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.
"In the name of God Amen I Thomas Rowley of Weston Coney in the County of Stafford yeoman beinge in sound and perfect memory praysed bee Almighty god Doe hereby make Constitute and ordeine this my Last will and Testament In manner and forme followinge, utterlie renouncinge disclayminge Annullinge and making voyd all and every other former wills & Testaments by mee at any tyme here tofore made. First I Commend my Soule into the handes of Almighty God and Saviour Jesus Christ trustinge through his mercy meritts & bloodshed of the full remission and pardon of all my sins & of A Joyfull Resurrection with him at the Last Day and my Body to the earth from whence it Came to bee buried in Christian buriall at the Discretion of my Executrix herein hereafter named And as Concerninge that Reall and personall estate it hath pleased God to bestow upon mee I Give Leave devise bequeath and Assigne and dispose of in manner and forme Followinge as is hereby and herein hereafter expressed set down and declared. Item I give devise and bequeath unto Sarah Rowley my now wife All that Cottage or dwellinge house now in my possession scituate lyinge and beinge in Houlme in the parish of Carswall in the said County of Stafford togeather with the Garden plott thereto adjoininge And all and every those percells of Land now in my possession by estimacon Six Acres Scituate Lyinge and beinge in the said parish of Carswall with all and every the Rents proffitts and issues thereof from andIimmediatly after my decease for and Duringe her naturall Life Lyinge and beinge within the Lordship of Houlme aforesaid And after the Decease of the said Sarah my now wife the revertion and revertions Remaynder and Remaynders thereof and all and every the Rents issues and proffitts of the said Cottages Garden plott and parcells of Land aforesaid to bee and remayne unto my Two youngest Daughters Mary Rowley and Ruth Rowley to bee equally divided between them towards theire future preferment and to the heirs of theire bodies Lawfully to bee begotten for ever payinge all and every the Rents and Charges thereunto belonginge that shall or may happen and to noe other intents and purposes whatsoever And all and every the writinges Evidences escripts and minuments concerninge the same: Item I Leave and bequeath unto my Daughter Anne Rowley Twelve pence in full of her Childs part: Item I Leave unto my sonne Omega Five shillings Item I leave unto my sonne in Law John Bamfords Children Five shillings a peece: Item to my sonne in Law John Gretbech his child Sarah Five shillinges and to my daughter Lidia Five shillinges Item to my sonne George Rowley’s Daughter Sarah Five shillings: Item I Leave and bequeath unto my Grandchildren Thomas Lawton and Raph Lawton Five shillings to bee devided betwixt them all the rest of my Grandchildren now at the makinge hereof Twelve pence a peece if they shall bee then Livinge after my decease all and every the abovesaid Legacies & bequests to bee paid within one yeare after my decease Item I Leave and bequeath unto my Kinswomen Mary Knight Hannah Knight and Katherine Knight Five shillings to each of them to bee payd as abov said: Item I Leave give and bequest all and every my personall estate Goodes Cattles and Chattles and Debts Due unto mee unto Sarah Rowley my said wife and to my youngest Daughters Mary Rowley and Ruth Rowley to bee equally Divided betwixt them after my Debts Legacies and funerall expences are Fully satisfied and payd Item I doe hereby nominate Constitute and appoynt Sarah Rowley my now said wife sole executrix of this my Last will and testament and my trusty and well beloved freindes Raph Woodes and Thomas
Buxtons trustees amd overseers of this my said will to see and inspeck that this my said will bee duely and faithfully executed accordinge to the true intent and meaninge thereof In Witnesse whereof I have hereunto putt my hand and seale the nine and twentyth Day September in the first yeare of the Raigne of our gracious Sovereignes William and Mary by the Grace of God Kinge and Queene of England Scotland France and Ireland Defendors of the Faith Anno Domini 1689
Item I Leave and bequeath and it is is my will before the ensealinge here of that Raph Woods and Thomas Buxtons above named shall have each of them five shillinges
Item I Leave and bequeath to my Brother in Law Thomas Ledsham ten shillinges and to his wife five shillinges before the ensealinge hereof
Sealed signed declared
and published to bee his
Last will and Testament
In the presence of us
John Gallimore
William Ccooper
Thomas Ledsham Thomas Rowley
Cheadle 7 April 1691
[Probate granted to Sarah Rowley executrix]
Sworn before me Thomas Dresser
Surrogate"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , B/C/11 1689 Rowley , Thomas
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.