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 Seaventh daie of Septembre in the yeare of our Lord god one thousand Sixe hundred fiftie and eight I Laurance Brassington of Bagnald in the Countie of Stafford husbandman beinge weake in bodie but of sound and perfect memorie (praised be god for the same) and knowinge the umcertaintie of this life on earthe and beinge desirous to settle things in order, doe make this my Last will and Testament in manner and forme followinge (that is to saie) First and principallie I commend my soule to Almightie god my Creator assuredlie beleevinge that I shall receive full pardon and free Remission of all my Sinnes and be saved by the precious death and merritts of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Christ Jesus, And my bodie to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in such decent and Christian mannar as to my Executors’ hereafter named shalbe thought meete and convenient And as touchinge such worldly estate as the Lord in mercie hath sent mee, my will and meaninge is the same shalbe imployed and bestowed as hereafter by this my will is expressed and first I renounce frustrate and make voide all wills by mee formirlai made and declare and appointe this and nowe other my Last will and Testament, alsoe I give and bequeath unto Richard Brassington my sonne twelve pence, Alsoe I give and bequeath unto William Brassington my sonne twelve pence, alsoe I give and bequeath unto Anne Brassington Dorothie Brassington and Ellen Brassington my three daughters twelve pence in full satisfaccon of all demands by them, everie or anie of them hereafter to be made out of or unto anie of my estate
Copyright : Lichfield Record Office, B/C/11 1661-2 Brassington, Lawrence