Westminster Sessions:
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4th July 1707

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To the Right Honoble. William Lord Cowper< no role > Baron of Wingham , Lord High
Chancellor of Great Britain.

May it please your Lordshipp to be Certified.


That at a Generall Quarter Sessions of the peace holden for the City & Liberty of Westmr. in the County of Midd on Friday the Fourth day of July, in the
Sixth year of her now Maties. Reign, 1707 . It appeared unto us & others her Maties. Justices of peace for the said City & Liberty then Assembled, by the
humble peticon of Jane Short< no role > , John Thornburgh< no role > , Sarah Dingley< no role > widdow, Henry Penfins< no role > , James Read< no role > , Bert Mellichampe< no role > , Thomas paicem, John
Fintell, Edward Ingleton< no role > , Mathew Fairlesse< no role > , William Windsor< no role > and Edward Williams< no role > , on the behalfe of themselves & other Sufferers by the late
dreadfull & lamentable Fire wch. happened in Charles Street & the places Adjacent wth. in the parish of St. Margarett Westmr. (Exclusive of all
benefitt & advantage of Insurance or otherwise) That on the Tenth day of Aprill last, there happened in the said Charles Street & places Adjacent
a very dreadfull & lamentable first, where most of the peticoners were housekeepers & others Lodgers, at the time of the same First; wch. suddenly
burt down & destroyed not only Seaventeen dwelling Houses, wth. Outhouses thereunto belonging, but also very much Damaged Six more houses;
And that the greatest part of the Petitioners Goods, Chattells, Household stuff and Implemente of Trade were either burnt, broken to peices &
made unserviceable, or Stolen away; the whole Losse (Exclusive of all benefitt of Insurance) Amounting to the value of Three Thousand Eight
Hundred Ninety and One Pounds, and upwards; whereby the respective petitioners are not able to Subsist without falling into great want,
unless some speedy Rednesse be had by a Breift for Charitable Collection, And thereupon prayed us her Maties. Justices of peace now Assembled, to
Certify the same unto your good Lordshipp, To the End your Lordshipp might be pleased to Grant unto them her Maties. Letters patents to
Enable them to take, receive & gather the Charitable Contributions of her Maties. Subjects in that part of South Britain called England and the
Dominion of Walkes and Town of Berwick upon Tweed . And wee having now Examined the truth of the said Peticon. Doe further Certifie,
That it likewise appeared unto us, aswell upon the Oaths of the Petitioners, as upon the Oaths of Thomas Yeomans< no role > & John Hester< no role > Bricklayers
and Edward Sawyer< no role > & Simcon Betts< no role > Carpenters well Experienced workmen, That the Dammages & Losse Sustained by the said Peticoners
by reason of the said First, doth upon a true Estimate of the value thereof Amount to Three Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety & One Pounds
Seaven Shillings and Nine pence Halfpenny: And that they (wth. out a Collection) are not any wise able to Susteyne themselves; but must
fall into great want & penury; For wth. Caused wee are bold humbly to Recommend the Distressed & miserable Estates of the said Peticoners
unto your Lordshipps Consideration; humbly praying your good Lordshipp (if it shall so seem fit, unto Your Honors. Grave Wisdom,) to Grant
unto them her Maties. Garious Letters Pattents for a Collection of the Pious & Charitable Benevolence of such her Maties. well disposed Subjects as shall
be willing to Contribute to the Releife of the Necessity of the said Petitioners in & through the Cities Counties & Places in that part of South
Britain, called England & the Deminion of Wales & Town of Berwick upon Tweed , All wch. nevertheless, wee humbly Submit to your Lordshipps
grave wisdom, humbly resting, your Lordshipps most humble and most obedient Servants:




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