To the Worshipful Sr. John Gonson< no role > Knt . & the
rest of the Justices of the Peace at the General Quarter
Sessions of the Peace now holden at Westmr. Hall in
& for the City & Liberty of Westmr.

The humble Petition of Sarah Avery< no role > Widow .

Humbly Shewth.

That Yr Petrs. Husband dying about 6 Years ago (leaving yr. Petr.
& 3 small Children) who being a House Keeper in the Parish of St. James in the sd.
Liberty, yr. Petr. maintained them by her Industry for above four Years, when
the Church-Wardens & Overseers of the Poor of the sd. Parish were pleased to
put 2. of them (to wit) Walter & Edward Avery< no role > into the Work house of the sd. Parish,
where one Hugh Leigh< no role > about a Year ago came & pretending he was a Shoe-maker
& made new work & sometimes mended old Work, they let the sd. Walter (a Child then
of about 11. Years of Age) go with him upon Trial, where he remained about a
Month, in which time the sd. Hugh Leigh< no role > & his Wife, were very kind to the sd.
Walter, giving him necessary Food & seem'd very fond of him, so that the sd. Church
Wardens & Overseers by Indres bound the sd. Walter to be his Apprentice, [..] (at
least for the Term of 7 years) & gave the sd. Hugh Leigh< no role > 20s. with him.

That since the sd. Walter's being so bound as aforesd. his sd. Mar.
hath not put him to make, nor assist to make any New Shoes, but only to sit
with him in his Stall to do old Work, & hath not given him necessary Food, nor
Rayment so that for wantthereofproper Change of Linnen & Woolen
the Lice Swarm'd on his Shirt & in his Breeches, both wch. he himself was
obliged to mend with Cobler's Ends, & he was in danger of perishing if he
continued with his sd. Master.

Your Petr. therefore humbly prays, That ye
Worsps will be pleased to order That the sd. Walter may be
discharged from his sd. Master, & that he may refund the sd.
20s. to buy the sd. Walter necessary Apparel, & that the sd.
Walter may be turn'd over & the sd. Indre assigned to
another Master; or that yr. Worps will be pleased to make
such other Order for the Relief of the sd. Walter as to yr.
Worps shall seem meet.

And yr Petr. shall ever pray Etc.

Sarah Avery< no role >