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 twenty fifth day of May in the yeare of our lord god one thousand seven hundred and tenn I Andrew Fernyhough of Blithside in the parish of Carswall & in the County of Stafford yeoman being of sound mind & perfect memorie praised be god for the same I doe make and ordaine this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following hereby revoakeing all, &every former & other Will & Wills by me made : And first and principally I commend my soule into the hands of Almighty god my heavenly father hopeing through the Merrits of Jesus Christ my blessed saviour to Receive remission of my sinns , and eternal life after death : And my body I committ to the earth (from whence it was taken ) to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after named, and touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased god to bless me with : I give & dispose of the same in manner and form following : And first my minde and Will is that all such debts as I shall happen to owe at the time of my decease, and my funeral expences be faithfully paid & discharged Item I give & bequeath unto my nephew George Fernyhough of Knightley in the parish of Gnosal in the County of Stafford husbandman the summ of five pound and to his sister Elizabeth Haynes the summ of five pounds of Currant English money both to be paid within twelve moneths next after my decease. Item I give unto Andrew Fernyhough second son to my Kinsman Phillipp Fernyhough of Greate Fenton in the parish of Stoke tenn pounds to be paid within twelve moneths next after my decease: Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Hammersley the wife of Richard Hammersley formerly of Fenton parke the summe of five pounds and to her son John Hammersley the sum of of five pounds both of Currant English money, and to be paid within twelve moneths next after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto Dorothy Dresser the wife of Benjamin Dresser the summe of five pound to be paid to her within twelve moneths next after my decease. Item I give & bequeath unto John Hill of Felthouse in the parish of Chedulton the summe of two pound tenn shillings of Currant money to be paid within twelve moneths next after my decease. Item I give & bequeath unto Sara Smith my present house keeper the summe of foure pound nineteen shillings to be paid to her the said Sara Smith within twelve moneths next after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Phillip Fernyhough the younger: son of Phillip Fernyhough of Greate Fenton in the parish of Stoke in the said County of Stafford yeoman all the rest and Residue of my Estate Real and personal, all Bills, Bonds, Morgages and other securities whatsoever after my debts, Funeral expences, & these Legacies are paide...”.