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.
“The last Will and Testament of me James Siddall Collinson of Golden Hill in the Parish of Wolstanton in the County of Stafford Retail Brewer made the sixth day of February One thousand eight hundred and fifty five as follows
I give to my wife Hannah Collinson the sum of Fifty pounds to be paid within six months after my decease. I give devise and bequeath all my Real and personal Estate whatsoever and wheresoever subject to the payment of my debts and funeral Expenses and the said Legacy to my Wife unto my Executors hereinafter named In trust that they sell dispose of and convert into money all my said real and personal Estate as soon as conveniently may be after my decease in such way and manner as they shall think most advantageous for the benefit of my only Child John Collinson (now of the age of five years or thereabouts) and do put place out and invest the monies arising and produced therefrom A Interest on good Security or lay out and invest the Same in the building or purchase of one or more House or Houses (to be conveyed to my Executors in trust as herein mentioned) and pay and apply the Interest Rents and Income of the money or property so invested unto and for the maintenance education and bringing up of my said Son until he shall attain the age of twenty one years and then do and shall pay transfer and convey the capital or principal of the money so invested or the property purchased therewith unto my said Son for his absolute use……..”
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, P/C/11 1855 James Siddall Collinson
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.