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. The Fowerteenth day of February in the yeare of our
Lord, according to the Computacion of the Church of England, One Thowsannd sixe hundred sixtie and twoe. I Margery Bache of the Clyve in the parishe of Pattingham and County of Stafford Spinster being somewhat weake in body, but of a sound perfect and disposeing mynd & memory (praysed be god) doe make and ordaine this my present last will and Testament in manner and forme following (That is to saye) first I give and Surrender up my Soule into the mercifull handes of Almightie God my maker hopeing assuredlye through the only merites and mediacon of Jesus Christe my blessed Redemer to be made an inheritor of eternall life and hapynes...
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, P/C/11 1663 Bache, Margery
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.