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 dei nomine Amen I william Bassett of bloore in County of Staff knight beinge in good and perfytte remembrans And whole in my bodie Consyderinge the uncertaintie of my lyff & willinge the healthe & socurre of my wyff & my childeren & the paimenter of my dettes & for the performance of this my last will & testamente and for the welthe of my soll, make this my last will & testamente in manner & forme folowinge...
Lichfild Record Office; B/C/11 Bassett Sir William Kt, Blore 7 Dec 1553