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This document is undated but from internal evidence is from 1633 or later. Corroboration from the Minutes of the Vestry is not possible because the Minutes after 1628 are lost. For a published list of the burial fees discussed below, click here.


To the worshipful the churchwardens & vestrymen of the parish of St Saviour, rhe humble petition of Oliver Symson the gravemaker

Sheweth 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 toward the decent burying of such poor as have nothing to pay toward 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 these seven one year with another three score 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 laborers to make great pits to bury the multitudes of the dead, your petitioner was out of purse eleven pounds & 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 recompence. 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 labor first in serving the sexton to keep the bells & clock & chimes for divers 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 & Daggett.
May it therefore please your good worships, the premises well weighed, that whereas this house hath always been mindful to encourage the honest endeavors of their poor servants, it would also vouchsafe your petitioner some such consideration for his foresaid pains & charges 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 prosperity. &c.