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.
"This is the last Will and Testament of me John James of Gentleshaw in the Parish of Longdon in the County of Stafford Bricklayer in manner following I will and direct that all my just Debts may be paid and discharged and Subject thereto I give bequeath and devise all my Real and Personal Estate of what Nature or Kind so ever or wheresoever unto my Loveing Wife Ann James for and dureing the term of her Natureal Life And from and after her decease I give and bequeath the said Real and Personal Estate unto my two Children Thomas James and Hester James to be equally divided betwixt them Share and Share alike and in case either of my said Children may be dead before his or her Legacy becomes payable unto him or her I do then direct and declare that in case he or she may leave One or more Child or Children of his or her Body that such Child or Children shall be entitled to the share that their Parent would have been entitled to had he or she been living when such Legacy became payable And Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint my two Brothers in Law Francis Hodson and James Hodson Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revokeing Void all formes and other wills by me at any time heretofore made Declareing this only to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Thirteenth day of July One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Three."
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office , P/C/11 1823 James , John
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.