The petition on behalf of the children of Richard Jackson of Wyresdale, Lancashire, 22 April 1650
<Aprill the xxiith>
To the Right Wor[shi]pp[fu]ll the Staites Justic[e]s of Peace and Quor[um] vppo[n] the Bench at Lanc[aste]r
The humble Petic[i]on of seu[er]all Inhabitants w[i]thin the Forest of Wyresdale in the behalfe of fowre Orphants sonnes of Richard Jackson of Wyresdale deceassed laite Souldier vnd[e]r Capt[ain] Waller.
<Humbie Shew>
That in the lyfe tyme of the abouesaid Richard Jackson and Isabell his Wyffe the afores[ai]d Orphants were orderlie and hansomlie keept and maintained forth of smales meanes and by the great industrie of the s[ai]d Orphants Laite Parents free from beggeinge or troubleinge anie theire Neighbo[u]rs. And since theire deaths beinge left in tender yeares in great debts or smale meanes and little able to helpe theime selves are and wil bee vtterlie overthrowne and constrained to begg, except this Wor[shi]p[fu]ll Bench out of Christian mercie take some care for theire future maintenance.
May it therfore please this Wor[shi]p[fu]ll Bench
That [illegible] twoe of the fower Children w[hi]ch may best seeme pleasinge may bee taken to bee of the Poore of the Parish and to have allow[e]d theime what maintenance this Wor[shi]p[fu]ll Bench shall thinck meete. The smale estaite afores[ai]d being intended for the paym[en]t of the Parents debts and the pr[e]sent maintenance of the oth[e]r twoe Orphants. And yo[u]r Petic[i]oners herevnd[e]r subscribed will daylie pray &c
Tho[mas] Clayton
John Fox
Tho[mas] Fox
Thomas Jackson
William Hathernowarth his mark
James Hathornth
Thomas Bamber
Ch[urchwardens] & ou[er]seers to examyn whether the estate will fund them all yf not then to p[ro]vide for them according to lawe
[Illegible]