The petition of Thomas Shearecroft of Nassington, Northamptonshire, 9 January 1676
To the R[igh]t Worsh[ip]full his Ma[jes]ties Justices Assembled att the Gen[er]all Quart[e]r Sessions of the Peace holden for the Countie of North[amp]ton[shire]
The humble petic[i]on of Thomas Shearecroft of Nassington in the Countie of North[amp]ton[shire] slater
Humbly sheweth
That yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r was formerly admitted A penc[i]oner for the seruice that hee did in the Tyme of the late warre, but soe it happening that yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r about A [illegible] yeare and halfe since vnwittingly falling into some trouble (att which Tyme hee was in Arreare of his said penc[i]on A yeare & halfes pay) hath not receiued his said penc[i]on for the Tyme since, nor his former Arreares, whereby yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r; by reason of the great losses that hee sustained in the late warres (which still lyes heauie vpon him) is very much damnified, And not able to subsist, though att all Tymes very willing and ready to follow his vocation, when by prouidence called therevnto
Yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r therefore humbly prayes that yo[u]r Wor[shi]ps would bee pleased to Ord[e]r that hee may receiue the Arreares of his said penc[i]on, And that hee may receiue the same And bee admitted to his penc[i]on for the future, whereby yo[u]r poore petitic[i]on[e]r may bee reimbursed some p[ar]te of his soe great losses formerly sustained, And his great wants & necessities vnd[e]r which hee now lyes releiued:
And yo[u]r poore petic[i]oner as in duty bound shall ever pray &c.
<Wee whose names are herevnto subscribed inhabitants of the Countie of North[amp]ton[shire], and Towne of Nassington, doe in some part know, & verily beleiue the substance of the aboue written petic[i]on to bee true.>
<William Weely vic[arius]>
<Augustine Foster }>
<William Yeats } Church Warden>
<Christopher Males }>
<John Chamberlain } Over Sears for the Poore}>
<George Welby>
<John Peake>
<Tho[mas] Williamson>
<John Barnwell>
<Nicholas Peake>
<John Hunson>
<John Northon>
<William Dillingham>
I know ye petitioner hath bin A pensioner, but I know not how, or for what Cause or reason, it hath been suspended
Jan[uary] ye 9th 1675.
Signed by me
Chr[istopher] Thursby