It is the humble petition of the town of Harpley that alehouses amongst us may be suppressed: Our town being neither any thoroughfare, to speak of, and the neighbour towns round about us being far more convenient and better provided for such purposes than either of our tippling houses. Also it being the observation of those which be ancient amongst us that our town was far better to pass when it had no such houses; whereas now, of (about) six and fifty several householders, we have scarce six owners of above six acres of land, and scarce any (two or three at the most) which use trading or occupation: Also the extraordinary mortality which lately by the providence of God befell amongst us, we have cause to think was in great measure [struck out: 'caus'] increased by alehouse drinking, the greater part of them which so died being of the poorer sort and given to that kind of riot. Might it therefore please your worships to do our poor town so much contentment as to put down these licentious houses so harmful unto our town and no way profitable unto the country. So shall we hope to have our people more painful, thriving and fearing God than now they are or ever are like to be, these houses continuing.
Petitions
NRO
C S/3/23
Quarter Sessions Roll, 1621-2
Norfolk, England
24 March 1621
23 March 1622
Petition
Complaint
from 24 March 1621
Relates To
Licensing
Drunkenness
Allowing poor men to drink
Poor relief
Trade and commerce
Setting
Alehouse
Location of Event
Transcription
Petitionees
Edward Ingledew
male
Alcohol Retailer: Alehouse-keeper
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Thomas Laskey
male
Alcohol Retailer: Alehouse-keeper
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Petitioners
Richard Bulwer
male
Constable and Churchwarden
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature
John Martin
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature
William Platfoot
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Basic Mark
Robert Bateman
male
Churchwarden
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Elaborate Mark
Thomas Person
male
Overseer of the Poor
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature
Gregory Balden
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Elaborate Mark
John Thorpe
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Martin Goodson
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature
Nicholas Foster
male
Overseer of the Poor
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Basic Mark
John Fellam
male
Best reading of surname
Spouse
[Not specified]
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Basic Mark
Edmund Gurnay
male
Rector of Harpley
Church of England clergyman
Spouse
[Not specified]
male
Harpley, Norfolk, England
Signature