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 Seventh day of April. In the year of the Raigne of William the Third now King of England etc the Tennth Annoq Domini 1698 I Benjamin Snelson of Anslow in the parish of Rolleston
and County of Stafford Husbandman being weake in bodie but sound and whole in mind and of perfect memory praised be god, doe make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following...
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, LRO B/C/11 Snelson, Benjamin 1698
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.