The petition on behalf of Ann Forster of Eccleston, Lancashire, 6 October 1651
<Att the quarter Sessions at Wigan 6o Octob[e]r 1651.>
To the right wor[shi]p[fu]ll the Justices of peace & Quor[um] for the County of Lancaster.
The humble petic[i]on of the Cunstables and inhabitants of the towne of Eccleston within Prescott Parish.
Sheweing
That one Mathew Forster now a soldier in seruice for the Parliament & out of the Countrey had a Chyld borne in Eccleston aforesaid about 6 weeks agoe namely Ann Foster.
That the mother of the said Chyld namely Mary Foster dyed about fourteene daies agoe.
That neither the said father nor mother of the said Chyld haue left any thing towards maintenance or releef of the same.
That the said Chyld hath not anie Frends or familie neyther greandfather nor grandmother of either of ability Livinge & Chargeable to mainteine it. But the said towne of Eccleston haue releeued it since the death of its said mother the Charge wherof amounted to fyve s shillings [sic.]
Whereffore yo[u]r petic[i]oners humbly pray yo[u]r worships (the premisses Considered) to order at this pr[e]sent Sessions that from the tyme of the death of the said Mary Foster the mother the said Chyld namely Anne Forster may at the generall Charge of the said Parish of Prescott be releeued & mainteyned according to the Statute in that case made & prouyded and the said towne of Eccleston not wholly burthened therwith. And yo[u]r petitioners as howeuer in duty bound will daylie pray &c.
Ch[urchwardens] & ou[er]seers to prouid
[illegible]