Petitions to the Westminster Quarter Sessions: 1737

Jacob Astley. WJ/SP/1737/01/005 (1737). LondonLives reference: LMWJPS654080002

To Sir John Gonson knight and the rest of his majestys [illegible]
justices of the peace at Westminster

The humble petition of Jacob Astley.

Sheweth
that your petitioner is, and has been a housekeeper in
Harp Alley where he followed the trade of broker and upholder for the four
years past.

That your petitioner (by the indiscretion of a near relation)
being carryed before the worshipfull Colonel Deviel for a misdemeanour
committed, by a casual absence of reason, being intoxicated with
liquor and passion did behave impudently and rudely to the said colonel
in the execution of his office

That your petitioner being indicted for the same at the late sessions
at Westminster threw himselfe upon the mercy of the court and pleaded guilty
for which he stands sentanced to pay a fine of one mark, suffer three
months imprisonment, and give security for his good behaviour for one year.

And forasmuch as your petitioner hereby declares his
sincere contrition, and hearty remorse, and repentance for his said fault,
and that his shop and house has been shut up for these six weeks past
(since he has been in prison for said misdemeanor) and has a wife and
family who cannot carry on his business, without his own personal
attendance.

He therefore most humbly prays that your
worships will be pleased (to prevent his and his
familys utter ruin and destruction) to commiserate
his condition and remit that part of his punishment
which relates to the imprisoment of his person; by
which he may be enabled to follow his business, and
so preserve himselfe, his wife and family from
absolute want and misery which otherwise must
inevitably attend them.

And your petitioner (as in duty bound) will ever pray etc.

I submitt this with
great respect to the
gentlemen in the commission
of the peace and if
they thinke proper to
remitt the punishment
inflicted on Master Astley
I doe withall my
heart forgive the
offence

• Thomas de Veil

22 February 1736

Charles Cort. WJ/SP/1737/01/006 (1737). LondonLives reference: LMWJPS654080009

To the worshipfull Sir John Gonson knight chairman
of the sessions of the peace held for the city and liberty of Westminster
and to the rest of his majesties justices of the peace in their generall
quarter sessions assembled

The humble petition of Charles Cort

Sheweth
that your petitioner was by indenture of
apprenticeship bearing date the 28th. day of May 1729 bound
apprentice to William Blackburn a cordwainer for 7 years by
which said indenture your petitioners said master in the art mistery or
occupation of a cordwainer was to teach and instruct or cause
to be taught and instructed in the best way and manner that
he could, and was also to find and allow your petitioner good
and sufficient meat drink washing and lodging during the
said term.

That your petitioner soon after he was bound began to
feel the effects of his master's moross ill temper who compelled
your petitioner to find peggs tacks and all manner of working tools out
of his own money in doing his said masters business and has been
beat by his said master for refusing so to do of which your petitioner
complained to his friends who applyed to his said master concerning
the same who insisted that it was the custom of the trade and that
he should doe [the same?] it although your petitioner is otherwise informed
and your petitioners friends to prevent any dispute and for the
ease and quiet of your petitioner allowed money to him for that
purpose.

That your petitioners master never took care to
instruct him in Christian principalls nor ever took care to see
how he spent the sabbathe till about 5 years of his time was
expired and then your petitioners father applyed to his master
to learn him to cut out who replyed that it was not in his indentures
and that he never would learn him and thereupon began to
debarr your petitioner of the liberty of the Sunday of which before
he had taken no notice of and beat your petitioner in a very
barbarous manner for taking the liberty of going abroad that day

That your petitioner has been taken up severall times
by his said master severall times for one and the same [illegible]
and carryed before justices of the peace and has been at the
instigation of the his said master committed to goal in order to
ruin your petitioner without ever giving him an opportunity
to send for his friends and while he was in prison neither
provided victualls or lodging for him and your petitioners master [illegible]
his journeymen to have the key of the street door who hath [brought?] and bring in lewd women at [illegible]
in the night

Your petitioner apprehending that his [said master?]
intended to distress him by using him with the utmost [severity?] [illegible]
his said master declaring that he would not learn him his
business did about 2 years agoe inadvertantly and without
consulting his friends (not being able to bear his cruelty any
longer) abscond his said masters service.

Your petitioner therefore most humbly prays
that you worships will take the premisses into
consideration and discharge your petitioner from
serving the residue of his said time to his said
master or give him such other releif in the premisses
as to your worships shall seem meet

And your petitioner as in duty
bound will ever pray etc

• Charles Cort

John Gastrill, apprentice to John Franklyne, engraver. WJ/SP/1737/04 (1737). LondonLives reference: LMWJPS654090004

To the worshipfull bench
of justices

The humble petition of John Gastrill
apprentice to Master John Franklyne engraver

Most humbly sheweth that your petitioner
was bound for 7 years to learn the art of
engraving, and has already served near four
years, but his master refusing to instruct him
or cause him to be instructed, and denying him, the
liberty of seeing him work, or the method of working
and giving him no employment in the art of engraving
whereby he may learn to gett his bread, and having no
freind in town to assist him, he humbly beggs that
your worships, out of your great goodness would be
pleased to order that your petitioner may be employed
at his trade, or be turned over to some other master of
the same trade, whereby he may gett an honest livlyhood
or to make such order in the premisses as the court shall think fitt and your petitioner as in duty shall be ever bound
to pray

• John Gattrill

George Hind. WJ/SP/1737/04/006 (1737). LondonLives reference: LMWJPS654090007

To the right worshipfull Sir John Gonson knight chairman of the
generall quarter sessions of the peace held for the city and liberty of
Westminster and the rest of his majestys justices there

The humble petition of George Hind

Sheweth
that on the third day of December 1735 your petitioner was bound
an apprentice by indenture unto William Meadow citizen and joyner of London
for the space of seven years, and on the same day your petitioner was by
writing under the hand and seal of the said William Meadow turned over to
John Lowrey of the parish of Saint James Westminster joyner to whom your
petitioner paid the summe of twenty pounds

That some short time after your petitioner was so turned over to the
said John Lowrey as aforesaid, he began to abridge your petitioner of comon
sustenance both as to eating and drinking and tho your petitioner hath often
complained of the same to the said Lowrey, yet he could never obtain any redress

That during your petitioners servitude the said Lowry hath severall
times ordered your petitioner to deny him to his creditors and through the badness
of his circumstances was obligd about a month since to abscond and leave of
[trade?] by shutting up his shop and disposing of his household goods so that your
petitioner is now entirely destitute of a master and must have lain in the streets
being an orphan) unless releived by an acquaintance of your petitioners late
father

Your petitioner therefore most humbly prays your worships
that you will be pleased to take his case into consideration
and order that he may for the reasons aforesaid be discharged
from his said apprentiship from the said John Lowrey and that
the said Lowrey may return to your petitioner the said twenty pounds or
such part thereof so given to him as aforesaid as the said
court shall seem meet

And your petitioner shall ever pray etc

• George Hind

The churchwardens and surveyors of the highways of St George Hanover Square. WJ/SP/1737/04/007 (1737). LondonLives reference: LMWJPS654090009

To the right worshipfull his majesty's justices
of the peace at their general quarter sessions
assembled at Westminster

The humble petition of the church wardens and
surveyors of the highways of the parish of Saint
George Hanover Square in the liberty of Westminster
and county of Middlesex

Sheweth
that the highways causeways and
pavements to be repaired by the said parish are now
so broken and out of repair that they cannot be sufficiently
amended and repaired for this present year commencing
from Christmas last at less charge than four hundred
pounds and upwards which may be raised by a rate
of two pence in the pound upon the inhabitants
owners and occupiers of lands tenements and
hereditaments within the said parish

Your petitioners therefore humbly
prays your worships to grant your petitioners
an order of this court to enable your petitioners
to make a rate or assessment of two pence in
the pound upon all and every the inhabitants
of the said parish for repairing the said highways
causeways and pavements as by the statute in
that behalf made and provided etc

And your petitioners will ever pray etc.

• Benjamin Bothomley
• John Nealle


• Denis Bond
• James Spilman}

church wardens

• Robert Gray
• Benjamin [Berwick?]}

surveyors of
the highways

The churchwardens and surveyors of the highways of St George Hanover Square. WJ/SP/1737/06/001 (1737). LondonLives reference: LMWJPS654100001

To the worshipful his majesty's justices of
the peace, in their general quarter sessions assembled
at Westminster

The humble petition of the churchwardens and
surveyors of the highways of the parish of Saint George Hanover
Square

Sheweth
that the surveyors of the highways of the said parish
of Saint George Hanover Square for the year last past have
not made up and passed their accounts relating to
their said office as the law directs in such cases.

Your petitioners therefore humbly prays
your worships will be pleased to make
such order for the said surveyors to pass their
accounts as to your worship's shall seem meet

• Henry Talbot
• Blundell}

churchwardens

• Benjamin Berwick
• David Willams}

surveyors of the
highways

John Richardson, an apprentice. WJ/SP/1737/06/002 (1737). LondonLives reference: LMWJPS654100002

To the worshipfull the bench of justices
at the sessions held at Westminster Hall

The humble petition of John Richardson
an apprentice

Humbly sheweth
that your petitioner was bound an apprentice unto
Anthony Powell of Charles Street Soho in the county of
Middlesex cordwainer for the term of seven years as
your worships may be pleased to see by the annexed
indentures and your petitioners mother was to find your
petitioner in cloaths lining etc for halfe the said term and your
petitioners master was to find your petitioner for the remainder
of your petitioners time and your petitioner served four
years and eight months of said time of your petitioners
time of apprenticeship and although your petitioner
hath beheaved as a true and faithfull apprentiss your
petitioners master doth refuse although often required to
find your petitioner according to the covenant of said
indenture although often requested and gave for his
reasons that unless your petitioners mother would pay
three pounds and upwards which he pretends to be due
for working task work [illegible] and that he would not give
or find your petitioner unless said sume be paid and
your petitioner being deprived of apparell humbly begs
your worships will oblige your petitioners master to find him
according to said indenture so that your petitioner
may be discharged according to law your petitioner being
fatherless and destitute of cloaths to cover your petitioner
and humbly implores you will order your petitioner
to be provided according to the covenent in said
indenture or that [I may be?] discharged for although
he has been often requested to do according to [agreement?]
he says that he will not find your petitioner unless he
be paid for task work [illegible] all which being hard on your
petitioner and humbly implores your taking the premises
into your favourable consideration being naked and
not able to perform the remainder of my apprentise [illegible]
=ship unless redressed by your worships by his finding me
cloaths and lining etc according to agreement

and your petitioner will as in duty bound pray etc

• John Richardson