The petition of Susan Fish of Newbold, Lancashire, 13 October 1653
To the R[igh]t Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace and Quorum sitting in seissons at Manchester October 13th 1653
The humble Pettic[i]on of Susan Fish late of Newbold in Radchdale p[ar]ish in the Countie of Lancaster widow.
Humbley Sheweth
That wheareas yo[u]r petition[e]rs lat husband being an inlisted souldier (in the States Service) for Scotland, and off that Countrey dissease died above 2 yeares agoe, leaving at that time yo[u]r pettition[e]rs and 4 small Children, and not any thing wherewith to maintaine them nor her, but yo[u]r petition[e]r[s] friends Comiserating her and her Childrens sad condic[i]on, tooke from her 2 off her children, and to this pr[e]sent continue yet to maintaine them, and aboute the 25th off March last past, the Church wardens and ou[er]seers of the said p[ari]sh, have taken one other Child and maintaine itt, but yo[u]r petticioner hath maintained the other Child whilst shee had any goods to sell, having not any other way of livelie hood, then goeing to service; (and yet owes Katheren Newbald widow for keeping off yo[u]r pettition[e]rs fourth Child, the sume off Thirtie eight shillings) w[hi]ch yo[u]r pettition[e]r doeing service will scarce Maintayne yo[u]r pet[itione]r and her fourth Child w[i]th Aparell, yo[u]r petti[t]ioner received for 2 months together the paye allowed to poore widowes (by the p[ar]liament) whose husbands butt never had any more.
Therefore
Humbly pray yo[u]r good worships considering the pr[e]mises & the miserable condicion of yo[u]r pettic[i]oners (iff not by your goo{d} {illegible} Co{m}iserate and releeved to gr{illegible}