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 I John Trubshaw of Brochurst in the parish of Blymhill and County of Stafford yeoman beinge ill & out of order yet havinge my perfect memory & understandige doe make & ordaine this my last will & Testament This Twenty Eighth day of February In the yeare of our Lord one Thousand seven hundred & five and in the 4th yeare of her present Majesty Queen Anne over England etc as
follows
Imprimis I Comitt my Soule into the hands of Allmighy God Trusinge
for the pardon of my Sins & the salvation of my Soule met
through merritts & mediation of my lord & Sauiour Jesus Christ
As for what God of his goodness hath bestowe on me I bequeath as follows......”