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 Robert Austin of Armitage in the County of Stafford Wheelwright being in health of Body and of Sound and Disposeing minde and memory praised be Almighty God Do publish and declare my last Will in manner and forme following And principally I recomend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be decently Interred att the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named And as to such worldly Estate as it has pleased God to intrust me with I give devise and bestow the same as follows Imprimis I give to my Nephew Samuell Tooth for and dureing the Terme of his Naturall life All That my peice of Land in Coulton in the County aforesaid now in the possession of John Woollams Gentleman called Shearracopp with its Appurtenances And after the Death of the said Samuell Tooth I give and devise the said peice of Land to John Tooth son of the said Samuell and to his heirs and Assignes for ever"
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office, P/C/11 1720 Austin Robert
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar