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 : the twentith day of October In the yeare of our Lorde God One Thousande Six hundred twentie and Eight: I John Astley of Maveson Ridware in the Countie of Staff yeoman knowinge nothinge more certaine then death and nothinge more uncertaine then the ower theirof and beinge now in reasonable good health and in good and perfect mynde and memorie (thanks be given to god) make and ordayne this my last Will and Testament in manner and forme as hereafter ensueth: First I bequeath my soule to Allmightie God my maker and creator trustinge to be saved by his sonne Jesus Christ my Saviour and Redeemer, and my body to Christian buriall. Item I have lately given and disposed with my owne handes amonngst the poore Inhabitantes of our parish of Maveson Ridware aforesaide
Tenn shillinges Item I give and bequeath unto Fraunces my lovinge wiffe all my Landes Tenementes and hereditamentes whatsoever lyinge and beinge in Abbotes Bromeley in the said Countie of Staff or else where within the Realme of England for and duringe her naturall life And after her deceasse I give and bequeath all the said Landes Tenementes and hereditamentes unto John Lowe sonne of Michaell Lowe gent my sonne in lawe and to his heires for ever : Item I give and bequeath unto the said Michaell Lowe my Sonne in lawe one peece of Twentie shillinges, And to Anne his wiffe another peece of Twentie shillinges. Item I have given and delivered unto Katherine Lowe daughter of the said Michaell Lowe Twentie powndes Item I have given and delivered unto Joane Lowe another of the daughters of the said Michaell Lowe Tenn powndes And I give and bequeath unto the said Joane Lowe other Tenn powndes of lawfull English money to be paide her with in one moneth next after my deceasse Item I have given and delivered unto Abraham Astley my kinsman of the Cittie of Coventrey gent Five powndes, And I give and bequeath unto the said Abraham Astley Five powndes more of lawfull English money Item I give and bequeath unto Isbell Kent my neece wiffe of John Kent gent of the parish of Hampstall Ridware Twentie shillinges of lawfull English money. The use and occupacon of all the rest of my goodes cattells and Chattells whatsoever my will is that the said Fraunces my wiffe shall have duringe her naturall life, And after her deceasse I give and bequeath all my said goodes cattell and chattelles unto the said Katherine Lowe and Joane Lowe equally to be devided betwixt them. And I ordaine and make the Said Fraunces my wiffe my true lawfull and sole Executrix to execute this my last Will and Testamente as my trust is shee will.”