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 I William Shemilt of Ellastone in the County of Stafford Husbandman being weak in Body but of Sound and disposeing mind and memory praised be God for the same do make and Ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz first I Comit my Soul unto the Hands of Almighty God my Creator and my Body I Comit to the Earth to be theirin decently Intereed hoping through the Satisfaction and Righteousness of Christ my Redeemer to be made partaker of Everlasting Bliss and Happiness after death and as to my Temperall Estate which it hath pleased God to bestow on me I give and dispose of as Follows...
Lichfild Record Office, B/C/11 Shemilt, William 14 May 1767