e]r Sessions att ye Castle of Exon
The humble petition of Robert Elston of Drewsteington in the said County
Shewing that yo[u]r petit[ione]r in the Late vnhappy Warr in the Raigne of our Late Sou[e]raigne Lord King Charles the First, of ever blessed Memory in the begining thereof, became a Listed Sould[ie]r in his Ma[jes]ties S[e]rvice vnd[e]r the Com[m]aund of Captain Thomas Fulford Esq[ui]r & afterward became a Cornett of A Troop of horse in his Ma[jes]ties Service, vnd[e]r the Com[m]aund of Captaine Edmond Church, and there continued vntil the End of that Warr & by his Forwardness to Serve his Ma[jes]tie received Seu[er]all Shotts & wounds from his Enemies, w[hi]ch are now visible, & to yo[u]r Pet[itione]r very troublesome, soe that by reason of the great Hardship w[hi]ch yo[u]r petit[ione]r Endured in his Ma[jes]ties Service for the Space of almost Seaven Yeares, & his wounds w[hi]ch he then received becomeing more troublesome, by reason of Old Age comeing vpon him, yo[u]r pet[itione]r is Driven into Poverty & not able to Subsist
Wherefore yo[u]r petition[e]r most humbly prays yo[u]r wor[shi]ps to take the Pr[em]isses into Considerac[i]on & to afford him a Pension, as for a Maimed Sould[ie]r for his Support & livelihood now in his old Age
And yo[u]r petit[ione]r shall ever pray &c.
<We beleive this petition is true>
Rowland Whiddon Will[iam] Reade, Rect[o]r of Drewsteignton
Jo[hn] Northcote John Ponsford. Church-warden
Will[iam] Painsford John Paddiscombe
William Ponsford Robert Sloman
Daniell Hodd[e]r William Ponsford
John Spencer Andrew Pound
John Jowell Samson Mortymore
Robert Smale John Seaward
[Overleaf:]
40 s. p[er] annum & 5 s. in hand