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 ninth day of December Anno Domini 1677 before us Thomas Jervis yeoman Mrs Dorothy Broughton and Margrett Smart all within the Chapplerie of Chorleton and in the County of Stafford. Our late Neighbour Peter Broughton of Chorleton aforesaid gentleman expressed and declared his last will in this forme. I Peter Broughton beinge very weak doe before god expresse and declare this my will. First I give and bequeath my Soule to Almighty god and my body to Christian buryall. And if I dye at this time my will is that Henry Smart should have the suit of cloathes that are now on my backe
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, P/C/11 1677-8 Broughton Peter
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.