The petition of Thomas Richardson of Hindley, Lancashire, 18 July 1659
To ye right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace att the generale sessions of peace holden att Ormskirke the 18th daye of July 1659
The humble petition of Thomas Richardson his wiefe & three children
Most humbly sheweth
That hee was borne & bread in the Towne of Hindley & all his ancestors & hath alsoe continued therein w[i]th his wiefe & children (saueing) the tyme that hee was a sowldier for the commonwealth of England, in England & Ireland, And albeitt yo[u]r petition[e]r hath duely paid his rents to all his Landlords in the said Towne, yet the hard hartednes of the Inhabitants of the said Towne will not p[er]mitt & suffer yo[u]r petition[e]rs to haue a howse in the said Towne of Hindley for their money, but are exposed & faine to lye in a shippon, w[hi]ch hath noe Chymney to make them a fire in to make their meate w[ith] nor to warme their children in the colde winter (for God sake) May itt pealse [sic.] yo[u]]r good w[o]r[shi]pps forth of yo[u]r tender compassion & pious charity to give order that yo[u]r poore petition[e]rs may heerein be releived, & that the Overseers of the poore & the Constables of the Towne of Hindley shall forthw[i]th p[ro]vide them a convenient howse to live in & to keepe their children from starveing death.
And yo[u]r petition[e]rs will ever pray to god for you all &c
v li. vpon officers of the p[ar]ish that molest them in there habitac[i]on w[i]thin the p[ar]ish