132 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6.

Liber R.

At w^ch tyme came Elizabeth Tennison widow and preferred

her petition whereof she prays the heareing, and the same is
read as followeth (viz.)

To the R^t hon^ble Charles absolute Lord and Prop^ry of the
Provinces of Mary^ld and Avalon Lord Baron of Baltemore &c^a
The humble Petition of Elizabeth Tennisson widow Most
humbly sheweth
That your Pet^r was the wife of John Tennisson Sen^r who in
his life tyme was to allow your Pet^r a yearely pension for her
maintenance p your L^spps ord^r which was 100^l of Tobacco, 3
barrills of Indian Corne and 300^l of meate p annum, whereof
your Pet^r never had but 500^l of Tobacco: 3 barr^lls of Corne &
the whole Quantity of meate, being three yeares banished
from her s^d husband, soe that there remaines 2500^l of Tobacco

p. 346

and six barrills of Corne, your Pet^r presumeth that her hus-
bands Ex^rs stand now indebted to her for the said 2500^l of
Tobacco and the 6 barrills of Corne which has been often
demanded p your Pet^r from them but they refuse to pay the
same, unless your Pet^r will accept of the same yearely allow-
ance as she had formerly and leave her thirds.
Now soe it is may it please your L^dsp that your Pet^rs hus-
band dyed in January last, and by his last will made his two
Sonns Justinian and Absalom Tennisson joint Execute^rs and
gave what Estate he had unto them, but nothing unto your
Pet^r but what she could recover p Law, soe they have gott the
whole Estate into their owne hands, and forgetting their Duty
threaten to keepe your Pet^r from her owne by Law, who being
poore and not of Ability to wage Law with them; And more-
over they debarr your pet^r from all priviledges whatsoever,
and have since the death of your Pet^rs husband confiscated
greate parte of the Estate and refuse to give your Pet^r any
Acco^t thereof, and doe still contrive all the wayes imaginable
to defraud your Pet^r of what is her just due, and they also say
that they will hinder your Pet^r from having anything this
yeare in despight of ffate, soe that your Pet^r is likely to be
brought to misery and poverty in this her old age, if not
releived by your L^dsps tender pitty and Compassion. Your
Pet^r humbly prayes your L^dsps ord^r that she may have her just
due and right without any trouble in the Law being poore and
in a meane condition
And yo^r Pet^r as in duty bound shall ever pray &c^a

Which petition was transmitted to the Provinciall Court
with this foll Indorsem^t (viz:)