I wonder if there was some Act of Parliament which explains it? Maybe the inventories had to be made, but simply not archived or copied after that era?
Legally required England & Wales 1529-1782. Optional after 1782. Not kept in will archives after 1858.
Source: "Researching Historic Buildings in the British Isles"
https://www.buildinghistory.org/wills.shtmlA reading list is at end of article.
The last of my line of yeoman who styled himself "yeoman" died 1822. I was disappointed his will wasn't accompanied by an inventory. His main beneficiary was his only child, a daughter. Her husband was exalted from gamekeeper, employed by the lord of the manor, to "gentleman" on the next record after his father-in-law's death.
Compilers of the inventory of the innkeeper who died 1767 valued his mare + some "husbandry goods" at £2-17 shillings. A cow, heifer and calf were worth £12. Sow (it may be sows) and "pigges" were worth more than the horse, although number of "pigges" wasn't stated. I've wondered if the mare was under-valued. The innkeeper was Catholic and Catholics weren't allowed to own a horse worth more than £5. Valuations were done by the schoolmaster, whose wife was R.C. and a man whose family was R.C. On the other hand, perhaps it was an old horse or in poor condition. The younger, unmarried daughter was to have her choice of cow or heifer + first choice of best beds + specified items of furniture. She had her pick of a dozen beds. There was enough seating for 30 people, mostly in the "great parlour" which was probably the main public room. 2 of the 3 executors of the will were yeoman, one of them the yeoman farmer relative. There were 2 spellings of the surname in the will.
Inventory of previous innkeeper in the family (1752) stated total value of his 3 horses was £6-14 shillings, so average value of a horse was around £2. His 4 head of cattle (2 cows, a stirk and a calf) were worth £9. "A Swine" was worth £1. Compilers of that inventory counted 50 chairs! An executor was the schoolmaster.
