The petition of Sarah verch John of Chirk, Denbighshire, 11 April 1648
To the Right worshippfull the kings ma[jes]ties iustices of the peace, at the Quarter Cessions houlden for the County of Denbigh
The Humble petition of Sarah vz John the late wife of Griffith ap Edward late of Chirke in the sayd County of Denbigh late deceased.
Humbly sheweth vnto yo[u]r worrshipps That the sayd Sarah is a poore widowe of honest life and conversation, her sayd husband Griffith ap Edward was in the service for kinge and parlament two yeares at the lest vnder Captaine Morris & good service he did (as yt is well knowen to some of the best sorte that did knowe him or that heard of him) he adventured his life for the good of the state & Comon wealth. And at last was taken prisoner by Sir John Watts (men) who was then governour of Chirke Castle & remayned in prison Twenty weeks they would take noe kynd of officer in exchange for him but theire remayned & suffered much misery & want fyndinge oportunity he further adventured his life & lept above five yards downe into a deepe trench & crushed himself very sore but nev[e]rthelesse escaped to Oswestree & having lien soe longe in misery and want, when he came vnder the ayre he died within nyne dayes next after w[hi]ch is three yeares a goe & left his sayd wife & two litle poore children destitute of any helpe & succour but what she hath of god & good people. Therefore she made bould to declare vnto yo[u]r worr[ships] her poore & distressed estate not doubting but yo[u]r worr[ships] will take some course whereby she & her children may fynd some releife & comfort & she according to her bounden duty will praye for yo[u]r worr[ships] felicity & happines & thus she prayeth for gods love
Yo[u]r worr[ships] poore petitioner
Sarah vz John
iith Aprill 1648
her husband was a servant of Sir Tho[mas] Midletons
admitted. to haue releefe.