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 Richard Shepherd, of Sutton in the Parish of Forton, Husbandman, being Sick and diseased in Body, but in good and perfect Memory, thanks be to God, doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following: that is to say; First I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God my Maker and Creator, trusting and assuredly believing that through the Merits of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer, I shall have eternall life; And I will that my Body be decently and Christianly buryed; and as concerning the Disposing of my Worldly Goods, I will that all my Debts whatsoever, and to whomsoever, be truly and fully paid out of those Goods which I leav; the value of [hich is more then all my Debts amount unto, and then it is my Will that what is remaining after my Debts are discharged, shall be wholly for the use of True my wife while she lives at her disposall either before or at her Death In witness whereof I have here put my hand and Seal
September 27 1675"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , B/C/11 1675 Shepherd , Richard
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.