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 27 day of January 1663 according to the computation of the Church of England I Thomas Bourne of Endon in the Countie of Stafford webster beeing of perfit memorie and good remembrance praysed bee god doe make and ordaine this my last will and Testament in maner and forme as followeth
firest I bequeath my sole into the hands of Allmightie god my maker hopeing that thorugh the meritoriouse death and passion of Jesus Christ my onely Saviour and redeemer to reecave free pardon and forgivenesse of all my sinns and as for my body to bee buried in Cristian buriall at the descretion of my Execator heare after nominated
Item I give unto my sonn William six pound the black stirke the greate cofer in the parlor & upon condition hee Teatch Brother Thomas the trade of a webster I give him Loumes & all geares belongeing to them and if hee doe not teatch his Brother then I give the little Loume [-] & halfe the geares to Thomas my second sonne Item I give twenty foure pounds to bee Equally devided amonghest my five yonger Children & my wife and the rest of my goods Cattel and Chatells my funerall Expences & probate of my will beeing paide I alsoe give to Margerie my wife and to my five yonger Children and leave John Hardhorne to bee my Executor of this my Last will and Testament.......”