The petition of Thomas Collier of Mottram in Longendale, Cheshire, 5 October 1650
<Com[itatus] Cestr[iae]>
<5 of Octobor>
<1650>
To the Right Wor[shi]pp[fu]ll Justices of the Peace within the County Palatine of Chester
The Humble Petition of Thomas Collier of Mottram in Longdendall in the County of Chester
Most Humbly Sheweth
Vnto your worshipps that your poore Petitioner Thomas Collier a poore Inhabitant neare Mottram in Longdendall hath beene a great paine taker and liued in good repute by Trade a wollen webster & now through age and infirmitie is not able any Longer to maintaine himselfe and wife being either of them Fowerscore yeares of age and as it hath pleased god to add more sorrow vnto his ould age, had Two sonnes vnder the Commaund of Col[one]l Duckenfi[e]ld in the last sige at Biston Casstell where in their sentrey house ran through and vtterly Burned and Consumed to Ashes which were his only stay and relife of their present mayntenance the wone sonne was maried and had a wiffe & Two small Children his wife presently Languished away and died for grife and hath left the Two Childden vpon the Charge of the Two ould people who haue sould all their substance for their relife and haueing not any mayntenance left for themselues and Two small Children but by Languishing vnder a most miserable Condition.
Therefor the request of yo[u]r poore petitioner is that yo[u]r wor[shi]pps would be pleased to take these things into yo[u]r wise & Juditious Consideraceon. And for Christ sake afford mee some speedy relife as yow in yo[u]r wisdomes shall thinke Fitt and yo[u]r poore petitioner will ever be bound to pray.
I do beleeue the sume of this petic[i]on to be true and therefore do conceaue it wold be a worke of charity if this hono[ura]ble Bench would be pleased to order this poore man some proportionable allowance out of the Assessem[en]t of the County for Maymed souldiers, orphanes & widows or otherwaies as to their wisdomes shall seeme fitt.
Fran[cis] Shelmerdine Past[o]r
<The Children to be admitted 20 s. p[er] peece & the old folkes to be p[ro]vided for by the ou[er]seers of the poore of the p[ar]ish>
<Wee the Inhabitants do Certifie the Contents to be true>
<Allex[ander] Newton>
John Vpton Liueten[an]t
Antony Reddich }
Reginald Tetlowe } Churchwardens
Jo: Etchell