The article demonstrates how the testers made use of the testamentary legacies as a strategy to relieve their consciences in order to get the salvation of their souls. Thus, the text makes a qualitative analysis of testaments of men, women, freedmen, rich, poor and owners of slaves selected from the research of 116 testaments recorded at the notary of the term of Vila do Carmo, captaincy Minas Gerais, between 1715 and 1778. The article studied the legacies related to inheritance, paternity, hierarchies, alms and credits. The text concludes that the legacies had the purpose of promoting inner peace of the testator; thereby these legacies were legacy of consciousness.
testament; legacy; soul; Purgatory