Derbyshire Quarter Sessions: 1680

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.

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

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