To the Worshipful His Majestys Justice of the Peace for the County of Middx. in their General
Session of the Peace Assembled

The Able. Petition of the Churchwardens & Overseers of the Poor of the
Parish of St. Giles in the Fields in the sd. County

Sheweth

That upwards of 2 yrs. ago one Alexander Fenton< no role > took a House of
the yearly value of £20. in Monmonth Street in the sd. Parish and resided therein about
4 Months and hath not obtained any Subsequent Settlement, That he hath a Wife named
Sarah< no role > , to whom he was Married about 20 years ago in the Parish Church of St. Margaret Westmr .
and hath by her 2 Children Vizt. John< no role > aged about 12 years, and Frederick< no role > aged about 4 years
and 7 Months, and that his sd. Wife is now Pregnant with Child by him and very near the time of
her delivery.

That sevl. Months ago the sd. Alexr. Fenton< no role > ran away and left his sd. Wife
and two Children in the Parish of St. James Westmr. and they being likely to become chargeable there
were Removed by an order of 2 Justices from thence to the sd. Parish of St. Giles, to which sd. Last mentioned
Parish they have been actually chargeable during about 6 Weeks last past the sd. Alexander
Fenton< no role > having refused to allow his sd. Family any relief or Support altho he can and Constantly
does earn one Guinea and nine Pence per week at his Business of a Taylor & they were in
great distress and totally incapable of procuring a maintenance

That when the sd. Family first become chargeable as afsd. your Petitioners
made complaint against the said Alexr. Fenton< no role > to David Walker< no role > Esqr. one of this Majestys Justices
of the Peace for the sd. County who in consequence there of and upon the oath of the sd. Sarah issued
his Warrant on the 6th. of May [..] last to apprehend the sd. Alex Fenton< no role > as a Rogue & Vagabond,
Who was there upon taken into custody and conveyed before Thomas Bishop< no role > Esqr. at the
Rotation Office in Litch field Street, where he positively declared that he wd. not allow his said
Wife or Children any Relief nor Indemnify the Parish from the charge of maintaining them
and added that he knew the Magistrate could only Commit him to the House of Correction until the
Sessions when he wd. be Discharged of course and in the mean time could live as well in Prison as
out.

That he was then Committed to the House of Correction at Clerkenwell in
this County as a Rogue and Vagabond untill the Present Sess: upon the oath his sd. Wife
and complaint of your Petrs. And your Petrs. are informed he has been constantly employed ever
since his Committment about Work sent him by a Master Taylor & earns almost as much Money
as if he was at large, but still Obstinately & perversely refuses to Indemnify the Parish or Allow
his Family ReliefAnd, in expectation of being Discharged at the gaol Delivery in this
Present Sess: sets your Petrs. & the Laws of his County at defiance

That your Petrs. having already been put to considerable expence in maintaining
the sd. Family & there being a great probability of such charge not only continuing but encereasing by reason
of the Pregnancy of the sd. Sarah< no role > , without any view of procuring an Indemnity the sd. Alexr. Fenton< no role >

Yours Petitioners therefore Humbly beg leave to represent the Case to your
Woships & Pray that you will be pleased to Order the sd. Alex Fenton< no role > to Indemnity their
sd. Parish, Or that he be detained and kept in the House of Correction to hard Labour for
such time as you may think proper, or otherwise punished as his delinquency may
be thought to merit

And Your Petrs. will Pray Etc

Herbt. Robert< no role > . [..]
for the Petitioners