I’ve been busily at work since my return from England and am nearing the home stretch on the digitization of the collected papers of Ian Babb (pictured). There is a technique used by corporations and politicians alike to dump a large number of documents about an unsavory situation, just before the weekend in hopes that the general public won’t pick up on it. This is just the opposite, but I can’t help but think of the term due to the mammoth size of this collection spanning 5683 Pages.

I wanted to put some shape to the collection for you, so have included a draft copy of the finding aid that will be employed to help others understand what is available and how to leverage it. I’m moving into a feedback period before finalizing the list and publishing the work.  So, please let me know if you see something that appears to be amiss. You will notice from the beginning how vast the collection is. There is actually more. We also found a disk containing 71 pedigree trees assembled by Ian that I hope will provide a foundation for our next steps in reunifying the US and English Babbs. More about that later.

As soon as I complete the feedback cycle, I’ll move towards finalization of the list below and publication. The world of Genealogy has been turned upside down over the last ten years due to the price and availability of technology that puts projects like this within reach of the common man. I plan to bring you something that Ian himself would be proud of! So without further delay, here is a draft copy of the index to Ian Babb’s Papers.

————-

DRAFT: Babb Family Association Collection

Ian Babb – Papers

SCOPE AND CONTENT: Genealogical materials compiled by Ian Henry Babb on the Babb Families in England. Full Copyright has been granted to the Babb Family Association. Mr. Babb passed away 20 November 2014. There are 11 Boxes and 31 Binders in the collection containing 5683 pages in all. Numbering started with Box 101 and Binder 101, to eliminate confusion with the collected papers of Jean A. Sargent whose research was primarily based in the United States. This inventory was last updated 16 November 2016. Each of the files has been made into a searchable PDF and a handy finding aid is provided below.

The Babb Family Association has funded the digitization of the collection. Not every folder was digitized due to copyright issues with some materials. These files will be searchable PDFs except for hand written items and photos, which will not be searchable.

As of the date of issue, the point of contact for the Association is Mr. Daniel Greig Babb, c/o The Babb Family Association, 3723 Northview Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229. He also maintains http://babbunabridged.com   and the Facebook Group “Babb Family Association.”

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: The Babb family has roots in England and in Bavaria. It has not been determined how the two lines are connected. This collection focuses on the English Babbs whose roots are found throughout England. Pedigrees that Ian believed could be connected to others are represented by letters, while core Pedigrees are represented by numbers. They are identified by their county of origin as follows:

• Buckinghamshire (Pedigrees 1-3)
• Cornwall (Pedigrees 1-4 and A-H)
• Devon (Pedigrees 1-31)
• Gloucestershire (Pedigrees 1-2)
• Hampshire (Pedigree 1)
• Leicestershire (Pedigree 1)
• London (Pedigrees 1-4 and A-C)
• West Midlands (Pedigrees 1-4)
• Somerset (Pedigrees 1-4)
• Staffordshire (Pedigrees 1-6)

 

 

CITE AS: Babb Family Association Collection, Ian Henry Babb – Papers, Babb Family Association, Dallas, TX. USA 75229.

ORGANIZATION:

Folders in each box have been assigned a number. In some instances, there are subfolders within a folder in the boxes. The collection was not broken down and organized throughout into subfolders, so in many instances there will only be the main subject folder. Numbers after names correspond with the numerology of the Babb lines listed above. The numbering follows the system established by Ian Henry Babb. Folders/Binders not specifically called out to a county should be considered to contain documents from a variety of counties. The entire collection is roughly 5683 pages and the scanning is a monumental task, so we appreciate your understanding about the limitations.

Some of the material in particular folders was NOT digitized due to ownership/copyright issues. Any works that were previously copyrighted by other authors will continue along the schedule established by their author, though most have passed into the public domain.

Box 101 (21 Folders containing 1167 Pages)

• Folder 001: Maps (42 Pages)
• Folder 002: Photos, Winchester Arms – Somerset (5 Pages)
• Folder 003: General Genealogy, Simple Latin (5 Pages)
• Folder 004: Excerpts from “How to Read Local Archives 1550-1700” by F.G. Emmison (12 Pages)
• Folder 005: Excerpts from “Saxon and Early Norman Documents” Author Unknown (39 Pages)
• Folder 006: Newspaper Clippings, Mrs. E. Babb, Taunton, Devon (5 Pages)
• Folder 007: Indentures, Ships Passengers List 1640, (58 Pages)
• Folder 008: USA, General Info about the Babb Lines, Coat of Arms, Crest, James Wong Howe, Barbados, Trelawny Papers (73 Pages)
• Folder 009: Caribbean, Barbados (82 Pages)
• Folder 010: Miscellaneous Records (162 Pages)
• Folder 011: Draft Summary of Devon Researches by E. Babb to May 1990, Will of Thomas Babb Mariner of Limehouse London, Will of Geoffrey Babb of Totnes, Will of Widow Mary Babb of Totnes, Various Trees (74 Pages)
• Folder 012: Marriages & Estate Records (45 Pages)
• Folder 013: Marriage Licenses (99 Pages)
• Folder 014: Births (35 Pages)
• Folder 015: Original Wills & Administrations (44 Pages)
• Folder 016: Somerset Documents, Trull, Indentures, etc. (61 Pages)
• Folder 017: Saxon Devon Maps, Devon Place Names, Wills & Administrations (51 Pages)
• Folder 018: Military Records, Deeds & Maps (213 Pages)
• Folder 019: Miscellaneous Devon Records (36 Pages)
• Folder 020: Military Records & Legal Documents (24 Pages)
• Folder 021: Babb Surname History (2 Pages)

 

Box 102 (6 Folders containing 195 Pages)

• Folder 001: Devon – Miscellaneous Records (19 Pages)
• Folder 002: Devon Surnames Related to Babb, Handwritten (28 Pages)
• Folder 003: Devon – Loose Papers, Links to Lorna Doone, Wichelhalse Family, Devon Pedigree 17, Devon Pedigree 19 (70 Pages)
• Folder 004: Transcriptions, Handwritten (5 Pages)
• Folder 005: Wichelhalse Family (13 Pages)
• Folder 006: Working File (an earlier version of his work as he charted his progress) (60 Pages)

 

Box 103 (4 Folders containing 115 Pages)

• Folder 001: Chronological Listings of Devon Records – from Reign of Edward III (1327-1583) (51 Pages)
• Folder 002: Chronological Listings of Devon Records – from Reign of Edward III (1327-1583) – A variation of the file listed in Box 103, Folder 001 (20 Pages)
• Folder 003: Devon Records in the 17^th Century in Chronological Order (35 Pages)
• Folder 004: Miscellaneous Papers (9 Pages)

 

Box 104 (1 Folder containing 75 Pages)

• Folder 001: Somerset Records (75 Pages)

 

Box 105 (6 Folders containing 219 Pages)

• Folder 001: Somerset Records, Somerset Pedigree 2, Somerset Pedigree 7 (89 Pages)
• Folder 002: Somerset Records in Chronological Order (39 Pages)
• Folder 003: Miscellaneous Papers (8 Pages)
• Folder 004: Somerset Records in Chronological Order– A variation of the file listed in Box 105, Folder 002 (36 Pages)
• Folder 005: Transcriptions of Somerset Indentures (23 Pages)
• Folder 006: Somerset Surnames Related to Babb, Handwritten (24 Pages)

 

Box 106 (2 Folders containing 106 Pages)

• Folder 001: Cornwall (101 Pages)
• Folder 002: Samuel Babb of Cornwall (1886) (5 Pages)

 

Box 107 (29 Folders containing 346 Pages)

• Folder 001: Wales (6 Pages)
• Folder 002: Monmouthshire, Wales (3 Pages)
• Folder 003: Scotland (2 Pages)
• Folder 004: Staffordshire (21 Pages)
• Folder 005: Suffolk (2 Pages)
• Folder 006: Surrey (2 Pages)
• Folder 007: Ireland (3 Pages)
• Folder 008: Sussex (2 Pages)
• Folder 009: Berkshire (3 Pages)
• Folder 010: Buckinghamshire (11 Pages)
• Folder 011: Cornwall (8 Pages)
• Folder 012: Cumberland (3 Pages)
• Folder 013: Derbyshire (3 Pages)
• Folder 014: Devon (28 Pages)
• Folder 015: Dorset (10 Pages)
• Folder 016: Durham (2 Pages)
• Folder 017: Essex (5 Pages)
• Folder 018: Gloucestershire (9 Pages)
• Folder 019: Glamorganshire, Wales, Hampshire, Isle of Wight (14 Pages)
• Folder 020: Herefordshire (3 Pages)
• Folder 021: Hertfordshire (5 Pages)
• Folder 022: Kent (5 Pages)
• Folder 023: Lancashire (4 Pages)
• Folder 024: Leicestershire (34 Pages)
• Folder 025: Lincoln (70 Pages)
• Folder 026: London/Middlesex (11 Pages)
• Folder 027: Taunton Registration District, Somerset (4 Pages)
• Folder 028: Administrations (22 Pages)
• Folder 029: Devon Records in the 18^th Century in Chronological Order (51 Pages)

 

Box 108 (8 Folders containing 949 Pages)

• Folder 001: Miscellaneous Papers (655 Pages)
• Folder 002: Babbs Come to America – Stepney (London) (23 Pages)
• Folder 003: Miscellaneous Papers from a variety of counties, includes Cornwall 14 (71 Pages)
• Folder 004: 1999 Babb Reunion (24 Pages)
• Folder 005: 2001 Babb Reunion (5 Pages)
• Folder 006: South Devon Area Babb References (1500-1714) (66 Pages)
• Folder 007: Other Areas Babb References (bef 1500) (39 Pages)
• Folder 008: Fons Records (66 Pages)

 

Box 109 (16 Folders containing 541 Pages)

• Folder 001: Transcriptions (62 Pages)
• Folder 002: Miscellaneous Papers (190 Pages)
• Folder 003: London (9 Pages)
• Folder 004: Find My Past Records (42 Pages)
• Folder 005: John Babb (32 Pages)
• Folder 006: Buckinghamshire Pedigree 1 (24 Pages)
• Folder 007: Cheshire Pedigree 3 (10 Pages)
• Folder 008: Devon Pedigree 1 (13 Pages)
• Folder 009: Devon Pedigree 2 (9 Pages)
• Folder 010: Devon Pedigree 3 (14 Pages)
• Folder 011: Devon Pedigree 7 (4 Pages)
• Folder 012: Devon Pedigree 17 (9 Pages)
• Folder 013: Devon Pedigree 19 (7 Pages)
• Folder 014: Devon Wills & Administrations (40 Pages)
• Folder 015: Upton Pyne, Exeter, Devon (18 Pages)
• Folder 016: Totnes, Devon (58 Pages)

 

Box 110 (8 Folders containing 462 Pages)

• Folder 001: Devon Wills & Administrations (48 Pages)
• Folder 002: Wolborough Church, Devon (6 Pages)
• Folder 003: William Henry Babb of Pitminster, Somerset; Jane Elizabeth Babb of Newton Abbot, Devon (13 Pages)
• Folder 004: Miscellaneous Papers (262 Pages)
• Folder 005: Parish Register of North Tawnton, Devon (12 Pages)
• Folder 006: Cornwall Records in Chronological Order (11 Pages)
• Folder 007: Winsbury, West Midlands (48 Pages)
• Folder 008: Babb Families Come to America by Elizabeth A. S. Babb (1991) (62 Pages) (Withheld pending permission by the author to republish in this forum)

 

Box 111 (6 Folders containing 484 Pages)

• Folder 001: Miscellaneous Papers (384 Pages)
• Folder 002: Chronological Listings of Devon Records – from Reign of Richard II (1377-1583) (51 Pages)
• Folder 003: Devon Records in the 19^th Century in Chronological Order (19 Pages)
• Folder 004: Somerset Records in Chronological Order (16 Pages)
• Folder 005: Report on Babb Reunion (1989) (5 Pages)
• Folder 006: Chancery Court Devon (9 Pages)

+

Binders (31 Binders containing 1024 Pages)

• 101: Devon Pedigree 3 (33 Pages)
• 102: Family of St. Dominic, Cornwall (5 Pages)
• 103: Cornwall Marriages (4 Pages)
• 104: Staffordshire Legal Documents (10 Pages)
• 105: Devon, Doddiscombsleigh, Bishopsteignton, Symondsborough (28 Pages)
• 106: Trull, Somerset (55 Pages)
• 107: Somerset Documents (24 Pages)
• 108: George Babb of Winchester Arms, Taunton, Somerset (9 Pages)
• 109: Somerset Pedigree 11 (18 Pages)
• 110: Devon Pedigree 2 (4 Pages)
• 111: Hampshire Records (22 Pages)
• 112: Wills and Administrations in Somerset Court House (National Archives) Book 1 (127 Pages)
• 113: Wills and Administrations in Somerset Court House (National Archives) Book 2 (125 Pages)
• 114: Wills and Administrations in Somerset Court House (National Archives) Book 3 (123 Pages)
• 115: Wills and Administrations in Somerset Court House (National Archives) Book 4 (99 Pages)
• 116: Wills and Administrations in Somerset Court House (National Archives) Book 5 (74 Pages)
• 117: Devon Pedigree: Stanley Nicholson Babb (17 Pages)
• 118: Old Bailey Courthouse Records (London) (35 Pages)
• 119: Devon Documents (29 Pages)
• 120: Gratwich, Staffordshire (11 Pages)
• 121: Doddiscombsleigh, Devon Legal Papers (26 Pages)
• 122: Somerset Pedigree 7 (27 Pages)
• 123: Somerset Pedigree 2 (15 Pages)
• 124: Somerset Legal Documents (25 Pages)
• 125: Stepney (London) Before 1500 (31 Pages)
• 126: London (15 Pages)
• 127: Cornwall Baptisms & Marriages (22 Pages)
• 128: Article by Robert Babb with his assumptions about the England and United States Connections (11 Pages)

 

Results by Key Geographic Areas:

Note: I’ve highlighted below folders that target specific areas, but care should be taken not to overlook results in other folders for your specific query. We are only able to index typewritten text, so any handwritten items are not included below. Additionally, the indexing is not perfect and can miss at times due to the poor quality of copies.

Buckinghamshire (sometimes Buckingham or Bucks): 54 Results in 13 Files

• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 008
• Box 101 Folder 018
• Box 102 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 010
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 109 Folder 006
• Box 109 Folder 014
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 002
• Box 110 Folder 008
• Binder 114
• Binder 115

 

Cornwall: 517 Results in 41 Files

• Box 101 Folder 001
• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 008
• Box 101 Folder 009
• Box 101 Folder 011
• Box 101 Folder 018
• Box 101 Folder 019
• Box 101 Folder 021
• Box 102 Folder 001
• Box 102 Folder 003
• Box 105 Folder 001
• Box 106 Folder 001
• Box 106 Folder 002
• Box 107 Folder 011
• Box 107 Folder 025
• Box 108 Folder 003
• Box 108 Folder 004
• Box 108 Folder 006
• Box 108 Folder 007
• Box 109 Folder 001
• Box 109 Folder 004
• Box 109 Folder 005
• Box 109 Folder 008
• Box 109 Folder 016
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 004
• Box 110 Folder 006
• Box 110 Folder 008
• Box 111 Folder 001
• Binder 102
• Binder 103
• Binder 112
• Binder 113
• Binder 114
• Binder 115
• Binder 116
• Binder 119
• Binder 121
• Binder 125
• Binder 127

Devon: 2183 Results in 79 Files

• Box 101 Folder 001
• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 006
• Box 101 Folder 007
• Box 101 Folder 008
• Box 101 Folder 010
• Box 101 Folder 011
• Box 101 Folder 012
• Box 101 Folder 016
• Box 101 Folder 017
• Box 101 Folder 018
• Box 101 Folder 019
• Box 101 Folder 020
• Box 101 Folder 021
• Box 102 Folder 001
• Box 102 Folder 002
• Box 102 Folder 003
• Box 102 Folder 005
• Box 103 Folder 001
• Box 103 Folder 002
• Box 103 Folder 003
• Box 103 Folder 004
• Box 104 Folder 001
• Box 105 Folder 001
• Box 105 Folder 003
• Box 106 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 014
• Box 107 Folder 015
• Box 107 Folder 022
• Box 107 Folder 029
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 108 Folder 002
• Box 108 Folder 004
• Box 108 Folder 005
• Box 108 Folder 006
• Box 108 Folder 007
• Box 108 Folder 008
• Box 109 Folder 001
• Box 109 Folder 002
• Box 109 Folder 004
• Box 109 Folder 005
• Box 109 Folder 008
• Box 109 Folder 009
• Box 109 Folder 010
• Box 109 Folder 011
• Box 109 Folder 012
• Box 109 Folder 013
• Box 109 Folder 014
• Box 109 Folder 015
• Box 109 Folder 016
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 002
• Box 110 Folder 003
• Box 110 Folder 004
• Box 110 Folder 005
• Box 110 Folder 008
• Box 111 Folder 001
• Box 111 Folder 002
• Box 111 Folder 003
• Box 111 Folder 006
• Box 111 Folder 007
• Binder 101
• Binder 105
• Binder 108
• Binder 109
• Binder 110
• Binder 112
• Binder 113
• Binder 114
• Binder 115
• Binder 116
• Binder 117
• Binder 119
• Binder 121
• Binder 122
• Binder 124
• Binder 125
• Binder 126
• Binder 128

Gloucestershire (sometimes Gloucester): 96 Results in 20 Files

• Box 101 Folder 001
• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 009
• Box 101 Folder 011
• Box 102 Folder 003
• Box 105 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 018
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 108 Folder 008
• Box 109 Folder 002
• Box 109 Folder 004
• Box 109 Folder 005
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 002
• Box 111 Folder 001
• Box 111 Folder 006
• Binder 106
• Binder 112
• Binder 113
• Binder 114

Hampshire: 60 Results in 17 Files

• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 008
• Box 105 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 019
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 109 Folder 002
• Box 109 Folder 004
• Box 109 Folder 005
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 004
• Box 110 Folder 008
• Binder 111
• Binder 112
• Binder 113
• Binder 114
• Binder 115
• Binder 128

Leicestershire (sometimes Leicester): 40 Results in 9 Files

• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 010
• Box 101 Folder 018
• Box 102 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 024
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 004
• Binder 115

London (sometimes Stepney or Middlesex): 2790 Results in 79 Files

• Box 101 Folder 001
• Box 101 Folder 003
• Box 101 Folder 004
• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 006
• Box 101 Folder 007
• Box 101 Folder 008
• Box 101 Folder 009
• Box 101 Folder 010
• Box 101 Folder 011
• Box 101 Folder 012
• Box 101 Folder 013
• Box 101 Folder 014
• Box 101 Folder 016
• Box 101 Folder 017
• Box 101 Folder 018
• Box 101 Folder 019
• Box 102 Folder 001
• Box 102 Folder 003
• Box 102 Folder 005
• Box 103 Folder 001
• Box 103 Folder 002
• Box 103 Folder 004
• Box 104 Folder 001
• Box 105 Folder 001
• Box 105 Folder 003
• Box 106 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 002
• Box 107 Folder 004
• Box 107 Folder 009
• Box 107 Folder 010
• Box 107 Folder 012
• Box 107 Folder 015
• Box 107 Folder 020
• Box 107 Folder 022
• Box 107 Folder 024
• Box 107 Folder 025
• Box 107 Folder 026
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 108 Folder 002
• Box 108 Folder 003
• Box 108 Folder 006
• Box 108 Folder 007
• Box 108 Folder 008
• Box 109 Folder 001
• Box 109 Folder 002
• Box 109 Folder 003
• Box 109 Folder 004
• Box 109 Folder 005
• Box 109 Folder 012
• Box 109 Folder 014
• Box 109 Folder 016
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 002
• Box 110 Folder 004
• Box 110 Folder 008
• Box 111 Folder 001
• Box 111 Folder 002
• Box 111 Folder 005
• Box 111 Folder 006
• Box 111 Folder 007
• Binder 101
• Binder 105
• Binder 108
• Binder 109
• Binder 112
• Binder 113
• Binder 114
• Binder 115
• Binder 116
• Binder 117
• Binder 118
• Binder 120
• Binder 121
• Binder 125
• Binder 126
• Binder 128

West Midlands: 20 Results in 9 Files

• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 021
• Box 103 Folder 004
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 108 Folder 003
• Box 109 Folder 002
• Box 110 Folder 007
• Binder 112
• Binder 116

Somerset: 2176 Results in 54 Files

• Box 101 Folder 001
• Box 101 Folder 002
• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 006
• Box 101 Folder 007
• Box 101 Folder 009
• Box 101 Folder 010
• Box 101 Folder 011
• Box 101 Folder 012
• Box 101 Folder 014
• Box 101 Folder 016
• Box 101 Folder 018
• Box 101 Folder 019
• Box 102 Folder 001
• Box 102 Folder 003
• Box 104 Folder 001
• Box 105 Folder 001
• Box 105 Folder 002
• Box 105 Folder 003
• Box 105 Folder 004
• Box 105 Folder 005
• Box 105 Folder 006
• Box 106 Folder 001
• Box 107 Folder 025
• Box 107 Folder 027
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 108 Folder 003
• Box 108 Folder 004
• Box 108 Folder 007
• Box 108 Folder 008
• Box 109 Folder 001
• Box 109 Folder 002
• Box 109 Folder 004
• Box 109 Folder 005
• Box 109 Folder 014
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 003
• Box 110 Folder 004
• Box 111 Folder 001
• Box 111 Folder 004
• Box 111 Folder 006
• Binder 106
• Binder 107
• Binder 108
• Binder 109
• Binder 112
• Binder 113
• Binder 114
• Binder 115
• Binder 116
• Binder 119
• Binder 122
• Binder 123
• Binder 124

Staffordshire (sometimes Stafford): 296 Results in 27 Files

• Box 101 Folder 001
• Box 101 Folder 005
• Box 101 Folder 010
• Box 101 Folder 018
• Box 101 Folder 019
• Box 102 Folder 001
• Box 103 Folder 004
• Box 107 Folder 004
• Box 108 Folder 001
• Box 108 Folder 008
• Box 109 Folder 002
• Box 109 Folder 004
• Box 109 Folder 005
• Box 109 Folder 016
• Box 110 Folder 001
• Box 110 Folder 004
• Box 111 Folder 001
• Binder 104
• Binder 105
• Binder 112
• Binder 113
• Binder 114
• Binder 115
• Binder 116
• Binder 118
• Binder 120
• Binder 121