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 Second Day of October in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred fifty & Six I John Blower of Allstonefield in the County of Stafford Husbandman being Sick in Body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for the same & calling to mind the uncertain Estate of this Transitory Life and that all flesh must yield unto Death I do make & ordain this my last will & Testament in manner & Form Following My Soul I commend unto Almighty God who Gave it me & my Body I commit unto the Earth to be decently Buryed at the Discretion of my Executors herein after Named & for the Settling of my temporal Estate & such Goods as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I do order give & dispose of the same in Manner & Form Following; First my Will & Mind is that all my just Debts & Funeral expences be First paid & Discharg’d
Imprimis, I give & bequeath unto the School of Allstonefield the Sum of Five Pounds a year for ever to be paid out of my ancient Estate for teaching Ten Poor Children & those Children to be chosen at the Discretion of the Vicar Church Wardens & most Substantial Inhabitants to be paid in twelve monthes & One Day after my decease
Item I give & bequeath unto Thomas Blower of Calledge Low the Sum of One Hundred Pounds to be paid at my wifes & Brother Thomas Blowers decease if he so long liveth
Item I give & bequeath unto William Ensor Gentleman Grocer in Derby & James Whitall of Fernable all the Ancient Estate at my Brothers decease & if either of them die then the Survivour to have it, all the rest of my Estate I leave unto my Brother Thomas Blower to be dispos’d of as he thinks proper....”