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 where 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 Theodosia Jenings of Little On in the parish of Church Eaton in the County of Stafford Widdow, being sick & weak in Body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, (praise be to Almighty, Therefore doe make & ordaine this my present Last Will & Testament in manner following (That is to say) First and principally I Commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hopeing through the meritts, Death and passion of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and remission of all my sins, and to inheritt Everlasting Life, my body I Committ to the Earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named, And as touching the disposition of such Goods and personall Estate as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, I Give & dispose thereof as followeth, Imprimis, I will and Desire that all my Debts & funerall Charges shall be paid and discharged by my Executor hereafter named; Item I Give and Bequeath to my Grandchild Robert Cooper my silver Tanckard; Item I Give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Elizabeth Cooper my mourning Ring that I had at my Brother Goughs funerall; Item I give & bequeath to my Granddaughter Margarett Fige my wedding ring: Item I give & bequeath to my Cozen Rupert Huntbach my parlor grate, fireshovle & Tongues, & also my pewter Bazon and Two Towells; And as to the rest and residue of my goods & personall Estate I Leave them to be disposed of by my Executor hereafter named…..”
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, P/C 1695 Theodosia Jennings
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.