The petition of William Manchester of Radcliffe, Lancashire, Easter 1653
To your most Worshipfull Gentle Men & Justices of the peace of the County of the Lanc[ashire] & Hundred of Salford all health and happines
The humble request of me William Manchester of Radcliffe who at this present is become a poore petitioner vnto your Worships for helpe & some reliffe in this my distresse: I your humble petitioner being a poore man liuing one my handy labor & our trade in time of wars being altogether downe I tooke vp Armes for the Parliament of England and at our going against Wigan at the very first time, I sustained a hurt vppon my brest which could neuer be cured cleane whole to this day – yet indeed it pleased God to moue in the herts of those in the state Pub[l]ique that I haue receiued at twise either time a small p[ar]cell of money & for ought I can heare I must neuer haue more. And for my relife w[i]thin my owne p[ar]ish wherein it is well knowne how now I am become a widdower my wife lying long sicke one a languishing disease deceased and left me mighty poore in great distrese & vnable to maintaine my selfe yet she left me 2 small Children – and that which is laid for me & mine in our poore booke I haue kept from me by our Church wardens – and now therfore I being driuen into so great distresse that I am forced now to Complaine to your Worshipe for some helpe in this my miserable Condition & your poore petitioner will daily pray for your health & happy successe:
Ch[urchwardens] & Ou[er]seers vntill {illegible}