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 Walter Benton of Hednesford In the County of Stafford Do make this my last Will and Testement In Form and Manner following at The Discesion of my Executors Heaire after Mentioned
I Walter Benton Leave Lucy Benton the Younger the House and Posetion for the Term of the Leace & Richard Wakling To pay to Lucy Benton one pound A Yeair and Lucy To have a Bidens With them In the house If Lucy Benton Should Marrey to have the Whole posetion my Self Giving half years Notice If Lucy Benton marrey and Take the posetion to A Low Richard Wakling or his Wife one pound A yeair for the house the Term of the Leace Lucy Benton to have the Furnce and i pale and 1 Tub and a Dropper the Three Beds to have one Each Lucy Benton to Have that Bed that Her Father Lies on Sarah Eaton to have won and Mary Wakling to have the oather. The Rest of the Househould goods to bee praised after the Descaise of Walter Benton one Month and to Be Equaley Divided Betwixt the three Sarah Eaton and Mary Wakling and Lucy Benton Lucy Benton to Have the Rent of the Shop and Tools the Term of the Leace Att the End of the Leace the Tools to Be Dividied and prased to the Value and for them to have an Eaqual Shere Walter Benton Thomas and Robert and Langhorm Booth Richard Wakling To have the hors at my Desace"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , P/C/11 1778 Benton , Walter
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.