The petition of Thomas Richardson of Canterbury (St Mildred’s Parish), City and County of Canterbury, 1693
<Citty of }>
<Canter[bury]} s[ession]s:>
To the right wor[ship]full the Maior and the rest of their Ma[jes]ties Justices of the Peace assembled at the gen[era]ll Quarter Sessions holden in the Guildhall of the said Citty, for the said Citty, & County of the same.
The humble petic[i]on of Thomas Richardson of the parish of St Mildred in the Citty of Canterbury afores[ai]d Labourer.
Sheweth,
That yo[u]r wor[shi]pps said poor pet[itione]r hath all his time (during strength and abilitie) been a great paintaker for a poor subsistancie but now being of the age of Threescore and sixteene yeares his sight much decayed, greivously afflicted with the stone strangullion, and divers other diseases, paines, and weaknesses in his body (incident to such old age) is altogether vncapable for worke, having divers wounds also in his body, w[hi]ch he receaved in fight both at Sea, & land, having been a Souldier for 40. yeares past, so that now he is reduced to extreame penury and want.
In tender Compassion whereof; he most humbly beseecheth yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps so to order it, as to enioyne the officers of the said Parish to allow him a Competent weekly Collection, for his subsistancie.
And he shall be ever thankfull to and also pray for yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps &c:
To be all[owed] 6 d. a week more untill further ord[e]r