The petition on the behalf of the Orphans of James Porter and the Orphans of John Warden, both of Kings Lynn, Norfolk, 1658
To the Right wor[shipfu]ll the Justices of the publique peace at the Sessions of the peace houlden (for the County of Norfolke) at Kings Lynn
The humble Petic[i]on of the Churchwardens and ouerseers for the poore of the Towne and Burrough of Kings Lynn
Sheweth
That about 6 or 7 yeares since one James Porter sometymes of this Bur[rou]gh gent[leman] left this towne and went for Ireland leaueing behind him a wife and 4 or 5 Children which wife is since dead and those Children haue beene very Chargeable to this Towne and two of them are yett a Charge of 3 s. 6 d. p[er] weeke to this Towne, s and since the dep[ar]ture of the said James Porter from this towne there is an estate as we credably informed of 13 li. p[er] Ann[um] fallen unto him by the death of his father w[hi]ch is in lyeth in or neare Ellingham in this County of Norfolke the disposeing and letting whereof one John Rawlings of Terrington gent[leman] (pr[e]tending to haue authority from the said James Porter) doth take vpon him and receiueth the rents and p[ro]fitts of the same yet notwithstanding suffereth the said two Children to remayne a Charge vpon this towne
Alsoe one John Warden late of this Towne being inlisted for a souldier was about May last sent away for Mardike and left behind him two smale children w[hi]ch haue euer since bene a Charge vnto this Towne of 3 s. 6 d. p[er] weeke which said John Warden left behind him was and is yett if he be liueing owner of two peeces of land in Midleton in the occupation of Richard Barnes Esq[ui]r[e] of the yearely rent of 33 s. p[er] Ann[um] as we are informed and yet these Children remayne a Charge to this towne
May it therefore please y[ou]r wor[shi]pps to take the p[re]misses into consideration and to order that either the Children may be sent to the seu[er]all and respective townes where the estate of theire respectiue fathers doe lye there to be provided for out of the same estate or otherwise that the rents and p[ro]fitts of those lands may be paid vnto the Churchwardens and overseers for the poore of this Burrough for the tyme being to and for the vse and benifitt of the said respectiue Children And y[ou]r peticoners shall dayly pray &c.
order that the Children be sent to Rawling to p[ro]vide for them exc[ept] cause be showen ye next Sessions & ye Children of Warner to be sent to Mr Barnes of Middleton he to p[ro]uide for them ut [?priuy] & in case of refusall lynn to p[ro]uide w[i]thout pr[e]iudice & be reimbursed