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 Remembred That I Richard Butter of Knighton In the County of Stafford Malster being of Sound Mind and Memory Do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament in Manner following That is to Say first and principally it is my mind and will that all such Just Debts as I shall Owe at the time of my Decease Together with my Funerall Expenses be first paid and Discharged by my Executors herein hereafter Named And First I give and bequeath Unto my Nephew John Harper of Ightfield in the County of Salop One Guinea Also I give and bequeath unto my Nephew Richard Meeson, of Gold Stone in the County of Salop One Guinea Also I give and bequeath unto my nephew Richard Groom of Lee-gummery in the County of Salop One Guinea, Also I give and bequeath unto Anne Hampton Daughter of Anne Hampton of Aston in the Parish of Muckleston and County of Stafford The Summ of Forty pounds of Good and Lawfull money of Great Brittain to be paid her if she Lives to attain to the age of One and Twenty Years And Intrest for the same to be yearly paid her If she so long live But if the said Anne Hampton Dye before the said Forty pounds becomes payable as Aforaid Then I give and bequeath the Said Forty pounds unto my Loving Brother Edward Butter In Manner following That is to say to be put into my Loving Brother Randle Butters hands And he to pay my Brother Edward Butter Intrest yearly for it Within forty days after the same shall become Due And if the said Intrest is not paid as Aforsaid it is my Mind and will that My Brother Edward shall Demand the Aforsaid principall summ of Forty pounds to his own proper use And Further If it shall Happen that my Said Brother Edward Butter shall be in A Necessitous way it is my Will that My Brother Randle shall Relieve him with part or all of the said Forty pounds. According as he is Necessitated for it And I give and bequeath Unto my said Brother Edward Butter The Summ of Twenty pounds to be paid into My Brother Randle Butters Hands within Twelve Months After my Decease And the Intrest thereof to be paid And the principall to be Disposed of As the Above mentioned Forty pounds In case the said Anne Hampton shou’d Dye before she is of Age Also I give and Bequeath unto Thomas Latham of Napely Heath Two pound Twelve Shillings and Sixpence Also I give and bequeath unto John Cartlitch of Bearston Two pound Twelve shillings and sixpence And do Appoint the Said Thos Latham and John Cartlitch to be Executors of this my Last will and Testament And Lastly I give and bequeath Unto my Loving Brother Randle Butter All the Rest of my Personall Estate Goods and Chattels Whatsoever And Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , P/C/11 1742 Butter , Richard
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.