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 Richard Parker of Audley in ye County of Stafford Gent being sicke and weake in bodey butt of sound and disposeing memorie (thanks bee to God) doe make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following: first I give and bequeath my soule into the hands of Allmighty God my Creator trusting in the merrits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer for the Pardon and remission of all my sinns and for a Joyfull Resurrection to life Everlasting and my bodey to the earth to be Decently Buried att the Discretion of my Executors amongst my Ancestors in the Parish Church of Audley aforesaid and as to my temporall estate I give and dispose of the same as followeth first I give and bequeath unto my Eldest Sonn John Parker...
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, P/C/11 1695 Parker, Richard
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.
The full transcript of the will and inventory is available to download,
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