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. The third day of February in the five and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord Charles the Second by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France and Ireland King Defender of the faith etc. Annoque domini 1682/3
I John Dale of Radwood in the County of Stafford yeoman beeinge weake of body but of sound & perfect memory praysed be God therefore doe make this my last will & testament in man[n]er and forme following; first I commend my soule into the hands of almighty God my maker hoeping by the onely merritts of Jesus Christ my saviour & redeemer to obtaine life everlastinge & my body to the earth to be decently buryed according as my wife andmy executors shall thinke fitt. And as to ye orderinge disposinge & devising of my temporall estate I give & devise the same as followeth. (that is to say) I doe accordinge to the power & liberty to mee reserved in & by certain indentures tripartite bearinge date the eighteenth day of April in the three & twentieth yeare of the raigne of our soveraigne Lord the Kinge that now is, made betweene John Middleton of the first parte John Stonier of Sandbich in the County of Chester, yeoman James...
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, LRO B/C/11 1683 Dale, John
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.