Description:Wills and their accompanying inventories of goods and chattels, are an excellent source of information for family, social and economic history. A will can provide all kinds of useful information about family relationships and the social and economic status of the testator, that is the person making the will. In addition before 1750, an itemised inventory of the goods of the deceased was drawn up by between two and five unbiased persons called appraisors, overseers or supervisors. The inventory includes all the moveable goods, including where appropriate household goods, clothing, stock-in-trade, farm stock, growing and cut corn, loose money and any rent and debts due but it does not include land.
"Be it knowne unto all men by these presents that uppon the thirteenth day of december Anno Domini 1686 Thomas Ashley of Moule in the parish of Biddulph in the county of Stafford husbandman being weak in body yet in good remembrance did in the presence of us whose names are subscribed declare his Last Will and Minde touching his funerall and the disposeing of his temporall estate as hereafter followeth and did then bid us beare wittnesse of the same or to that effect. Imprimus he declared it was his will & minde to be decently buried in the parish churchyard of Norton le mores in the said County of Stafford. Item he did give and bequeath to Dorothy Wedgwood his neice daughter of Thomas Wedgwood late of Biddulph aforesaid husbandman deceased and to her heirs and assignes for ever, All that his Cottage or dwelling house scituate in Baddeley in the parish of Norton le mores county of Stafford aforesaid now in the possession of John Flood and all edifices buildings yords gardens & appurtences to the said Cottage belonging. Item he did give and bequeath to Anne Wedgwood & Ellin Wedgwood sisters to the said Dorothy Wedgwood the sume of five pounds in money equally to be divided betwixt them. And all the rest and residue of his goods and chattells he did give and bequeath unto her the said Dorothy Wedgwood, his debts and funerall expenses being first paid & discharged."
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , B/C/11 1686 , Ashley Thomas
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.