The petition on behalf of the orphans of Thomas Dober of Pemberton, Lancashire, 10 October 1653
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Justic[e]s of Peace & Quoru[m] att the Sessions of Peace houlden att Wigan 10th October 1653:
The humble petic[i]on of the p[er]sons whose names are herevnto subscribed Inhabitants w[i]thin the Hamlett of Pemberton in the p[ar]ishe of Wigan
Sheweth that w[i]thin the said Hamlett there is fower smale Children the eldest whereof is not aboue eight yeares of Age; the father of them dyed in Scotland in the States service (whose name was Thomas Dober) about 2 yeares since, and the mother Dyed vnder a Fortnight agoe; And for that none of the said Children are able to begg there foode (haueinge noe meanes left them by there parents, nor Grandfather nor grandmother of any syde to releeue them)
Itt is therefore prayed, that order may be made by this Court, for the p[ar]ishe of Wigan (wherein the said Children weare all borne) may make p[ro]vision for mainteynance of the said Children And that the Churchwardens of the same p[ar]ishe may be ordered to see the same done accordingly. And they will pray &c.
Ch[urchwardens] & Ou[erseers]
Roger Pinington
John Taylor
Mathewe Grimshawe
Jeffrey Culcheth
John Bibbie
James Greene
William Winstandley counsta{ble}