The petition on behalf of Thomas and John Whittakers, Hertfordshire, 1654
To the right Wo[rshi]p[fu]ll the Justices of the peace now assembled att the generall Sessions for the County of Hertf[ord].
The Humble petition of John Field in the Behalfe of Thomas & John Whittakers the Orphants of Richard Whittakers Slaine at Edge Hill fight in the States S[e]rvice
Sheweth
That the deceased Richard Whittakers at his death left his wife with three small Children in debt & without any Maintenance for them and that notwithstandinge shee was so poorely left for Twelve yeares last past through her paines & Industry shee hath maintained herselfe & the Charge afores[ai]d without any pention or other allowance from the state although shee lost her husband & by him her support & maintenance in that Service & so would haue gone on in maintenance in that Service & so would haue gone on in maintenance of them if it had pleased God to continew her health & life But now shee beinge dead two of the Children (to wit) Thomas & John the one beinge a Cripple & the other so younge as he is no wise able to p[ro]cure to himselfe a Subsistence are left destitute of any releife or Maintenance.
Your petitioner therefore in behalf of the said Orphants doth humbly craue that in regard their father dyed in the States S[e]rvice And that nether his now deceased widd[ow] nor these orphants received any pention nor other allowance from the State That yo[u]r wo[rshi]pps would be pleased to order them some such som[m]e of money as to yo[u]r wo[rshi]pps shall seeme meet for placeinge out the orphants aforesaid to some such good trade as app[ren]tices as the[y] may hereafter liue without any further charge to the Cuntry.
And your petitioner with the Orphants shall ever pray &c.