The petition of William Punchard of Totnes, Devon, Epiphany 1649
To the Right Wor[shipfu]ll Justices assembled att this Generall Sessions houlden for the Countye of Devon
The humble petic[i]on of William Punchard of Tottnes Cordwiner:
Humbly sheweth that whereas yo[ur] peticoner haue borne Armes in the Parliam[en]ts service in Dartmouth att the Seidge thereof about 5 or 6 yeares sithence att his own Cost & Charges & Came home by the Benifitt of the Articles: after whose returne home hee was tossed to and fro in regard hee could not take the p[ro]testation: to his vtter vdoeing: and then by help of some frinds was sett vpp in Trading againe soe that by gods blessings and his owne indutrye hee Lived in good esteeme vntill the Late Contagion in Tottnesse and deadnesse of Trading hee hath Lost the some of 30 or 40 li. (And whereas theire Lyes in Arreares the some of 4 li. And odd monye in the hande of one Mr Georg Coaker neere Newton who is desirous that yo[u]r pet[itioner] should haue the saide monye towards the releife of himselfe his wife and familye who hath heretofore keept divers servants and Apprintices att worke is now destitute of them all wanting a stocke to Trade vppon) and Like to bee vtterlye vndon without yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps releife:
The pr[e]misses Considdered yo[u]r poore pet[itioner] doe humbly intreat yo[u]r Wor[shi]pps to grant yo[u]r Order vnto the said Mr Croaker for the Arrears aforesaide and yo[u]r poore pet[itioner] as dutye bindeth shall daylie praye &c: