We whose names are underwritten, would (if it may stand with your worship's favours) certify you, that whereas some controversies are in agitation betwixt James Clitherall of Great Eccleston, and three alehousekeepers of the same town, touching suspicion of some abuses done to him by them, that we know John Gradell the bearer hereof and Margaret his wife, pretended to be one of the three, to be very honest poor people well affected to the protestant religion, neighbours born of honest parentage and have been three years resident in Great Eccleston aforesaid, well and in godly manner governed themselves without suffering any abuse or misorder to be done in their house, or giving forth language to... hurt their neighbours, and that the best sort do always frequent their company and that we verily believe they neither have wronged James Clitherall by word or deed, in any [of] the objections he pretendeth against them: or any other person but that James Clitherall doeth it forth of his greatness, and through the instigation of some other alehouskeepers in the same town, which would not that any should exist but himself, as we are credibly possessed, the house wherein John Gradell doth inhabit hath been an ancient alehouse... these threescore years by past, costly builded and situated in the middle of the town, and the most convenient house in the town for alehouse keeping and that if they be not permitted they are not able to maintain themselves, by reason they are brought into great debt in farming, only the house, and backside for their two lives, and that without alehouse keeping, the yearly profits together with their own labours will not maintain the buildings and so by that means the houses be ruinated the creditors not paid, and they quite impoverished, thus much we certify to be true, and hope for the reasons aforesaid your worships will take the cause, into mild consideration and humbly take leave.
Petitions
LRO
QSP 26/6
Petition
Preston, Lancashire, England
1649
Petition
Testimonial
17 December 1649
Relates To
Licensing
Poor relief
Setting
Alehouse
Transcription
Petitionee
James Gradell
male
Alcohol Retailer: Alehouse-keeper
Spouse
Margaret Gredall
female
Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England
Petitioners
Henry Butler
male
Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England
Henry Walker
male
Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England
Thomas Clifton
male
Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England
John Westby
male
Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England
John Leckonby
male
Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England
Edward Shuttleworth
male
Great Eccleston, Lancashire, England