Civil War Petitions contains petitions to the state from veterans and their families for welfare payments as a result of injuries and bereavement sustained during the English Civil Wars. It aims to share information on the human costs of this devastating conflict, which continued to affect communities long after the fighting was over.
The English Civil Wars were a time of terrible conflict. In England and Wales alone, a greater proportion of the population died in the Civil Wars than in the First World War. For those who survived, thousands suffered from terrible injuries whilst wives, children and other family members faced daily struggles as a result of bereavement.
The petitions were often accompanied by certificates from military commanders, medical practitioners and local communities in support of their cases. In addition, payment records for the tens of thousands of names of those who received military welfare survive in order books and treasurers' accounts.