The petition on behalf of the children of William Thornely of Hyde, Cheshire, 22 January 1650
To the Right worship[fu]ll the Justices of the peace at the Quarter sessions houlden at Chester the 22th of January 1649
The humble petition of the Inhabitants of Hyde on the behalfe of the Orphans and Fatherlesse Children of William Thorneley late of Hyde in the County afforesaid.
Humbly Shew that whereas th[e] afforesaid William Thornely beinge a neighbour borne and brought vp in our sayd Towne who by his care and diligence in his vocation and callinge did mantaine himselfe wiffe and childrenn [sic.] without beinge burdensome or chargeable to any vntill such tyme as these vnhappy diuisions and distractions of the kingdome did aryse, by reason whereof for the seruice of the parlam[en]te he the sayd Will[ia]m Thornely was listed vnder the Comand of Edweard Hyde Esq[ui]r[e] then Captain of a Foote company and vpon an assault at the house of the Lo[rd] Cholmondley was then and there slaine in actuall seruice, and the poore wiffe not longe after dyed who left three poore Fatherlesse children to the mercy of god and charity of the well affected people of god: w[hi]ch said poore fatherlesse children by reason of the dearth and scarcity of corne and other comfortes haue beene exposed to many and great straytes, and vnlesse some speedy course be taken for their releefe and mantaynance are in danger to be starued or otherwise suffer extreme hardshipe.
May it please your good worships to take the premisses into your wise and pious Considerac[i]ons and grant forth your order that the said orphans and fatherlesse children may be so prouided for as in your discretion yow shall thinke fitt and as by the ordinance of parl[i]am[en]te in such cases p[ro]uided for the releefe of orphans and fatherlesse children and we shall euer pray.
40tie shillings p[er] Ann[um] to begin at o[u]r Lady day next for mayntenance of two of them.