I am working with a will written in London in 1747. The will opens with the common expression of consideration of one's mortality, recommendation of soul to God and so on. It is highly likely, on other grounds, that the testator is a Non-conformist in faith, possibly Baptist of some variety. Anyway, I think I have read and cannot now recall the source, that these first paragraph expressions of faith varied to some degree by religion. This one seems somewhat longer than usual, and also refers to "the Elect" which is somewhat distinctive. Does anyone have any knowledge of this topic, and could opine on what forms of this preliminary statement might be more typically associated with someone of Non-conformist beliefs/affiliations?

am working with a will written in London in 1747. The will opens with > the common expression of consideration of one's mortality, recommendation > of soul to God and so on. These were standards in most wills, conditioned by the fact they were proved in Church (of England) courts. As lawyers were paid by the size of documents, they shoved in up to a dozen of these vaguely pious expressions before they got down to the nitty-gritty of 'Imprimis I give, devise and bequeathe to....' It is highly likely, on other grounds, that the > testator is a Non-conformist in faith, possibly Baptist of some variety. > > Paradoxically, those who were Dissenters often had fewer of the stock formulaic expressions than others. (And Quakers, of course, would not swear to adminioster so were allow3ed to 'affirm' they would do so' > This one seems somewhat longer than usual, and also refers to "the Elect" > which is somewhat distinctive. That is certainly an expression which I would associate with Particular Baptists (rather than General ones. They believed that you were only likely to be Saved if you were born 'chosen' to be so. I have never understood how a sect could rec ruit new members, if they were damned from the start, but I suppose it did tend to cling on to the existing members and their families, since if you left, you were 'unelected' and lost your place in heaven. EVE Author of The McLaughlin Guides for Family Historians in cluding 'Wills Before 1858' Secretary, Bucks Genealogical Society