 |
|
| Return to Files List |
|
This collection of documents provides a glimpse into the lives of some of St Saviour’s poorest residents, who petitioned for financial aid from the parish.
Parishes were responsible for their own poor, with nominated overseers managing the administration of poor rate laws – see the accounts for the
Clink and
Paris Garden.
Parishioners who owned or leased significant property were required to contribute to the poor relief fund and taxed in accordance with the value of their property.
Those in receipt of the funds might be given a one-off payment to tide them through a period of illness or to enable them to acquire the materials or training necessary for work. Others might be awarded a regular pension if they were destitute and permanently unable to work through age, chronic illness or disability. A few managed to secure a place in the parish almshouses founded by Thomas Cure, known as Cure’s College and referred to in the documents below simply as the College. Most of the documents that follow are undated, although in some cases external information enables the rough identification of the period in which they were produced. A number of the petitions can be placed in the 1630s. Spelling in the transcriptions has been modernised, with the exception of surnames, which are retained literatim. Please note that each of the documents below has its own shelfmark, but they are stored as a group at TNA in a folder numbered P92/SAV/0749, the only number by which they can be called up. |
P92/SAV/0749, 749: the almspeople of the College: To the worshipful the masters churchwardens and inhabitants of the parish of St Saviour's, the humble petition of the poor almspeople of the College in the churchyard of the said parish. Humbly showeth unto your worships that one Jane Hargrave at her death did devise by her last will and testament in writing (amongst divers other things) a certain annual gift upon the almspeople of the said College and to their successors which are your petitioners, and they your petitioners understanding that there is due unto them of the said gift the sum of £16, which is to be distributed amongst them (according as is mentioned in the testator's will) towards their better relief and maintenance; now in regard your worships have much business to trouble your heads withal, they conceive it is forgetfulness in you that they have not this benevolence distributed amongst them. May it thereof please your worships (the premises duly considered) and the rather in regard of your petitioners' decrepit old age and poverties that you will be pleased to distribute the said £16 amongst them, for their better relief and succour, and that your worships would take no offence at the preferring of this petition, it being but a motive to put you in remembrance that there is so much money coming to them which would the better relieve and succour them. And your poor petitioner[s] (as in duty bound) shall daily pray for your worships’ health and happiness long to continue.
Note: We have been unable to find Jane Hargrave's will.
P92/SAV/0749, 750: John Acors: To the worshipful the masters and churchwardens of the parish of St Saviour’s in Southwark, the humble petition of John Acors your poor petitioner. Humbly showeth unto your worships that your poor petitioner hath lain beddered this 9 years and upwards and hath no ways or means to get a penny towards his relief, but lieth expecting the good hour of his releasement out of this veil of misery. But now so it is, right worshipful, that through some contentions that arose, the stairs of your poor petitioner's house was taken away, whereby his wife is barred from his society and comfort, and hath been so barred this quarter of a year and upwards, whereby he hath not that attendance and looking unto which a man in his case [illegible] ought to have, but is in great misery, his bed having never been made since the taking away of the stairs, nor none ever been above with him, he being no ways able to help himself, in regard he wanteth the society of a woman to keep him clean, as a man in his case ought to be kept, being no ways able to administer help to himself, but is like to perish for want of looking unto, except your worships will be a means to provide other ways for him. May it therefore please your worships (the premises duly considered) to commiserate your poor petitioner's estate to be a means that he may be placed in a house whereas he may have the society of his wi[fe] to help and comfort him in this his extremity, and also to [ke]epe him clean and sweet and to help to relieve him in this [crease] of extremity. And your poor petitioner as in duty bound with [crease] wife and children shall <.> daily pray for your health and [h]appiness long to continue.
Note: John Acres, a porter, lived at the Boar's Head (or in Boar’s Head Alley), Boroughside, in the 1610s and early 1620s. See P92/SAV/0406 [burials, 2 April 1622]; P92/SAV/3002 [baptisms, 8 Feb 1617/18]; the Boroughside token books 1616-1624.
P92/SAV/0749, 751: James Bancks & his wife: To the worshipful the churchwardens & other the vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of James Bancks & his wife, a poor aged couple of this parish. Your petitioners having lived in the parish these fifty years and now in extreme poverty and want and through age & weakness altogether past their labours, do most humbly entreat your worships to commiserate their distressed case and of your pious charities to be pleased to confer some help upon them, either by increasing their weekly pension or by some relief against this blessed time as to your worships shall seem meet. And they shall daily pray et cetera.
P92/SAV/0749, 752: James Bancks of Horse Head Alley: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of James Bancks of Horse Head Alley in the said parish. Your poor petitioner and his wife being so very aged, weak and impotent that they are altogether past their labours and being destitute of all means of comfort either for food or raiment are even ready to perish through want thereof. Wherefore he most humbly beseecheth your good worships to have compassion on them and to be pleased to extend your charities for their relief, either by admitting them to an almshouse which is now void or as to your good worships shall seem meet. And they shall ever be bound to pray &c.
Note: James Banks is recorded in the token books living in Horsehead Alley), Boroughside, 1633-36.
P92/SAV/0749, 753: James Bancks: To the worshipful churchwardens & vestrymen of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of James Bancks. Showeth that your petitioner is above 80 years of age & hath lived in this parish ever since his infancy and is now past labour & destitute of friends and means, being in a very poor & distressed estate. Wherefore he humbly beseecheth your worships will be pleased to elect him to be one of two to be presented to the Lord Chief of his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas for the almshouse now void in the College by the death of Owen Myland. And he shall ever pray for your worships &c.
Note: 'Owen Myland one of the Colledg' was buried at St Saviour on 23 March 1635/6. The petitioner John Clove also applied for his place (P92/SAV/0749, 764).
P92/SAV/0749, 754: Thomas Bentley: To the worshipful the vestrymen & others of the parish of St Saviour's whom it doth concern, the humble petition of Thomas Bentley showeth that the petitioner is 60 years old and upwards & was born in this parish and hath lived there most of his time & hath been sickly, lame & blind these 15 years & is able to get nothing towards his living & being very poor hath nothing to live on but the alms of the parish. Wherefore his humble suit is that your worships would be pleased to elect him into the place now void in the College. And he shall ever pray for your worships &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 755: Martha Bentlie, widow of Thomas Bentlie: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of Martha Bentlie, the distressed widow of Thomas Bentlie deceased, late one of your worships' almsmen. Your petitioner being left in a miserable poor case, very sickly, lame and aged, and not able to do anything towards her relief or maintenance most humbly beseecheth your good worships to vouchsafe your pitiful compassion towards her and to be pleased to bestow upon her the house & benefit which her husband by your gift enjoyed. And according to her bounden duty she shall daily pray for your worships et cetera.
Note: 'Thomas Bentley one of the Colledg' was buried at St Saviour on 25 May 1636.
P92/SAV/0749, 756: Elizabeth Britten: To the worshipful the masters, churchwardens and vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of Elizabeth Britten of the parish aforesaid, a poor distressed widow. Most humbly beseeching your worships, in regard your petitioner hath lived in the said parish these 40 years, taking great pains for her living and not being heretofore in anywise chargeable to the parish, and for that she is now grown miserably poor, destitute of hose and shoes to her feet, to be pleased to vouchsafe her the loan of 20 shillings whereby through her pains and industry she hopeth to maintain herself in reasonable sort. And by God's grace she shall repay the same by 6d the week, and daily pray & praise God for your worships. [signed] Willian Sledd, churchwarden
P92/SAV/0749, 757: Elizabeth Browne, wife of Raphe Browne: To the right worshipful Mr Drew Staple & the rest of the masters & churchwardens of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Elizabeth Browne, the wife of Raphe Browne. Humbly showeth that whereas your petitioner's said husband (being put into Bridewell for his misdemeanour & now broke out from thence) hath left your poor petitioner with a charge of 3 small children on her hands, which were born & brought up in the said parish, & whereas it pleased your worships to allow your petitioner the weekly pension of 12[d] wherewithal she is no way able to maintain her said charge by reason that she cannot possibly get any work wherewithal she may in any competent manner employ herself. In regard whereof & forasmuch as, unless your worships' favour be extended towards her herein, she & her poor children are likely to perish with want, she humbly beseecheth that your worships would be pleased either to amend her said pension or else to take from her her youngest child, by reason whereof she cannot employ herself in that labour which the time affordeth. And your petitioner shall pray &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 758: Richard Brownrigge: To the right worshipful the churchwardens and vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Richard Brownrigge. Humbly showeth unto your worships that your petitioner's wife having kept the coop [‘Coupe’] these twenty years & upwards and now lately dead and your petitioner having lived in this parish an apprentice & a married man above these eight and forty years, and aged above threescore years and past his day labour. His humble suit therefore unto your worships (the premises duly considered) and the rather in tender consideration of his old age and that he and his wife have kept the door of the said coop above twenty years and have taken great pains about the cleansing of the same and the churchyard, that you will be pleased to continue him in the same place. And your petitioner (as in duty bound) shall daily pray for your worships &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 759: Widow Carlton: To the right worshipful the masters of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Widow Carlton, one of the poor women of the hospital there. Most humbly showing unto your worships that your petitioner during such time as she could anywise help herself, she did forbear to trouble your worships in suing for more pension, having but 6d a week. But such is her weak estate now that she is forced to move you to have compassion on her, being 80 years of age and both weak and in body and limbs, having an imperfection in her sight so that she is altogether unable to relieve or help herself and is like to endure much misery unless your worships be pleased to afford her some comfort. May it therefore please your good worships in your pious consideration to her (who cannot make her necessities known but in this nature) to extend your charity so far in the augmentation of her pension as God shall move your hearts unto. So as in duty bounden your poor petitioner shall have just cause to pray for your increase of happiness &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 760: Margret Chapman: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of St Saviour's, the humble petition of Margret Chapman. Humbly showeth that your petitioner having been a long time resident in the parish through much sickness and lack of work is in such poverty at this present that she is no way able to maintain herself and children with food and hath likewise been driven to sell the greatest part of her goods for the payment of rent. Her humble suit is that you would be pleased to commiserate her poor estate and allow her some weekly pension to maintain her poor fatherless children and keep him at school and she with him shall ever pray.
P92/SAV/0749, 761: Margarett Clifford: To the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of Margarett Clifford. She being in most miserable poor estate without any relief or means of comfort other than 8d a week she receiveth from your worships, most humbly prayeth you will be pleased to augment her pension and the rather in regard of the great pains she taketh with the old Widow Goodacres with whom she resideth, or otherwise to admit her into the almshouse now void by the death of father Cotten. And she shall be double bound to pray for your worships.
Note: see the petition of Roger Cotton, P92/SAV/0749, 769.
P92/SAV/0749, 762: Thomas Clifford, shoemaker: To the worshipful the churchwardens and vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Thomas Clifford of the parish aforesaid, shoemaker. Most humbly beseeching your worships in regard your suppliant is very aged, past his labour, and hath lived in the said parish above 30 years and was never chargeable unto the same, nor willingly now would not be troublesome unto your worships but that by reason of these hard times his poverty is so great as he is unable to help himself, to be pleased to vouchsafe the loan of 10s to your suppliant whereby he may redeem some things he hath pawned and set himself on work. And he and his poor [a word has presumably been omitted here] shall daily pray for your worships.
P92/SAV/0749, 763: Thomas Clifford: To the right worshipful the masters and company of the vestry of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the most humble petition of Thomas Clifford. Humbly showing that your petitioner being very poor and having by his great care, labour and industry bred up his son to the age of 17 years, yet now not able to keep him any longer but is very desirous to put him out to prentice to some trade, having many masters offered to take him, but they will not accept of him without some portion of money given with him which your poor petitioner is altogether unable to perform. Wherefore your petitioner's humble desire is that your worships would be pleased (according to your wonted clemencies in such cases) to extend your compassions towards him, and that your worships would be pleased to disburse some portion of money towards the placing of this poor child (being broken in his body) what in your wisdoms shall seem expedient & your petitioner well hopeth never to trouble your worships any more, but (as in duty he is bound) he will ever pray for your worships’ health and happiness.
P92/SAV/0749, 764: John Clove: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of John Clove. Humbly showeth that the petitioner hath lived in this parish above 50 years, being 78 years old & upwards & so long as he was able did relieve others and pay 2d weekly & 3d weekly for 30 years together towards the relief of the poor there and was in Queen Elizabeth's reign £3 in the subsidy books, but being decayed in his estate by long sickness and ill debtors was forced within these few years to become a common watchman, by which he lived without being chargeable to the parish so long as he was able to undergo that pains, but is of late grown so weak & feeble through age, sickness & other infirmities that he hath not been able to subsist without relief from the parish and is in a very poor & distressed estate. Wherefore his humble request is that your worships will be pleased to make choice of him for one of the 2 to be presented to the right honourable the Lord Chief Justice of his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas at Westminster for the place now void in the College by the death of Owen Miland, deceased. And he shall ever pray for your worships &c.
Note: 'Owen Myland one of the Colledg' was buried at St Saviour on 23 March 1635/6. The petitioner James Bancks also applied for his place (P92/SAV/0749, 753). John Clove was taxed at £3 in the Boroughside subsidies of 1598 and 1600 (see E179/186/370; E179/186/377).
P92/SAV/0749, 765: Rose Cluffe: To the worshipful the churchwardens and governors of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Rose Cluffe of the parish of St Saviour's aforesaid, widow. In all humility showeth that whereas the worshipful Mr Deputy Hamond and other your worships were favourably pleased to allow her a pension of 12d a week towards keeping her grandchild Miles Davies, a miserable poor & bursten* child, the which (it is well known) was not without need, such being her poverty and the said Miles his parents also. But now so it is, may it please your worships, the collectors of the poor (now in being) have not this month allowed her any pension as formerly she had of 12d the week towards keeping the said Miles, pretending that the said Miles his father is of ability to relieve him, which is otherwise, God knows, insomuch that the petitioner is not able any longer to relieve herself & child, but unless your worships be favourable to her they are both like utterly to perish. Her humble request is your worships would commiserate her poor estate & her aged years, with the long time of sickness & lameness she hath had, that so that little means or pension being all she hath to relieve them may not be withheld from them any longer, for of necessity the petitioner must still keep the said impotent & bursten child, his father being unable, though (through wearing an old black suit given him by a gentleman) the collectors suppose otherwise. And for your worships' favours the petitioner & child shall ever pray &c.
Note: 'bursten': suffering from hernia.
P92/SAV/0749, 766: Richard Coleman: To the churchwardens and vestrymen of St Saviour's, the humble petition of Richard Coleman. Showeth that your poor petitioner aged 79 years and upwards, who hath lived in this parish 54 years and now being past labour knoweth not how to keep himself and his poor wife, who is very ancient, their weekly pension from the parish very small. His humble suit is that you would be pleased to admit him and his poor wife into one of the houses now void in the College for the poor, and he and his poor wife shall ever pray for your worships’ health & prosperity.
P92/SAV/0749, 768: Susan Coleman: To the worshipful the churchwardens, vestrymen & other parishioners whom it doth concern of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Susan Coleman, the distressed widow of Richard Coleman, deceased, late one of the poor of the College. Showeth that your petitioner is new upon 80 years of age & hath lived in this parish married to her late deceased husband 40 years & upwards honestly taking pains for her living & is now past labour, being full of aches & dim of sight & remaining in one of the College houses wherein her said late husband, one of the poor almspeople, there lately died. Wherefore she humbly beseecheth your worships to be pleased to make choice of her for one of the College poor in the place of her said late deceased husband & to let her continue still in the house wherein she now is. And she shall ever pray for your worships &c.
Note: 'Richard Coleman one of the Colledg pore' was buried at St Saviour on 25 December 1633. See also P92/SAV/0749, 766 above.
P92/SAV/0749, 769: Roger Cotton and Edith his wife: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of Roger Cotton & Eydith his wife. Showeth that your poor petitioners for very many years (not unknown to some of your worships) have dwelt in the said parish, using themselves as becometh & paying & discharging the subsidies to his majesty and all other duties to the poor of 2d weekly & others both ordinary and extraordinary, as amply as any other there of his rank or fashion. And for that he is 70 years aged & his wife 90 years, being now grown by casual means into poverty, great want & distress, they humbly pray your worships to be pleased to admit them into an almshouse now lately become void. And they shall during all that small remainder of their lives be bound forever daily to pray to the almighty for your worships’ long lives & eternal felicities.
Note: see the petition of Margaret Clifford, P92/SAV/0749, 761.
P92/SAV/0749, 770: Ann Curles: To the right worshipful the assembly of the Justices of Peace for the County of Surrey, the humble petition of Anne Curles, widow. Showeth that your petitioner having formerly petitioned unto your worships con concerning a woman which was brought to bed in the street, who was brought into your petitioner’s house for redress in her condition & [word struck theough] by Mr Joice the constable of St Saviour's who promised unto your petitioner satisfaction for the time she should continue with her, being 6 weeks. And upon answer of your petitioner's former petition your worships were pleased to appoint Mr Crowder the churchwarden of St Saviour's to pay unto your petitioner 20s, which Mr Crowder promised to perform accordingly. But so it is, may it please your worships, that your petitioner requiring the 20s of Mr Crowder according to your worship's order and Mr Crowder's promise, yet he hath not performed the same. Your petitioner humbly desires your worships to be once more so favourably pleased as to appoint Mr Crowder to pay the 20s before your worships that your petitioner may receive it without any further delay. And the prayers of a poor distressed widow shall never cease for your worships.
[P92/SAV/0749, 770 dorse:] At the Queen’s Arms Southwark, July 2 1641
I desire Mr Crowder to pay and satisfy to this poor petitioner the twenty shillings you promised her before me or else to come before me and show cause to the contrary. [signed] Thomas Crymes
Paid the 2 of July 1641 to Ann Corle for the keeping Ann Roland who was brought to bed in the street and after brought by Joies the constable to this woman's house ho did promise her to pay her for all the charge that it should cost her and it was acquitted by the [Justice] to pay her twenty shillings.
P92/SAV/0749, 771: Thomas Feage: To the worshipful the and [sic] churchwardens of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Thomas Feage, a parishioner and your poor petitioner. Humbly showeth unto your worships that your poor petitioner is a man which hath lived in this parish of a long continuance in reputation and credit, and one which hath paid scot and lot* in the parish ever since his coming into this parish, and one whose demesne hath been hath been [sic] lawful and honest towards every man with whom he hath had to deal with. But now so it is, right worshipful, that through your poor petitioner's kind heart and pity to relieve other men's wants, he is become to be very poor and desolate and by reason he is grown into years with his aged wife, they being so aged that they are so far past their labours and painstaking and the times with poor people are so hard withal that they are like to famish for want of relief, except your worships will be pleased to commiserate their distressed estate. May it therefore please your worships, the premises duly considered (and the rather in tender commiseration of your poor petitioner's poverty), that you will be pleased to bestow upon him a place in the College. But if that place void be otherwise determined of, then that your worships would be pleased to bestow upon him the keeping of one of the galleries in the church, which your worships in your grave wisdoms shall think most fit and convenient to bestow upon him towards his relief and maintenance with his poor aged wife to preserve them from famishment. And your poor petitioner with his wife and children shall be bound daily to pray for your worships' healths and happiness long to continue.
Note: *scot and lot: local taxes
P92/SAV/0749, 772: Jone Fisher: To the worshipful the churchwardens and vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour, the petition of poor Joan Fisher. Humbly showeth that she is to go out of the house she now dwells in and desires your worships to be pleased to provide her a house or give way she may have a room in one of the College houses, she not being able to pay any rent. And she shall ever pray for your worships.
P92/SAV/0749, 773: Ann Holland: To the worshipful the masters and churchwardens of the parish of St Saviour's, the humble petition of Ann Holland, a poor distressed woman and your poor petitioner. Humbly showeth unto your worships that your poor petitioner being an ancient woman and one which hath been a parishioner of this parish of a long continuance, having lived in good reputation and credit, and a woman which hath taken great pains in the times past while [she could] take pains to maintain herself and family. B[ut now so it is, right] worshipful, that by reason of your poor petitioner's decrepit old age she is no ways able to maintain herself by her labour, nor hath been of a long time, but what she hath made means by selling and pawning all that ever she hath rather than she would be troublesome to your worships for any relief, but by reason of her years, her labour is past and all that ever she had made away; she is so poor that, except your worships will be pleased to commiserate her distressed estate that she is like to famish for want of food. May it therefore please your worships in tender commiseration of your petitioner's poverty that you will allow unto her for her better maintenance some competent allowance for her preservation from famishment in this her decrepit [old] age and poverty. And your poor petitioner with her children shall be bound daily to pray for your worships’ health and happiness long to continue.
P92/SAV/0749, 774: Ann Jones: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Ann Jones of the said parish, widow. Humbly showeth unto your worships that whereas your petitioner hath lived in the said parish from a child but now, by reason of her late husband lying sick on her hands two years & in regard of her two small children which she hath had no means at all to relieve, except only her own labour, is now fallen into great extremity & want & likely to suffer most miserable calamity & affliction unless your worships' favour be extended towards her herein. She most humbly beseecheth that your worships would be pleased to commiserate her most wretched & distressed estate in allowing her some such pension as God shall be pleased to put into your hearts, whereby she & her poor children may not perish in this their great necessity. And you[r] poor petitioner in all duty bound shall ever pray for your worships’ health & all happiness.
P92/SAV/0749, 775: Rice Jones, basket-maker: To the worshipful the masters, wardens and vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of Rice Jones of the parish aforesaid, basket-maker. That whereas your suppliant in the lifetime of his late deceased wife had a weekly pension of your worships towards his and her maintenance, for which he humbly thanketh your worships, forasmuch as he is very poor, aged 74 years, past his labour and besides his eyesight faileth him, your worships would be pleased (for God’s cause) her to admit him into the almshouse now void or to allow him such weekly pension for his relief as it shall please God to move your hearts. And he shall daily pray & praise God for your good worships.
P92/SAV/0749, 776: Thomas Moore, glover: To the worshipful the masters and wardens of the parish church of St Saviour in Southwark, the humble petition of Thomas Moore of the same parish, glover. Showeth that your whereas your petitioner's son Thomas, aged 7 years, was about three weeks past grievously wounded in the head by the fall of a piece of wood out of a house at St Margaret's Hill and hath ever since been under the surgeons' hands for cure and yet it is doubtful whether he shall recover or not, in that the skull is much broken and perished. His humble suit is that, forasmuch as your petitioner is a very poor man and hath a charge of wife and two other small children, having already pawned the greatest part of that little goods he had for their maintenance, your worships would be pleased (for God’s cause) to allow them some moneys to give the surgeons in payment of their pains, who otherwise will neglect the cure. And your petitioner and all his shall daily pray for your worships.
P92/SAV/0749, 777: Timothy Oateley, trumpeter and leather-dresser: To the worshipful the masters and churchwardens of the parish of St Saviour's, the humble petition of Timothy Oateley, your poor petitioner. Humbly showeth unto your worships that your poor petitioner was pressed into the king's majesty’s service for a trumpeter in the ship called the Rainbow and through much foul weather by reason of the fall of a chest upon your poor petitioner he hath lost the use of one of his arms, in respect whereof he cannot labour and take pains for a living to maintain himself and his poor wife, she having been sick and lame upon his hands by the biting of a dog eighteen weeks and upwards, yet notwithstanding when he had any means to set himself at a work, although his lameness was a great hindrance unto him yet he did make a shift to get some things towards the maintenance of himself and his poor lame wife, but now not having any money to set him on work, he is ready to famish for want of food with his wife and child although he being one which was born in the parish and always a liver in the parish until he was pressed out of the said parish who hath also a poor old mother to keep which hath lain upon his hands a long time. May it therefore please your worships, the premises duly considered (and in tender commiseration of your petitioner’s poverty and lameness with his wife), that you will extend your favours so far as to lend him a small sum of money to employ himself in his trade, being a leather-dresser by his trade and to add some relief unto him towards the maintenance of himself, his wife, and poor child, who otherwise are like to perish for want of relief and comfort, with the old woman his mother. And your poor petitioner (as in duty bound) with his poor lame wife and child shall daily pray for your worships’ health and happiness long to continue.
[In a different hand:] Nicholas Morton desires your compassion on this distressed petitioner.
P92/SAV/0749, 778: Nicholas Purchase of Christopher Yard: To the worshipful the churchwardens and other the vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Nicholas Purchase, a poor aged man dwelling in Christopher Yard. Showeth that your petitioner and his wife are both very aged and past labour (he being 71 years old & almost blind and she 52 years old and altogether blind) and being destitute of friends and means, live in great want & misery and like to starve and perish. Wherefore your petitioner most humbly beseecheth your worships will be pleased to make him a pensioner and appoint him some weekly [crease obscures words] of him & his wife and [crease] pray for your worships &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 779: Nicholas Purchas: To the right worshipful the vestrymen & others of the parish of St Saviour's whom it doth concern, the humble petition of Nicholas Purchas. Showeth that your petitioner is 76 years of age and upwards and hath dwelt in this parish near 22 years & did so long as he was able, truly labour for his living, but his sight now failing him, he is altogether unable to get anything towards the same, being a very poor man destitute both of friends and means, and his wife also blind. Wherefore he most humbly beseecheth your worships to commiserate his great necessity & also that it may please you to elect him into the College in the place there now void. And he shall ever pray for your worships.
Right worshipful, whereas formerly my children might be a means to keep me from this my present hope, I thank God now they are from me & in good places, I trust in God, well provided for.
P92/SAV/0749, 780: Margarett Smith: To the masters, churchwardens and inhabitants of the parish of St Saviour's in the borough of Southwark in the county of Surrey, the humble petition of Margarett Smith, widow. Humbly showeth unto your worships that your poor petitioner being of the age of 50 years and upwards and one which hath been a parishioner of this parish thirty years and upwards and by means of her decrepit old age and in miserable poverty, she having two children to maintain and a woman which is past her labour, except your worships will be the more favourable unto her she with her children are like to famish for want of relief. May it therefore please your worships (the premises duly considered) and the rather in commiseration of your pensioner's poverty and decrepit old age age [sic] that you will be pleased to grant unto her that she may have a place in the College or hospital for her better relief and succour in this her miserable poverty. And your poor petitioner (as in duty bound) with her poor children shall daily pray for your worships' health and happiness long to continue.
P92/SAV/0749, 781: Edward Stokes, former sexton: To the worshipful the churchwardens and other the vestrymen of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Edward Stokes. Humbly beseecheth your worships to allow him recompense for his extraordinary pains taken in the execution of the sexton's place since his dismission from the same and he shall ever pray for your worships &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 782: Oliver Symson, gravemaker: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour's, the humble petition of Oliver Symson the gravemaker. Showeth your worships that whereas there hath been a worthy & charitable care of this house (as your petitioner hath been credibly informed) that something out of the parish stock should be allowed towards the decent burying of such poor as have nothing to pay church duties. And that your petitioner hath for above twenty years been at constant pains & charge for the graves of such poor people, the number being great, at least one year with another threescore without any consideration for the same, sometimes 3 in one day as Mr Ryce since his time can witness. And that in the great sickness time, besides the daily charge of six men every day for some 3 or 4 months together, for labourers to make great pits to bury the multitudes of the dead, your petitioner was out of purse eleven pounds and fifteen shillings, for which Mr Boston promised your petitioner to speak to the vestry in his behalf, considering the great abundance of the poor we then buried without any duties. But your petitioner had never any recompense. And that by many & great losses of later years your petitioner is fallen into a very low & poor estate, and that your petitioner hath lived for above thirty years in this parish, by his diligent labour first in serving the sexton to keep the bells & clock & chimes for diverse years together & since in his office of a gravemaker. During all which time none can justly challenge your petitioner of wrongful dealing to any man through God’s goodness to him, though your petitioner hath with patience & silence suffered much hard measure, especially by the sextons Collinson & Dagget. May it therefore please your good worships, the premises well weighed, that whereas this house hath always been mindful to encourage the honest endeavours of their poor servants ye would also vouchsafe your petitioner some such consideration for his foresaid pains & charge for the helpless poor & in the time of the great sickness, as in your wisdom & charity shall be thought fit, & your petitioner shall be always in duty bound to pray for your prosperity &c.
Note: John Boston was St Saviour's parish clerk 1604-1625. He died during the plague outbreak referred to here ('the great sickness time') and was replaced by the former actor John Rice ('Mr Ryce').
P92/SAV/0749, 783: Edmond Tarte, silk-weaver: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Edmund Tarte of the same parish, silk-weaver. Humbly showeth that your poor petitioner having lived in the said parish these 30 years \hath/ and always kept and maintained himself and his charge by his labour and pains in his vocation until of late it pleased God to strike his wife with long and chargeable sickness, whereof she died and since himself hath lain dangerously sick 6 weeks together, whereof he is not yet recovered, and now two of his children are fallen sick upon his hands. So that by means of these great visitations he hath wasted and spent all that ever he had and now is even likely to famish with his poor children, unless your good worships' charities be to him extended. May it therefore please your good worships to commiserate his great distress and to afford unto him some relief for him & his poor children in this their great extremity. And as in duty bound he shall daily pray et cetera.
P92/SAV/0749, 784: Ann Tedder: To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of St Saviour's parish, the humble petition of Ann Tedder, a poor aged widow. Humbly showeth that your poor petitioner hath lived in this parish nine & fifty years & upwards & is above threescore & twelve years of age & past labour & hath nothing to live on but a pension of 8d a week & not able to pay any rent for her dwelling & destitute of friends to relieve her living in extreme need & misery. Wherefore she humbly beseecheth your worships in respect she is a long lone woman & hath been long acquainted with Goody Coleman, being now also a lone woman living in the College where there are two rooms with chimneys in them, that your worships will be pleased to suffer her to dwell in the house with the said Goody Coleman. And she shall ever pray for your worships &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 785: Alice Willis, wife of Nicholas Willis: To the right worshipful the masters and churchwardens of the parish of St Saviour's in Southwark, the humble petition of Alice Willis, wife of Nicholas Willis. Humbly showeth that whereas Roger Scotton, your petitioner's late father, by your worships' consent and good will lived in one of the almshouses of your parish and now by the will of God is deceased. And whereas your petitioner hath been at great charges & expenses with him, by reasons of providing things necessary for him in the time of his sickness and likewise for the burying of him, which he desired might be by my her mother in the churchyard of the said parish, which was accordingly performed. Therefore your petitioner in consideration of her great expenses and charges desires your worships' favour to grant unto her such small things of household stuff which are remaining in the said almshouse as her said late father left behind him. And your petitioner's husband, herself and children shall ever be bound to pray for your worships &c.
P92/SAV/0749, 786: Margaret Wood: To the worshipful the vestrymen and other the parishioners of St Saviour parish in Southwark, the humble petition of Margaret Wood, Showeth that she is of the age of threescore & eight years and upwards & hath lived in this parish above 40 years & taken pains so long as she was able, but your petitioner is now weak & sickly and decrepit in her limbs by reason of a fall over a stone in the night lying in the way going into the College churchyard about a year ago, since which time she hath not been able to do anything towards her living. And having lately buried her husband, one of the College, is now destitute of friends & means and likely to perish unless your worships' favour shall be extended to her in admitting her to the pension & place her husband lately had in the College, which she humbly beseecheth your worships for God's cause to do. And she shall ever pray for your worships &c.