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 George Bullocke of Alveton in the County of Stafford Bucher beinge weake of body but in good and perfect memorye praised be god doe here make this my last will and Testament in maner and forme followinge first I bequeave my soule unto god my Creator and to Jesus Christ his Sonne my Savior and redeemer and my body to convenient buriall in the Churchyard of Alveton Concerninge my wordly goods which it hath pleased god to bestow upon mee I dispose of as is hereafter expressed
First I give and bequeave unto Mary my now wife the summe of Twenty pounds to be paid forth of the goods and Cattells which I now possess. Item I give and bequeve unto John my eldest sonne the house and land belonginge to the said house wherein I now dwell and the bed in the upper parlour and all the bed cloathes belonginge to the said bed and alsoe the little table and Cofor in the said parlour Item I give and bequeave unto Thomas my sonne the summe of Ten pounds to be paid forth of the goods and Chattells which I now possess Item I give and bequeave unto Joseph my yongest sonne the summe of Fifteene pounds to be paid forth of my goods and Chattells, allsoe I give unto Mary my wife all the rest of my household goods which I am possesed of and lastly my will is that mary my wife shall see my funerall expences discharged.......”
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, B/C/11 Bullock George 1681
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.