The petition on behalf of James Roskell of Hesketh Bank, Lancashire, Midsummer 1656
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the peace & quor[um] Assembled at the gen[er]all quarter sessions of ye peace At Orm[skir]ke in the County of Lanc[aster]
The humble petic[i]on of Edward Hunt yeoman for and on the behalfe of James Roskell an Infant of the Age of Seaven yeares or there abouts
Sheweth that Robert Roskell deceased late father to ye s[ai]d Infant (haueing heretofore for ye tyme of 17 or 18 yeares together with Ann his then wife Lived in Heskethbancke in ye p[ar]ish of Croston) was about six yeares synce pr[e]ssed for a souldier to serve for Hesketh banck aforesaid in ye late s[e]rvice of Ireland in w[hi]ch s[e]rvice he dyed leaveing ye s[ai]d infant in Hesketh Banck with his mother (who is since also deceased) And that vpon applicac[i]on made about two yeares since (in ye said Infants behalfe) to the Justices of the peace at a q[ua]rter sessions at Preston they then there made an order that the said Infant should be manteyned & brought vpp in Hesketh Banck aforesaid from whence & for ye s[e]rvice whereof ye said Robert Roskell was pr[e]ssed as afores[ai]d but ye said Towne of Hesketh banck hath neglected to make provision for ye s[ai]d Infant accordingly the said Robert being dead in yt s[e]rvice And the poore infant (for want of allowance) hath beene enforced to wander vpp & downe begging for his liveing and as now in great want & poverty and in danger of starveing vnle[s] yo[u]r good wor[shi]pps doe yeild Releefe therein
The pr[e]misses Considered may it please yo[u]r wor[shi]pps to examine ye matter & to issue forth yo[u]r Comand to the Towne of Heske[th] Banck afores[ai]d or ye p[ari]sh afores[ai]d for ye releefe & manteynance of ye s[ai]d Infant or otherwise to p[ro]ceed therein as to Law & Justice shall app[er]teyne And yo[u]r petition[e]r (in the behalfe of the said Infant) shall pray &c
to bee brought to the Ch[urchwardens] & Ou[erseers] & expresly to take Care of Child & give an accompt at the next privy s[essions].
[Illegible]