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 xxiith daie of June 1640 I Rowse Rickethorne of
the parish of Bobington in the Countie of Staff gent being somewhat weake in Bodie but of a sound and perfect memory thancks bee given to Almightie god doe make and ordaine this my present Testament and last will in manner and forme following (that is to saye) First I comend my soule into the mercifull hands of Almightie god my maker and Redeemer hopeing assured through the merits and infinite mercies of Jesus Christe my only Sav[iour] to be made partaker of everlasting life, and my Bodie to be buried[...] christian buriall, and as Concernyng my worldly goods which god in [his] mercy hath bestowed upon me I dispose of them in manner and forme foll[owing] (That is to saye) First I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Isobell Seaven pounds, thirteene shillings and fower pence of lawfull money of England which my Cozen Hugh Pratt of Tuckehill oweth me, Item, I give and bequeath vnto my Sonne Rowse Rickthorme, the mault Mill, and the greate brasse pott; and as concernyng all the rest of my goods Cattells and Chattells moveable and imoveable quicke and deade of what nature kind or qualitye soe ever the same are I whollie give and bequeath unto my saide wife and my sonne Rowse to be equally devided betweene them and I doe hereby make and ordaine my saide Wife sole Executrix of this my present Testament and last will desireing her to performe the same in all things according to my true intent and meaneing and I doe revoke and annull all former wills by me made In wittnes whereof I have here vnto put my hand and Seale the day and yeare first abovesaid..”