The petition of Thomas Bushton of North Molton, Devon, October 1660
To the Hon[oura]ble Court Holden at the Castle of Exon for the County of Devon
The humble Petition of Thomas Bushton of the p[ar]ish of North Molton w[i]th in the County aforesaid
<Sheweth>
That whereas yo[u]r poore Petition[e]r haueing served his late Ma[jes]tie King Charles the first of Famous Memory in the vnhappie Civill wars for Dyvers yeares Lately past w[i]th all faithfullnesse & honesty vnder the Comande of Captayne John Richeson in the Regiment of Collonell S[i]r John Digby in w[hi]ch Service yo[u]r poore petition[e]r was forty weekes in Pendynes Castle when the said Castle was beseig[e]d beside his Tedious Imprysonm[en]t in Plymouth for Twenty Seaven weekes {two illegible words} reciving Dyvers Dangerous Wounds in his Right Arme & Thigh & his Left Legg And alsoe receiveing one vnhappie Wound in the Face by reason whereof he lost the sight of his Right Eye, by all w[hi]ch meanes yo[u]r poor petition[e]r is Much disabled in getting a Livelyhood for the Competent releife of hymselfe his wife & Three Smale Children
These pr[e]misses Considered The Humble request of yo[u]r poore Petition[e]r is that this Hon[oura]ble Court wil be pleased out off their pious Care & Clemancy towards the poore to p[ro]cure for yo[u]r poore Petition[e]r such a yearly Pention out of the Com[m]on Stocke for Maymed Soudlyers as this Hon[oura]ble Court Shall seeme fitt & Agreeable to his former Sufferings & pr[e]sent Condic[i]on And yo[u]r poore Petition[e]r as in duty bound Shall Ever pray for yo[u]r Welfer here & Eternall Happynesse hereafter
Wee whose names are Subscribed Inhabytants w[i]thin the p[ar]ish of North Molton doe Humbly Certyfye that yo[u]r poore Petition[e]r aboue named was for Fower or Five yeares, as According to his Petition, in his Late Ma[jes]ties Service & therein received Dyvers greivous Wounds Beside his Two years Imprysonment this to o[u]r Knowledge is very True Humbly beseeching this Hon[oura]ble Court in this poore Petitio[ne]rs behalfe to Consider of the pr[e]misses
Edward Mooreman
William Cottay
Tho[mas] Pyncombe
Tho[mas] Mooreman Con[sta]ble
Richard Gould
Jo: Muxworthie
W[illia]m Pasmoore
Gregory Glasse
Richard Abbott
Robert Abbott
Christopher Shapland
Peter Slader
Richard Mooreman
Jo[hn] Ziale
W[illia]m Dee
Jo: Mosse
W[illia]m Thorne
Rob[er]t Davys Sen[io]r
Rob[er]t Davys Jun[io]r
Gregory Collay
John Read
Rich[ard] Storrman
John Landy
John Burges
Jo: Jenckins minist[e]r
Michaell Slader } then Con[sta]bles
Christo[pher] Mooreman } when prest
John Squires }
John Sheward } Churchwardens
Hugh Pyke
John Peters
Mich[ael] Mosse
John Stephens[o]n
Jo: Williams
John Hunt
Rob[er]t Smyth Con[sta]ble p[ro] temp[ore]
John Tucker
To this peticioner 10 s.
<Thomas Bushton>