William appears to have been a resident of Berkhamsted his entire life. He is a member of the tree we refer to as Hertfordshire Pedigree (Berkhamsted 1546)
Formal Transcription (Early Modern English)
1698
Babb, Gulielmus de Barkhamsted Petri June
April Barkhamstead
4 Jun 1698
Inventorie ul niha
Exebita jurat wiana
Robert Brabant clerk
Modern English Translation
1698
Babb, William of Berkhamsted, St Peter, June
April Berkhampstead
4 Jun 1698
Inventory of goods
Presented under oath by
Robert Brabant, clerk
Glossary of Terms
– Gulielmus: Latin for William
– Barkhamsted Petri: Refers to Berkhamsted, Church of St. Peter, a place in Hertfordshire
– Inventorie ul niha: Inventory of goods (Latin)
– Exebita jurat wiana: Presented under oath (Latin)
– Clerk: A person employed in an office or a church
Last Will and Testament (21 Mar 1697)
Formal Transcription (Early Modern English)
In the name of God, Amen. I William Babb of Berkhampstead St. Peter in the County of Hertfordshire being sick in body but of perfect memory, and knowing the uncertainty of this life do make and appoint this my last will and testament, utterly revoking all former wills.
Imprimis, I give and bequeath my soul to God who gave it, and my body to be decently buried according to the discretion of my executor hereafter named.
Item, I give and bequeath the house I now dwell in, and my house at Gossoms End, and the house now in the possession of Hannah Jones, and all my personal estate, to my loving wife Mary Babb during her natural life.
And after her decease the house I now dwell in shall go to my son William Babb.
The house at Gossoms End shall go to my son John Babb, he paying the charges or encumbrances upon it.
The house in the possession of Hannah Jones shall be sold or disposed of to pay my debts.
I likewise constitute and appoint my loving wife Mary Babb to be my executrix, and to dispose of the remainder of my estate—that is, my goods—as she shall think fit.
I acknowledge this to be my last will and testament, given under my hand this twenty-first day of March 1697, in the ninth year of the reign of King William the Third.
Signed and sealed in the presence of us:
Joseph Collet, Junior
Thomas Attridge
William Babb [signed by mark]
Modern English Translation
In the name of God, Amen. I, William Babb of Berkhamsted St. Peter in the County of Hertfordshire, being sick in body but of perfect memory, and knowing the uncertainty of this life, do make and appoint this my last will and testament, utterly revoking all former wills.
First, I give and bequeath my soul to God who gave it, and my body to be decently buried according to the discretion of my executor hereafter named.
Item, I give and bequeath the house I now dwell in, my house at Gossoms End, the house now in the possession of Hannah Jones, and all my personal estate, to my loving wife Mary Babb during her natural life.
After her decease, the house I now dwell in shall go to my son William Babb.
The house at Gossoms End shall go to my son John Babb, he paying the charges or encumbrances upon it.
The house in the possession of Hannah Jones shall be sold or disposed of to pay my debts.
I likewise constitute and appoint my loving wife Mary Babb to be my executrix, and to dispose of the remainder of my estate—that is, my goods—as she shall think fit.
I acknowledge this to be my last will and testament, given under my hand this twenty-first day of March 1697, in the ninth year of the reign of King William the Third.
Signed and sealed in the presence of us:
Joseph Collet, Junior
Thomas Attridge
William Babb [signed by mark]
Glossary of Terms
-Imprimis: Latin for first or in the first place.
-Bequeath: To leave (a personal estate) to a person or other beneficiary by a will.
-Executrix: A female executor, the person appointed to carry out the terms of a will.
-Encumbrances: A claim or liability attached to property, such as a mortgage.
-Decently buried: To be buried in a respectful and proper manner.
-Personal estate: All movable property owned by an individual, as opposed to real estate.
-Revoking: To officially cancel or annul.
-Signed by mark: Indicates that the person signing the document did so with a mark (often an “X”) rather than a full signature, typically due to illiteracy or infirmity.
Place Name Analysis
– Berkhamsted St. Peter: A parish in Hertfordshire, England.
– Gossoms End: A locality within Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
Citation:
“Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England records,” images, FamilySearch (https:// http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-CWG6?view=fullText : Jun 7, 2025), image 504 of 985; Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Hitchin Division. Court.
Image Group Number: 008084776
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNL-CWG6?view=fullText
The Tree (still under construction)
Remember that this tree is a work in progress, but it is starting to shape up nicely with 128 people and coming in at 22 pages in length. William is #14 and his record starts on page 9. This line currently accounts for just over half of the people found in this county…thus far.