The petition of Thomas Massy and Ellin Massy of Manchester, Lancashire, 15 September 1657
The humble petition of Thomas Massy of manchester and Ellin his wife to the gent[lemen] and Churchwardens of the same.
Gentlemen youer petitionerse make bould to acquaint you with our Age and likewise our nessesity and this are to let y[o]u vnderstand yt wee are Eigh[t]scorse yeares of Age betwixt vs within lesse then foure yeare and my lims and sight both faile mee soe tha[t] I am not able to worke and I haue had Endured for the States more then any poore man in manchester from the first to ye last of soulderinge soe longe as the towne was a garison: I had night and day: souldeors in my house & haue but onely one bay of houseinge and I had fiue sones and foure of them & my selfe all weare souldeors at a time one vnder Collonell Hollands one Compeny another vnder Collonell Edgerton one of his one Compeny: and anoth[e]r of Col[one]l John Booths one Compeny: another vnder S[i]r William Waller which was slaine, and I my selfe for ye towne I hope gent[lemen] that you will consider of it & take it into Consideration and now I am grone ould and not able to helpe my selfe to yeld mee some Releef: and wee shall as allways in duty bond pray for youer healths and happinesse
manchester this 15th
of September 1657.
Ch[urchwardens] & O[uerseers]
[Illegible]