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.
“In the name of God Amen I John Read of Knutton heath in the parish of Keele and County of Stafford being through the aboundant mercy and goodness of God I tho’ weake in Body yet of a Sound and perfect understanding and memory, do constitute this my last will and testament, and I desire it may be received by all as such, Impermis, I most humbly bequeath my Soul to God my maker, beseeching his most gracious acceptance of it; thro’ the all sufficient merits and mediation of my most compassionate Redeemer Jesus Christ, who gave himsel to be an attonement for my Sin’s, And as to my worldly Estate which it hath pleased Almighty God to endow me with, I give and bequeath in manner and form following, Firs I will that all my just debts and funeral charges and expences be paid and discharged out of my Goods, Cattle, & Chattles by my Executor herein and hereafter mentioned within twelve months after my decease, Item I Give devise and bequeath unto my two Daughters, Viz. Sarah Read, and mary Read, after payment of my just debts and funeral expences as aforesaid, all and Singular my Money, Book Debts, Bills, Bonds, household goods of all sorts, Cattle and Chattle, Houses, Lands, Cottages, Real and personal Estate whatsoever to be equally divided between them share and share alike and I do hereby constetute and ordain Daniel Glover of the Knowlbank in the parish of Audley and County of Stafford, Junior, Executor of this my last will and testament……………”
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, B/C/11 1763 Read, John
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.