The petition of Thomas Oulton of Nantwich, Cheshire, Trinity 1651
To the right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the Peace at the Quarter Sessions of the peace houlden at Namptwich for the County of Chester.
The humble Petic[i]on of Thomas Oulton a maimed Souldier.
Humbly sheweth
That vpon a former Petic[i]on pr[e]ferred vnto this worshipp[fu]ll Bench your Petic[i]oner had a smalle stipend of Forty Shillings p[er] Annu[m] allowed towards his maintainance. But now yo[u]r petic[i]oner groweing aunciente and by reason of the many dangerouse wounds hee hath receiued and the very much blood that hee hath lost in the late warres (wherein hee was a constant faithfull Souldier for the space of Seaven yeares together vnder the Com[m]aund of Colonell William Massie in the Freehould Band of Namptwich Hundred) yo[u]r petic[i]oner is altogether vnable to indure hard labor but is constrained to continue a Souldier at this present in the Garrison at Chester neither hath hee any other meanes or way of subsistance. And therefore humbly prayeth
That yo[u]r worshipps will bee graciousely pleased to add some such Augmentac[i]on to your Petic[i]oners former penc[i]on as you haue donn to other his Fellow Souldiers in like Condic[i]on and as in yo[u]r goodnesse you shall think fitt and convenient for him.
And as in duty bound hee will euer pray for yo[u]r happinesse &c.
<Continue the former Penc[i]on>
Wee whose names bee subscribed make bould to Certifie that the substance of this petic[i]on is truthe.
Will[iam] Massie
Thomas Massie
Law[rence] Bressie.