John Kerrish, 1677

This petition follows the will of Jo: Kerrish Jan.1 1676-7 in which he left his goods to his wife and children, all unnamed.

The humble petion                  To ye Reved Sr Jo: Harrison Sr Tho: Parre and
of Margt Corteen widdow                 Sr John Christian vicars Genll

                   Shewinge how yt ye poor oratrix since ye death of her
husband, hath to ye utmost of her capacity endeavoured honestly to maintain
herself and her 3 small children. And though there was at his death a con=
siderable portion of goods left to each of ym: yet it hath soe pleased god
yt in ye last scarse winter for foddor, yr petitionr lost all her movables
but some two calves and one heffer: soe yt all ye remaininge pt of her
sustance will now but countrvaile his inventory: and ye Supervisors
of her said children hath of late restrained ye oratrix for takinge any
part of ye remaininge goods for her owne, or her childrens, relief, untill
you will vouchsafe to make allowance out of her husbands inventory for
these cattle wch dyed imediatly after it was brought upon record.

                    Therefore yor petitioner humbly represents her piching
                    necessityes to yor candid interpretation: beseechinge
                    yt she and her poore children may no longer be
                    abridged from ye use of ye remaininge goods, but that
                    they may be relieved by their owne; as ye christian
                    prudence shall best prescribe; and she shall pray.


                      At KK Christ Lezayre ye 19th June 1684
Upon consideracon of the contents of this peticon and the Court being
very well satisfed aw well wth the great loss the petioner hath sustained by the
loss of goods therefore that hath rendered her incapable to an=
swer ye inventory oh her husband, wch is due unto her children, as alsoe
that she is .... indulgent and carefull in the mantenance and bringibg
upp of her said children; hath thought it very conscionable and
accordingly order that the petionr shall have the full use and
benefitt of the remaining parte of the said inventory, wch she is to
to bestow and employ towards to bringing upp of her said children in
such fitting and decent manner as becomes their quality [forwhich]
she is to give in ......... good and sufficient bonds into ye Records
and alsoe to returne what is unexpended upon the children unto them
when they come to age, according as the Court shall then see just
cause to require the same. And this by consent of the overseers
who have also made the condition of the petionr known to ye Court
to induce them to ye granting of this order. And alsoe according to
the intention of the petionrs husbands will as appears upon record.
                                        Joh Harrison
Mr Thomas Allen pledges for the wife     Tho: Parre
according to ye purpose of this order.   Jo: Christian