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 Anne Philips of the Parish of Pateshul and County of Stafford Widow being ill in Body but of Sound disposing Mind and Memory do make this my last Will and Testament in manner following. First and principally I commend my Soul to God hoping thro the Merits of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain pardon of my Sins my Body I desire might be buried in decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors herein after named and as touching such worldly Goods as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I dispose there of as follows. I will that my Debts & funeral Charges be paid and discharged. Item I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Anne Philips the Sum of Twenty Pounds the Interest thereof to be employd yearly towards her maintenance and education together with her yearly Rents of such Houses and Lands as she shall enjoy by inheritance and I desire that my Daughter Elizabeth shall take Care of my said Daughter Anne till she is capable of manageing her own Affairs her self. Item I give my said Daughter Anne two Feather Beds And what belongs to them as Hangings Bolsters &c. Also three pair of Flaxen Sheets Three pair of Hurden Sheets half a Dozen Damask Napkins half a Dozen Flaxen Napkins two Pillows Biers A Chest A Desk A Coffer A Box An Iron Pott, an Iron Kettle or marment A large Brass Kettle, a little Brass Kettle Ten Pewter Dishes a large Tankard an Iron drippen Pan a pair of Cobberts a Spit a plate that hangs before the fire and a Shaving Bason and an Egg plate. All the Rest and Residue of my Personal Estate whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth
(except a Huckaback Table Cloth and a long Flaxen Table Cloth) which I give to my Daughter Anne And I do nominate constitute and appoint my Brother in law Samuel Barton and Robert Fenn of Rockadine wood Sole Executors to this my last Will and Testament In Witness hereof I have hereunto put my Hand and Seal this twenty Ninth day of January in the Sixth Year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord George the Second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King defender Annoq Domini 1732...And before the ensealing and Signing hereof I the said Anne Philips do give my Daughter Anne half a Dozen Pewter Plates"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office, B/C/11 1733 Philips, Ann
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar