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 Ralfe Mills of Hilderston in the County of Stafford yeoman being of perfect mind and memory praised be god doe make and Ordeyne this my last will and Testament in manner and forme Following
Inprimis : I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my maker hopeing that therein the meritoriouse death and passion of Jesus Christ my onely Savioure and redeemer to receive free parden and forgiveness of all my Sins And as fore my body to be buried in the midle Ile of the Church of Stone at the discretion of my Executors hereafter Nominated And as for my wordly Estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bestow on mee I give and bequeath as followeth
First I will that all Such debts as are oweing by mee at my decease be well and trewly paid: Item 1 give unto my well- beloved wife the bed whereon Shee useualy lyeth with all things belonging thereunto
Item I give unto my Sonn Ralph Mills the one halfh of my lands of inheritance after my decease and the other halfe of my Lands which my wife hath now setled on her for her Joynture I give unto my Said Sonn Ralph after her decease: Allsoe I give unto my said Sonn Ralph Mills and his heirs for ever all that peece or parcell of Land after my decease called the Clay lying and being within the Parish of Stone in the County of Stafford aforesaid now devided into two parts which was bought by mee from one Mr John Povey Allsoe I give unto my Said Sonn Ralph Mills all my goods Cattle and Chatells which I am possest of at my death [except before Excepted]
Item I give unto my Daughter Dorothy Milles thre score pounds of good and lawfull mony of England to be paid within one yeare after my decease in case she be then liveing:
Item I give unto my daughter Mary Fox the summ of one shilling And to her three Children now borne twenty Shillings apeice to be paid them when they Shall attaine to the age of one and twenty yeares.
Item I give unto my daughter Ellin Doane one Shilling And allsoe I give unto her Six eldest Children twenty shillings apeice to be paid them when they shall attaine to the age of one and twenty years etc
Item I give unto my Daughter Ann Walter one Shilling And allsoe I give unto her Six Eldest Children twenty Shillings apeice to be paid unto them when they shall attayne to the age of one and twenty yeares
And of this my last Will and Testament I doe hereby these presents Constetute Ordeyne and appoint my Said Sonn Ralph Milles Sole Executor Revoakeing all other wills and testaments whatsoever hereto made by mee"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , B/C/11 1689 Mills , Ralfe
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.