The petition of Thomas Wood of Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire, 6 January 1656
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace for this Countie of Stafford
The humble petition of Thomas Wood of Bromley Abbots in the said Countie Webster
Humblie sheweth
That one Robert Welden being in the service of the parliam[en]t and headgunner at Stafford vpon the nine and Twenti[e]th day of September An[n]o d[o]m[ini] 1651 was killed in the service of the parliament, and left three poore Children two of w[hi]ch are as well motherless as fatherless, one of w[hi]ch, being quite helples, and vtterly destitute, of succour or releife yo[u]r said petitioner in tender comisseration and pittie (not haueing anie Relation to it) toake it and ever since hath to his poore abillitie mainteyned it to his vttermost power.
But yo[u]r said petitioner through age and other sad accidents beinge now disabled to mainteyne & helpe himself, is farre more vnable to be anie more assistant to the said poore orphant except
It will please yo[u]r wo[rshi]ps in tender compassion of the same to order that some pention may be allowed w[hi]ch may inable yo[u]r said petitioner to continue his former role of maintenance to the said poor child, w[hi]ch in most humble manner yo[u]r petitioner beggeth and will ever praye for yo[u]r wor[shi]ps p[ro]spertie.