BHO

Derbyshire Quarter Sessions: 1680

Petitions to the Derbyshire Quarter Sessions, 1632-1770.

This free content was born digital and sponsored by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The cost of photographing the petitions was funded by an Economic History Society Carnevali Small Research Grant: ‘Seeking Redress in Early Modern England: Petitions to Local Authorities, c.1580-1750’, the cost of transcribing eighteenth-century items was funded by a later Economic History Society Carnevali Small Research Grant: ‘Poverty, Taxation and Regulation: Petitions to local magistrates in Eighteenth-Century England’; and the other costs, including transcription of seventeenth-century items and editorial work, were funded by an Arts and Humanities Research Council Research Grant: ‘The Power of Petitioning in Seventeenth-Century England’ (AH/S001654/1). CC-NC-BY.

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In this section

The poor prisoners in Derby gaol. Q/SB/2/311 (1680)

The petition of the poore prisoners in Derby Goale to the Right Worship -full his Majesties Justices of the peace at the quarter Sessions houlden at Derby the 5 of October 1680 Humble sheweth

That whereas we Your Worships poore petitioners haveing the grettest part of us nothing at all to live upon but the bare allowance of the cuntery, whereof every man of us hath a halphpenny a day taken from us very lately taken from us, which if that be continued that any part be taken from us, we are not able to subsist; Therefore we humbly beg of Your Worships that oure former allowance may be contineued to us, for which we shall humbly pray for the continuance of Your Worships helthes and prossperities whilst we live

  • James Henstocke
  • John Taylor
  • Robt Dunne
  • Fran. Gibson
  • Roger Silkston
  • Robert Browne

with etc.

Robert Dunn, a poor prisoner in Derby gaol. Q/SB/2/312 (1680)

The petition of Robert Dunn A poore prisoner in Derby Goale to the Right Worshipfull his Majesties Justices of the peace at the quarter Sessions houlden at Derby the 5 of October 1680

humbly sheweth

That whereas I youre poore petitioner being confined to the Common Goale at the shute of the high sheriffe and am altogether unable to porchis my liberty untill untill such time as his Worship is pleased to take pittie of me

Worthy Gentlemen my wife is gret with child and hath fore small children allredy and my mother a very ould woman alltogether unable to help her self, and the house where the live is almost downe for want of repare and truely the have sould up all those small goods which we had in oure house towards there present releefe; And now the have nothing left, I humbly beg of Youre Worships that you will comiserate there condition; and order them somm considerable mentenance from the parish of Dorly where the live and my poore ould mother my wiffe and 4 small children and my selfe shall ever pray for the prossperity of youre noble familyes whilst we live

Robt Dunn

Roger Silkston, a poor prisoner in Derby gaol. Q/SB/2/313 (1680)

The petition of Roger Silkston a poore prisoner in Derby Goale to the Right Worsipfull Justices of the peace at the quarter Sessions at Derby the 5 of October 1680

humbly sheweth

That wheras I youre poore petitioner have beene sadly tormented in Derby Goale with sad irons upon my leggs for three & forty weekes together, to my gret teror and the reuin of my poore wiffe and five small children; who have nothing at all to live upon, but are allmost distryed for want of both meat and cloathing and the cause of my commitment was never made out in all this time of three and forty weekes nether by oath nor evedence that ever came in against me; Yet am sadly continued heare in torment, & have nothing at all to live upon but the bare allowance of the cuntery; whereof every prisoner hath every day A halpeny in our braid taken from us

Therefore Right Worshipfull Gentlemen I humbly beg of you to comiserate my condition & grant me my liberty

Otherwise I humbly intreate youre Worships to consider my poore wiffe and five small children, with somm considerable alowance to keepe them from perishing or starveing: for which I shall humbly pray for youre Worship[s] prossperies whilst I live and am

Roger Silkston All that the parish of Matlacke hath alowed to my wiffe and five small children deureing all the time of my sad confinement here hath beene but bare twelve pence a weeke

Francis Gibson, a poor prisoner in Derby gaol. Q/SB/2/314 (1680)

The petition of Francis Gibson a poore prisoner in Derby Goale to the Right Worshipfull his Majesties Justices of the peace at the quarter Sessions houlden att Derby the 5 of October, 1680

humbly sheweth

That whereas I youre poore petitioner, having beene confined to the Common Goale at Derby for fore score weekes together, and I had my tryall at St James Assizes was twelfe month and at the last Asizes my pardon came downe and was red to me, but I am still continued here at the cunteries charge and my owne rewin by the Clarke of the Asizes for feese which he demands of me, which I am alltogether unable to pay, for of all this forescore weekes I have beene here, I have not had the vallor of a grote from any relation I have in the world; nether have I any freinds or relations to help me in the least if I were shure to perish; And Mr Vessy the Goaler knowe my powverty soe well; that provided I might be set at liberty he saith he will forgive me my feese, which are dew to him, therefore worthy Gentle men I humbly beg of youre Worships, that you will comiserate my condition and by somm meanes procure my liberty; and I shall ever pray for the prossperity of youre noble familyes whilst I live and am

Francis Gibson

John Taylor, a poor prisoner in Derby gaol. Q/SB/2/315 (1680)

The petition of John Taylor a poore prisoner in Derby Goale to the Right Worshipfull his Majesties Justices of the peace at the quarter sessions houlden at Derby the 5 of October 1680

humbly sheweth

That whereas I youre poore petitioner have beene confined prisoner in the Comon Goale at Derby allmost a twelfe month for selling two bease in Chesterfeild for which I had ny tryall at Lent Asizes and at the last Asizes my pardon came and was red to me, but I am still continued here at the cunteryes charge & my owne rewin, by the Clarke of the Asizes for feese which he demands of me, which I am altogether unable to pay; for I have of all this long time I have layne here had nothing at all to live upon but the bare alowance of the cuntery; and I have neather freinds nor relations will give me a grote if I were shure to perish for want of soe much, therefore Worthy Gentlemen, I humbly beg of youre Worships that you will comiserate my condition by somm meanes procure my liberty, and I shall ever pray for the prossperitys of your noble familys whilst I live and am,

John Taylor

Jasper Lowe, a poor prisoner in Derby gaol. Q/SB/2/316 (1680)

The petition of Jasper Lowe the brother of John Lowe Esquire now a poore prisoner in the Common Goale in Derby to the Right Worship -full his Majesties Justises of the peace at the quarter sessions houlden at at Derby the 5 of October 1680

humbly beggs:

That wereas I youre Worships poore petitioner was by my unkind brother, sent to this uncomfortable prison; where I have nothing at all to live upon; but the bare allowance of the cuntery; truely I know not that I owe a grote in Ingland, but all that my brother can object against me; is for that through paverty; and want; I was inforced to repare to the last Sessions houlden at Bakwell: for releefe, where the Justices were pleased to order me two shillings and sixpence a weeke; to be paid by the parish of Denby and worthy Gentleme if this allowance shuld be taken from me I doe not know which way is possable for me to live, but in gret danjor to perish; which prevented by Youre Worships clemency will oblige me to love honor and pray for you whilst I live and am;

Jasper Lowe

Inhabitants of Bowden Midlecale. Q/SB/2/317 (1680)

To the Worshipfull Justices of peace & Quorum at the Sessions houlden at Derby October the 5th 1680:

The Certificate of us whose names are hereunder subscrybed Inhabitants in Bowden Midlecale

May it please yow Whearas we are given to understand by the bearer hearoff William Cleiton that hee is bound to appeere before your Worships at this present sessions: in beinge acused for some uncivill languages against the worshipfull Mr Thomas Eyre Esquire

These are to certifie unto your worships that for any -thinge wee know or cann justly say: wee know nott any thinge: butt that hee is a very civill honest laborious man: and follows his callinge in werkinge by day labor in the Libertie, for to gett a poore Lyvelyhood for himselfe and family: Therefore wee humbly desyre your Worshipps will be pleased to take the premisses into your judicious consideracions: and nott to continue bound But permitt him to be loosed that hee may be at libertie to gett his livinge: and nott be chargable to the cuntrie: thereby hee will have cause to pray for your Worships health and happines and wee shall remaine:

Your Worships servants

  • Thomas Ballsom John Sale Curate
  • George Hadfeild Tho: Eyred
  • Jhere: Parfett Nicholas Hadfeild
  • Nicholas Waterhouse Ralph Fearneley
  • John Brandreth
  • Jonathan Waterhouse Robert Bennett
  • Thomas Waterhouse Robert Marsland marke
  • Will Aldrerd
  • Joseph Henkett
  • Ottiwell Kirke Tho: Beard
  • Thomas Mariot Thomas Bredbury
  • John Howard
  • Samuell Treswell William Benet

Rosamond the wife of Henry Womacke of Dronfeild. Q/SB/2/318 (1680)

To the right worshipfull his Majesties Justices of the Peace of the County of Derby at their generall Quarter Sessions of the Peace held at Derby the 5th October 1680

The Humble Peticion of Rosamond the wife of Henry Womacke of the Parish of Dronfeild in the said County.

Most humbly sheweth.

That your petitioners husband has beene laine here in Derby Gaole a yeare and an halfe and upwards and has onely eighteene pence allowed by the said parish for the maintenance of her self and six children

Your Petitioner therefore most humbly praies that by order of this Court your Petitioner may have some better reliefe for the maintenance of her selfe and children els your Petitioner and children are likely to starve for want of sustenance.

paratext

3s weekly till her husband bee released

R enterd into the booke

William Marrison, a poor labouring man of Dranfield. Q/SB/2/1341 (1680-1689)

To the worshipfull Bench his Majesties Justices of the peace for the County of Darby.

The humble petition of William Marrison a poor labouring man in the parish of Dranfield and County of Darby

Humbly sheweth

That your petitioner being warned several times by his landlord to provide himselfe of a house, which he was all- together unable to doe his said landlord threatned to pull the thack of in which great strait he made his moane to a friend was willing to trust him wood for a house on the waste the freeholds of Stubly and Woodhouse being willing and he has got it up and had lodged in it two nights; Some people of Dranfield went to it and pulled it downe to the ground where his wife had been murdred if he had not got her out

Your petitioner therefore humbly praies your worships to take his deploreable condition, into your juditious and serious consideration, and order that he may have harbour. He being brought to poverty by much sickness. And he his wife and six children will as ever bound pray for your be? Worships long life health and happieness

paratext

Intr

The Petitioner to have Liberty to build an house on the wast if hee procure licence from the lord of the mannor

ff

To pay his house rent of 12s yearly till further order

Richard Blackwell of Wirksworth. Q/SB/2/1342 (1680-1689)

To the whorshipfull Gentlemen here att this Sessions

The humble petition of Richard Blackwell belonging to the parish of Wirksworth wherass your poore petitioners haveing a sertificate from Midleton in the said parish butt now living att Marketon hee being a distempard man and lame in his limbs hee hath to his utmost power indevored to putt them to as litle charge as hee could the head of the towne did say I should bee allowde somthing butt I have been at them severall tiems and the putt mee of I being not able to subsist any longer and am gott soe weak that I cannot travell about my calling And if the nighbors where I am had nott been kind to mee I might have been lost so desireing your Whorships to take itt into consideration that that your poor petitioner may have somthing to subsist withall and your poore petitioner will bee ever bound to pray