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 there 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 Edward Dale of Marchington Woodlands in the parish of Hanbury and County of Stafford husbandman being weak in body but of sound and perfect understanding blessed be God for it do make sett down & declare this my last will and Testament in manner & form following first I Commend my soul into the hands of almighty God my Creatour hopeing for mercy & Salvation through Jesus Christ my redeemer and my body I desire may be decently buryed in Christian buryal according to the discretion of myne Executrix hereafter named And as concerning my temporal estate and worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God of his goodness to entrust me my debts & legacies being paid & funerall charges defrayd I give & bequeath them as followeth Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my son John Dale one shilling: Item I give & bequeath unto my daughter Mary Dale one house in Abbots Bromley with its appurtnances during her natural life which said house & land shall be set & lett by mine Executrix during her life & the profits disposed of for the use of my said daughter Mary Dale and if my said daughter shall survive mine Executrix my will is that she shall not sell set nor lett the said house & land for above the term of one year that she may receive the rents & profits yearly during the said Term of her natural life but if she dye before mine Executrix I give & bequeath the said house & land to my son John Dale & his Assignes All the rest of my goods Cattel & Chattels I give and bequeath unto my dear & loving wife Mary Dale and make her full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and revoking all other Wills by me me made I have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty eight Day of June Anno Domini 1700”
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office, B/C/11 1700 Dale, Edward
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar