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 John Altree of Weston under Liziard in the
County of Stafford, Innholder, beeinge weake in body but of sound and disposeing minde memory and understandinge doe make this my last will and Testament in writeinge, that when I come to dye I may not bee disturbed with the thoughts of my worldly affaires And first and
principally I recommend my Soule into the handes of Almighty God my Creator hopeinge assuredly through his. mercy and the alone meritts of my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ to Inheritt life immortall when this mortall life shall have an end and my body I comitt to the earth to bee decently interred at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named and as touchinge my goodes...
Copyright: Lichfield Record Office, LRO B/C/11 Altree, John
Reproduced by courtesy of the Lichfield Diocesan Registrar.