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Sir Joseph Banks,
We whose Names are underwritten being Freeholders and principal inhabitants of the Parish of Owston in the Isle of Axholme and County of Lincoln; do here beg leave to Petition to you in Favour of the Rev.d Thomas Clarke Vicar of Owston, who is a sober diligent Clergyman, and from his obscure situation has not an opportunity of contracting Friendships with Men or Fortune and Interest, so when any Church preferment is vacant, he has not a Friend to make application to the Lord Chancellor for it. We likewise take the liberty of informing you, that he is fifty six Years old, that he has a Wife in a very weakly state of health, that he has six Children to maintain and provide for, that he has no preferment but the small Vicarage of Owston, which is forty two Pounds two Shillings and eight pence per Annum, that he is very lame from having had a Leg broken about fourteen years since when going to serve his Church, this, Sir Joseph, is a true state of his Situation, Under which we humbly hope that your goodness and humanity will recommend him and his Family to the Lord Chancellor's protection, and get him some benefice confer'd [sic] upon him to enable him to administer to the comfort of his numerous Ofspring, which will confer a lasting obligation upon your humble Petitioners.
Owston near Gainsbro' [sic] 28 April 1794
[Gebas? Woodhouse Jnr.
John Eyre
Corns. Sandars
John Thompson
William KeniwellSenedr;
William Bealby
Robort [sic] Wilkinson
Thos. Brown
Saml. Slingsby
Josh. Hornby
Jonathan Crookes
Jos. Sissons
Robt. Langhton
Richard Watkinson
Richard Fletcher
Robt. Clarke
William Tubb
William Fish Sen...