Document Ten - Mary Dale

To the oversers of Sutton.  I being under the extreme obligation of applying to you for Relief as some assistance being in a case of real necessity th^o^oug the stagnation of the silk trade as brought us to real want.  I hall ways has endeavourd to trouble you has little as possible theirs three of us out of the four complecetly out of employ – Gentlelman if you ^will^ take in concideation case I shall return you many thanks for in a few weeks the work may have a turn has our subsistance totally lies on that trade I really doo not wish to th^r^ough my self and children on on St Mary’s Parish or give you has little trouble trouble as possible. Gentleman Your Humble Sevant && have the kindness to answer me this by the Carrier.

Mary Dale

« Return to Private: The pauper in their community

Questions to consider

  • Who else in the community is mentioned? What might this suggest?
  • Are there any similarities in the sources you are studying?
  • Do we think the comments in this would be typical? How might we be able to tell this?
  • What does this suggest about the connections to the wider community for the poor?