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 James Mobberly, of Meerbrook, in the Parish of Leek, and County of Stafford, do make this my last Will and Testament, in form and manner following.
First, I direct that all my just debts and Funeral expences be paid, together with the expences incurred in proving this Will at Lichfield. I give and bequeath to Mary, my beloved Wife, all my personal property, household goods, book-debts, moveable effects, and all debts whatever to me owing; together with the annual rents arising from my three Houses, Shops, and Garden situated in Meerbrook aforesaid, and my Field, consisting of about one Statute acre, lying on the side of Gun in Leekfrith, which Field is bounded by my Lord Macclesfield’s land on the West and South, by a part of the Burnt-oak-hollins Estate on the East, and by the Cart Road on the North; the said rents to be enjoyed by her during her life, whether she think proper to marry after my decease or not.----------- I further direct, that after the decease of Mary, my beloved Wife, the rents of my aforesaid Houses, Shops, Garden , and Field be expended in Bread, and distributed annually in Meerbrook Chapel to the Poor of the whole Chapelry of Meerbrook, every Sunday that shall happen between the first day of October and the last day of May, according to the discretion of the Minister of the said Chapel, the Chapel-Warden and the Clerk, for the time being. ---- And to prevent the Charity from failing, I authorize the Incumbent of the Chapelry of Meerbrook aforesaid to let the said Buildings and Lands, and to receive the rents of the same, and also to keep the said Buildings in tenantable repair from the said rents, when it shall appear to him necessary....”
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, B/C/11 Mobberley James 1832 11 May
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.