BHO

Derbyshire Quarter Sessions: 1689

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.

Citation:

In this section

William Ball, a labouring man of Alsop and Eaton. Q/SB/2/397 (1689)

To the Right Worshipfull His Majesties Justices of the peace at [th]e Generall Quarter Sessions held at Bakewell for the County of Derby on July 15th. 1689 humbly sheweth

That your petitioner William Ball being a labour- -ing man hath lived and continued within the township of Alsop and Eaton by the space of five yeares and there continued without any disturbance at all onely the petitioner haveing a poor lame sister at Parwidge went now and then to see her and lodged there sometimes by a week or two together and then he being sick and not in health and the inhabitants of Parwidge doubting the petitioner would continue and get a setlement there complained themselves at the quarter Sessions held at Bakewell at Midsummer last and the Bench then ordered that the petitioner should remove from Parwidge to Alsop and Eaton againe and the petitioner being a poor labouring man and willing to get a livelyhood not being chargeable to any did take a bargaine of work of Raphe Johnson of Ballington the working lying and being within Alsop and it being so the overseer of Alsop did peremtorily deny the petitioner a setlement according to the Justices order So that your poor petitioner was inforced to go before Mr Justice Spaleman and shewed his grievance and MrSpaleman gent Justice Spaleman granted him a warrant that the over seer of Alsop and Eaton should receive him according to the order formerly given or else bring him before him or some other Justice of the peace to shew cause to the con- trary and the overseer will not do so nor give him a setle -ment The petitioner therefore humbly prays your good Worships to give special order under your hands to the overseer of Alsop and Eaton that the petitioner may have a quiet setlement within the township of Alsop and Eaton and that uppon such a penalty as your Worships in your wise discretions shall think fitt and in so doing the petitioner will ever pray for your Worships Eternall happyness.

John Ragg of Bonsall, labourer. Q/SB/2/398 (1689)

To all their Majestys Justices of the Peace assembled in open Sessions att held att Bakewell for this County of Derby the 16 day of July in the first yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord and Lady King William and Queene Mary over England etc Annoque Domini 1689

The Humble Petition of John Ragg of Bonsall in the County of Derby Labourer [illegible]

Humbly shewith

That your poore petitioner is about 80 yeeres of age and is destitute of a habitation and hath noe body to asist him but that he is att present upon sufferance with his daughter whose husband and son are both gone to bee souldiers and left her in a very poore estate, and shee threatneth to turne her aged father out of doors, and the inhabitants of Bonsall considering hee had bin a labouring man and brought up his children in good fashion, did order the overseers to the poore to allow your Petitioner twelve pence a weeke for his maintaineance and the overseeres have runn in arreare with him 7s and will not pay him, your petitioner humbly prayes hee may have the order of this Court to compell the overseeres to pay him his arreares and such further allowance for his present mantaineance as your Worships shall thinke fitt and hee shall ever pray etc

John Ragg

paratext

Intr

To pay the arreares according to agreement and to continue

An Weane of Hartinton. Q/SB/2/399 (1689[?])

To his Magisties Jutices of the Peace at the Quarter Sessions for the County of Darby

The Humble Petition of An Weane in that quarter of Hartinton parrish called Sterndall quarter Humbly Sheweth

That your Petitioner is a very poore woman 77 yeares of age haveing with her a daughter 55 yeares of age who hath lane under a distemper about 14 yeares for the most part not able to helpe herself night or day who doth require a con tinuall attendant so that your Petitioner is in great distress haveing nothing to soport and mentaine herselfe and weak daughter with, Besids some small releife from a son that is in servis at but 40s a yeare wages and what charitable people give her on which she is not able to subsist without some farther releife. Therefore humbly desires this Honorable Court to order her and her daughter what to their judgment shall seeme reasonable

And your Petitioner shall ever pray for you.

paratext

1s weekly till further order

Widow White. Q/SB/2/400 (1689)

To the Right Worshipfull the Justices of the Peace etc.

The humble petition of Widow White sheweth that whereas the said Widow White being through extreamity of age disabled from getting her self a livelyhood, and her common allowance being taken of, she must of necessity perish, unless you will be pleased to take her deplorable condition into your tender consideration; doth earnestly request you would so far condescend towards the reliefe of her extreamity as to assigne her usuall contribution especially considering she is incapable of helping herself and hath none to take care for her, which if you please to do she shall will be infinitly engaged and ever pray for your plenty and prosperity whilst she is

Your Worships most humble servant

Elizabeth White

Robert Wardle. Q/SB/2/401 (1689)

To the Right Worshifull his Majesties Justices for the County of Derby: greetinge Wheras the Bearer hereof Robert Wardle by name of the parish of Hartington and county aforesaid beinge fallen [i]nto great poverty and is above eighty yeares of age: his wife allsoe hath lyen sicke for the space of one whole yeare: not able in any nature as to helpe themselves. but in danger to be cast away except some speedy course be taken as to there releiufe: hopeinge your worships will be soe far pleased as to grant him an order where by he may have releive even what your worships thinks fitt: his age considered: and in soe doinge your poor petitioner as in duty bound is and will be ever ready to pray for your worships health and happiness: Hopeinge your worships will not deny but grant him a sufficient releiue prayinge for your worships happiness who Is your obedient servant till death

Robert Wardle.

William Brackinfield of Stanton, miner. Q/SB/2/402 (1689)

To the Worshipfull [Blank] Varnam Esquire one of their Majesties Justices of the peace and to the rest of the Worshipfull Bench

The humble petition of William Brackinfield of Stanton and in the parish of Youlgreave miner aged three score and tenn years or thereabouts, etc

Humbly Sheweth

That your poore petitioner haveing foremerly lived uppon his dayly laboure unchargeable to the parish or any of his neighbours, is now foreced thorrow poverty and great want to petition your good Worships for releife in regard your petitioner is lame and not able to undergoe his worke, this seavin years your petitioner hath not beene able to put on his one cloathes but by the helpe of his poore wife, likewise your petitioner hath sould goods out of his house to releive this his great wants to the value of fouer pounds which is not unknowne to his neighbours, And unlesse your petitioner sell the remander of his usefull goods, they will not alowe your petitioner any releife, your petitioner likewise had some smale releife from the overceere which was sixpence the weeke, and now your petitioner hath no alowance at all, And unles your good Worships looke uppon this my sad condition, your petitioner is likely to perish for the want of bread

May it please your good Worships to take this my deplorable condition unto your grave and godly considerations, and to grant your petitioner your Worships order, that thereby your petitioner may bee releived, and as in duty bound your petitioner will allways p[ray]

paratext

To set the p[etitioner] 6d weekly and on worke

Mary Pott of Ballington, widow. Q/SB/2/403 (1689)

The humble petitioner of Mary: Pott of Ballington widdowe: in the parish of Bradburie and county of Darby:

Sheweth

Wheras your petitioner being left destitute of all releife but thorrowgh the providence of God Allmighty hath main tained myself: with 5: small children: being not pre judice to the said towne: f[o]r anything: but what throwgh theire clemency the towne pleased to bestowe uppon mee: whose charity was and is very small, since the departure of your petitioners husband: which Three pence and never and requested anything: untill extreame want and poverty forced your petitioner to make knowne her deplorable condition: who hath pawned and sold all that small substance which her husband left her deceasd of wherin to releive her and her family: and being in great want is in her great necessity constrained to make her condition knowne: to your worshippfull bench craving your worshipps good assistance: to give orders to the overseers and officiers that the said petitioner may have weekely allowance as in your worshipps grave wisdome you thinke decent who will

pray for your happiness per mee

Mary Pott

George Woodiwis of Brassington. Q/SB/2/404 (1689)

To the Right Worshipfull There Majesties Justices of the peace for the County of Derby assembled in open Sessions

The humble petitions of George Woodiwis of Brassington

Humbly sheweth

That hee being fallen into extreame poverty and want not haveing wherewith to sustaine him selfe nor his wife and two three small children: hee haveing long wrought hard at the lead mines and not at all of a long time gotten any thing from them to quit the charge of them: and now being in great penuary and want: and every day expecting to be turned forth of doores for not paying his rent.

Prayes that your good worships would consider the sad condition of your petitioner and be pleased to grant order to the overseers of the poore of Brassington aforesaide that they may provide a habittation for your petitioner: for hee expects every day to be turned forth of the house wherein now he abideth: hee hath desired severalls and none will trust him or set him a house to dwell in

hee desires you likewise to grant order unto the overseers of Brassington aforesaide to alow him soe much weekly towards the mentainance of himselfe wife and children as your worships in your wisdoms shall thinke meet

and your petitioner as in duty hee is bound shall ever pray etc

paratext

Intr

6d weekly towardes house rent and put out his eldest sonne apprentise and 1s weekly till they doe And that Rogar Frost bee bound to the peace by the next Justice for an assault upon Sarah his wife

Edward Townsend of Tidsall. Q/SB/2/405 (1689)

To the Right whorshipfull Gentlemen of this worthy Bentch

The humble petition of Edward Townsend of Tidsall in the County of Derby humbly sheweth that your poor petitioner being a widow man his wife being dead and laft him with four small children: he being destytute of a habytation is forsed out to seek releif for his poor children he leaving tow children behind him the alowed them but either of them a halph peny a week soe that your poor petitioner wass forsed to fetch them into the country whear he hath made hard shift to keep them for this tow or three years: and now being nott able to keep them any longer would desire ye worthy gentlemen to take itt into consideration that I may have a habytation whear I wass bred and born and som relief for my self and poore children

And your poor petitioner will be ever bound to pray for your whorships souls

Bridget Chetham of Tansley, widow. Q/SB/2/406 (1689)

To the honorable the Justices of the Peace for the County of Derby

The humble peticion of Bridget Chetham of Tansley widdow

Your Peticioner humbly prayes that she may have an order for the money mencioned in the certificate annexed it being left in Ralph Sowters hand for the securitie of the towne, and the towne being willing and desirous that she should have it and there being noe person of Johnsons relacions that claimes it

And your Peticioner will ever praye etc

Bridget Chetham

Dorothy Careless of Darley, widow. Q/SB/2/407 (1689)

To the wright Worshippfull the Justices of the peace for the County of Derby

The humble peticion of Dorothy Careless widdow of the parrish of Darley widdow,

Humbly sheweth that your poore peticioners husband dyed the 28th day of March last past and left your poore petico ner three small children that are not able to get theire liveinges the eldest being but 7 yeares of age and the youngest and is a sucking child and very sickly; and your peticoner hath not anything to relive them or herselfe with all and your poore peticoner is alsoe very infirme and sickley.

Therefore your poore peticoner humbly prayes your Worshipps to consider of this here deplorable condicion and that you will be pleased to grant her an order for a weely weekely pentioon and your poore peticoner as in duty bound shall ever pray etc

paratext

The overseers to finde the children servvis and if they refuse to worke to bee sent to the house of correction

Francis Glover of Sheperd Flat. Q/SB/2/408 (1689)

To the Worshipfull his Majesties Justices of the peace for the County of Derby

The humble petition of Francis Glover of Sheperd Flat in the parrish of Eayme and County aforesaid Humbly Sheweth

Whereas the said Francis Glover your worships Petitioner Petitioner haveing formerly lived in good fame ranke and quality amomgst his neighbours mainetaineing himselfe his wife and children upon his owne worke and industry: untill of late by God Almighty's providence and by reason of his old age and almost haveing lost the sight whereby he is altogether unable of himselfe to mainetaine his said wife and one child now remaineing with him And furthermore his said wife and child by reason of their indigency and poverty are altogether unable to mainetaine your said petitioner or themselves

Wherefore your said petitioner most humbly entreats your Worships to take his miserable condition into your serious considerations and to grant him an order to the overseer of the poore of Eayme aforesaid for some weekely allowance as your Worships shall thinke convenient towards the Mainetenance of your said petitioner his said wife and children whereby they may not starve for want of mainetenance

And your Worships petitioner as he is in duty bound will dayly pray for your Worships health and happines long to continue

paratext

Intr

2s weekly

Elizabeth Webstor of Youldgreave. Q/SB/2/409 (1689)

The Petition of Elizabeth Webstor of Youldgreave

To his majesties Justices of the peace at the Generall Quarter Sessions at Bakewell July 1689 Sheweth

Whereas your petitioner was left in a deplorable, condition with five small children, and noe one of them able to get any towards a small livelyhood: and most of them have beene visited with sickness: whereas It was the [t]owns consent to allow your petitioner twelv pence weekly: ever since the departure of my husband: which is two years: whereas your petitioner, cannot subsist to maintaine herself and children, and pay and a annuall or yearbyly rent: my landlord his rent daly Threating to put mee and my children forth of doors: my rent being -0-14. yearly: which I desired the said towne that the [illegible] wold pay the rent for, the house otherwise have paid it unto mee, and I wold pay it to my landlord: which they wold not agree unto: unless I came before your most honnorable bench: where fore, your petitioner being in a lamentable distressed condition humbly craveth that you worshipps wold take it into your pious consideration and give orders to the overseers that your petitioner may have a habitation whereas to presserve her self and family from being starved and your petitioner as in duty bound wil ever pray for your happiness

per me Elizabeth Webstor

Alice Naylor, widow of Sheldon. Q/SB/2/410 (1689)

The petitione of Alice: Naylor widdowe of Sheldon in the parish of Bashull

Sheweth

Whereas your petitioner being: 80: years of age being widdowe for: the space of :15 years: and your petitioner hath by your consent hath had: six pence weekly during: the Seven space of :3: years and moare: who bringing: upp there family: in a decent and comely manner without doeing any kind of harme: or wrong to any neighbor: being in old age past there worke desiring your worshipp, grace assistance, to be aid and assistance, to your petitioner who at this present is destitute and daly wanteth releife: unless your grave wesdome comiserate your petitioners de plorable condition as in your grave wesdom your worshipps shall thinke: and your petitioner as in duty will ever pray for your happiness:

per me

  • Alice Naylor
  • Your petitioner had orders for: six: pence weekely whereas as your said [illegible] have paid and allowd but: -0 - 4 -4d: weekely: I desier your worshipp full bench to take it into consideration

    paratext

    In

    8d weekly

    James Cowley of Chappel in le Frith. Q/SB/2/411 (1689)

    To the Worshipfull Bench

    Your poor Petitioner James Cowley of Chappel in le Frith being an ancient man and haveing a wife and an very old very old woman to his mother in law and being incapleable of any work and little or nothing to maintain them withall doth begge of your worships pleasure to order him some -thing for his further reiefe and for so doing he is bound to pray for your health and happiness

    J.C.

    paratext

    9d weekly

    Intr

    Milisent Glosop, widow. Q/SB/2/412 (1689)

    To the Honorable their Majesties Justices of the peace assembled at Bakewell the 15th of July 89: the humble petition of Milisent Glosop widow

    Whereas your Honours humble petitioner hath lately lost her husbond and is left with foure children, the eldest of which beinge above the age of 16 years and willinge and capeable of getinge part of a livelyhood toward the maintenance of his mother and the rest of her children) the overseeers of the poore of Wirkesworth have taken him from his said mother and put him apprentice; but after the death of his father, hee desireinge to releive his mother left his maister, and is sent by the said overseers to the house of correction, now this is the desire of your petitioner that her son may bee quitt or ele that you would please to order the towne to alow her somthing toward the releif of her poore children, and shee will ever pray for Honors health and prosperity.

    paratext

    Ordered the sonne to bee released out of the house of correccion and goe to hes service

    Intr

    George Woolley of Chappell Milton, blacksmith. Q/SB/2/413 (1689)

    To the Right Worshippfull his Majesties Justices of the peace for the County of Derby at the Generall Quarter Sessions held for the County of Derby at Bakewell the 16th day of July 1689

    The humble petition of George Woolley of Chappell Milton in the parish of Glossopp and County of Derby blacksmith Humbly sheweth

    Whereas your said petitioner haveing formerly sett a howse to Nicholas Cowper within Chappell Milton aforesaid And by reason of the great poverty and indigency of the said Nicholas Cowper his wife being lame and haveing two smale children his hee is altogether unable to pay his rent And whereas your said petitioner the 10th of March 1687 gave notice to the overseers of t[he] poore of Bowden Middlecale to remove the said Nicholas Cowper out of his said house [o]r to pay his rent: whch they have yett never performed

    Wherefore your petitioner most humbly craves your worships to grant him an order to the present overseers of the poore of Bowden Middlecale aforesaid to pay him the arreares of rent due since the time that warning was by him given for removeing of the said Nicholas Cowper and likewise to remove him and provide him an house to live in for the future

    And your petitioner as he is in duty bound will dayly pray for your worships health and happines longe to contineue

    The inhabitants of Bowdon-Middlecale. Q/SB/2/414 (1689)

    To the Right Worshipfull their Majesties Justices of the peace at their generall Quarter Sessions of the peace to be held at Bakewell the sixteenth day of July in the first year of the Raigne of our most gracious soveraignes William and Mary (by the grace of God) of England etc King and Queen Defenders of the Faith etc Annoque Domini 1689

    The humble peticion and informacion of the inhabitants of Bowdon-Middlecale some of whose names are here subscribed

    Humbly Sheweth

    That whereas Nicholas Cowper an inhabitant within the parish of Chappel in le Frith, did lately remove together with his family into our said township of Bowdon Midlecale and by his farme- -ing 10li. per annum in landes hath gained a residence amongst us. And by reason of his vexatious and scandalous way of liveinge hath caused himselfe to be ejected out of his said tenement And since it pleaseinge God to visitt one of his children with some sicknesse or infirmity of body, The said Nicholas Cowper thereupon made his applicacion to not onely to his neighbours but alsoe to the inhabitants of severall townships and countyes by whose charity he obtained sufficient releife to discharge more then his present exegences, But the aforesaid releife not- withstandinge The said Cowper unknowne to your worships peticioners made his applicacion to this honorable Court for further releife, And surrepticiously obtained an order to charge our said townshipp with twelve pence weekly allowance to him for his releife till further order, Now soe it is may it please your Worships The said child upon whose account alone the said Cowper could present pretend any cause of releife being dead and the said Cowper and his wife being able of body to gett their liveing and maintaine their family haveing onely two children one whereof is able to gett a livelyhood, wee humbly pray the said order may cease And our said townshipp may bee eased of the said charge as in equity we ought, And we shall ever pray for your Worships health and happinesse and rest your Worships most humble peticioner

    • Ja Carrington
    • Marke Crickett
    • John Waterhouse
    • Laurence Joanson} overseers of the poore
    • Raph Bowdon
    • }
    • Robert Carrington
    • Edward Bennitt
    • Thomas Rollinson
    • Thomas Waterhouse

    Thomas Heathcott of Hope. Q/SB/2/628 (1689)

    To the Right Worshipfull their Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Derby att the Generall Quarter Sessions held at Bakewell for the said County the sixteenth day of July Annoque Domini 1689

    The humble petition of Thomas Heathcott of Hope in the said County humbly sheweth

    Whereas your said petitioner haveing formerly beene a souldier for the late King Charles the first from the year 1642 for the terme of six yeares or upwards untill the end of the late Civill Warr: under the command of Sir William Sevaile for two yeares or thereabouts untill Collonell Rowland Eyre late of Hassopp Esquire tooke up armes for his said late Majestie King Charles the First who then was released from the said Sevaile and went under the command of the said Collonell Rowland Eyre for about foure yeares longer: And whereas your said petitioner haveing received severall wounds att diverse and severall battells and seiges and beene severall times imprisoned: And now being very aged poore and indigent: Most humbly craves your Worships favour to admitt him into present pay as a maymed souldier within this County there being a vaccancy upon the death of Francis Rippon late of Pilsley

    Wherefore wee his neighbours duely considering the truth of the premisses doe hereby certifie in behalfe of your said petitioner that it is an object of charity to entertaine him into the said pay. And in soe doeing you will much oblige

    Your Worshipps Servants

    paratext

    I am credibly informed and beleive the contents of this peticon is true

    • Thomas Legh
    • William Browne
    • Samuel Cryer
    • John Herll
    • Richard Torr
    • Anthony Herll
    • John Cocking
    • Mathew Berley
    • Nicholas Thornhill
    • Henry Ashtow