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.
"The Condicon of this obligacon is such that if Jane Naden Relict and Administrator of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of Francis Naden Junior off the Parish of Longnor deceased doe make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the goodes chattells and credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to the hands possession or knowledge of her the said Jane Naden or into the hands and possession of any person or persons for her and the same soe made doe exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Registry of the Bishops Court of Lichfield at or before the last day of June next ensuing And the same goods chattells and credits and all other the good chattells and credits of the said deceased at the time of his death which at any time after shall come to the hands or possession of the said Jane Naden or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for her doe well and truly adminster according to law And further doe make or cause to be made a true and instant accompt of her said Administration at or before the last day of April Anno Domini 1704 and all the rest and residue of the said goods, chattells and credits which shall be found remaining upon the said Administrators accompt the Same being first examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of the Said Court shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively, as the said Judge or Judges, by his or their decree or sentence pursuant to the true intent and meaning of a late Act of Parliament made in the two and twentieth and three and twentieth yeares of the raigne of the Late Soveraigne Lord King Charles the second (Intituled An Act for the better settling of Intestates Estates} shall limitt and appoint And if it shall hereafter appeare that any last will and Testament was made by the said deceased and the Executor or Executors therein named doe exhibit the same into the said Court makeing request to have it allowed and approved accordingly, if the said Jane Naden above bounden being thereunto required doe render and deliver the said Letters of Administration (approbation of such Testament being first had and made} in the said Court Then this Obligation to be void and of none effect or else to remaine in full force and vertue."
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , B/C/11 1703 Naden , Francis
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.