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.
"July the Second 1664
In the name of god Amen: I Thomas Sutton of Rolleston in the County of Stafford Yeoman not well in body but of a good & perfect memory thankes be to god for it doe constitute ordaine & make this my last will & testament in manner & forme followinge first I bequeath my soule into the hands of almighty god my Creator & maker who gave trustiinge & faithfully beleivinge to be saved by the merites of Jesus Christ my mediator & redeemer & my body to be buried in the parish church yard of Rolleston at the descretion of my Executrix
And my worldly goods I despose in manner and forme as followeth: In primis I give & bequeathe to Mary Belcher my sister in lawes & daughter ten pounds
Item I give to Joane Smith my Sister two Shillinges & Six pence Item I give to her daughter Feales twenty shillings
Item I give to Thomas Lee my godson twenty Shillings
Item I give to John Hearthcotes too Sones either of them ten shillinges
Item I give to John Scrages Son twenty Shillings
Item I give to Margery Hill twenty shillings Item I give to Edward Belchar my godson twenty Shillings Item i give to Francis Scrag two Shillinges & Six pence
Item I give to Thomas Harlow my godson two Shillings & six pence Item I give to Thomas Hall two Shillings & Six pence Item i give to the poore of Rolleston five Shillings Item i give to the Ringers five Shillinges Item I give to my wife all the goods that have remainge makinge her my Sole Executrix. moreover I doe apoynt & ordaine my Brother Francis Scrag & Edward Scrag over seers of this my last will and desiringe them to see it performed to utermost of theire power"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , B/C/11 1664 Sutton , Thomas
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.