The petition of William Dodd of Malpas, Cheshire, 15 July 1651
To the honnor[a]bl[e] and right woor[shipfu]ll the Justices of Peace at the gennerall Sessions houlden at Wichmalbancke July the 15th Anno D[o]m[ini] 1651
The humble petic[i]on of William Dodd of Malpas
Sheweth vnto this honnor[a]bl[e] Bench That yo[u]r peic[i]o[ne]r is a poore decayed Tradesman having lived (and maynteyned his wife and tenn children) in good fame and credditt amongst his neighbours all his life tyme not beeinge anywayes troublesome vnto them And nowe by reason of there ould age and the losses they haue susteyned by theise late Troblesome tymes and the great Charge of children the[y] haue had are nowe fallen into Povertye and decay And beeinge commanded from his howse into the Parliam[en]t service hee Beeinge a Sadler to serve vnder the command of Maior gennerall Mitton for the space of fower yeares in w[hi]ch tyme by reason of his absence his dwellinge howse was fallen to decay and much ruined by the Cavilleires And yo[u]r petic[i]o[ne]r beeinge not able to repaire or support the same it Consistinge of 3 or 4 Bayes of buildinge is lately fallen downe to the ground w[hi]ch they are not able to build vp againe but are like to p[er]ish and starve this wynter for lacke of a howse or habitacion to shelter themselves in vnlesse yo[u]r honno[u]rs out of yo[u]r abundant goodnes and clemencie doe extend some releife and comfort vnto them in this their extreame want and misserie.
Theerfore may it please this honnor[a]bl[e] Bench to consider yo[u]r poore petic[i]on[e]r[’s] sad Condic[i]on and to giue directions on his Beehalfe, for a Collection or Charitable Contribusion in this County in the seu[er]all p[ar]ish Churches theerein or what p[ar]te theereof yo[u]r honnors shal bee pleased to graunt for the buildinge vp of the sayd howse or other wise to order him some releife as yo[u]r honnors in yo[u]r grave wisdomes shall seeme meete and yo[u]r peticio[ne]r his wife and children will ever pray for yo[u]r honnors.
Wee whose names are subscribed doe certifie vnto yo[u]r honnors that wee Conceiue and beeleiue the sugestion of this petition to bee true and humblie Intreat yo[u]r honnors on the beehalfe of this poore man to haue some worke of Charritie extended vnto him in this his great necessitie all w[hi]ch wee submitt to yo[u]r honnors and take leaue to remayne yo[u]r honnors at command.
a Letter of request to the Ministers of Broxon hundred
Georg Mainwaring
William Holland
John Haston, a RandBolster Tho[mas] Dod:
Roger Jones Edw[ard] Wright
Tho[mas] Caulldwell Junior John Wilbraham
William Hopton Roger Tyrer
Thomas Powell Richard Jenkes
Tho[mas] Cooke senior Thomas [symbol: mark] Cadwell
Vrian Orton John Jeffray
Will[iam] Bradshawe Hugh Hopley sen[ior]
Thomas Bradshall Eggerton Breet
John Peires John Mason Edward Bathoe
John Broe Constables