Analysis
This estate record reveals new details about the Babb family unit that otherwise would be lost to history. We already have William Bab[be] the elder in our tree (1619 – Bet. 21 Mar 1696/97–04 Jun 1698). His estate was covered previously. New things we discover through this Will is the daughters of William the younger. We also find that both William’s father and sun were Tanners.
Thomas Hill – Last Will & Testament, 14 Feb 1659
Formal Transcription (Early Modern English)
In the name of God Amen. The fourteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty & nine I Thomas Hill of Gossoms End and within the parish of Barkhamsted St Mary, at Northchurch in the County Hertford Fanner being weak in body but of perfect memory (blessed be God) doe make my last Will & Testant, in manner and forme following
first & principally I give my soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping assuredly, through the merits death & passion of Jesus Christ my merciful Redeemer to inherit Life everlasting:
And my Body to be decently buried according to the discretion of my Executor here after mentioned when it shall please God to take me out of this vale of misery.
As for the worldly Estate wherewith God hath of his goodnesse been pleast to inable me I give & dispose thereof as followeth.
Imprimis whereas of the said Thomas Hill by a deed to uses bearing date the fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty and seaven made between me the said Thomas Hill of the one to William Hill their of Barkhamsted St Peter in the said County of Hertford Tanner & William Bab therfor of the same Tanner of the other pt for divers causes & considerations therein mentioned have given granted & confirmed All those my three closes of Land lying & being in the high of Barkhamsted St. Peter aforsaid to such pron & prons & to such uses intents & purposes as and therein expressed & declared, as in & by the said deed more at large it doth and may appear. Now for the better strengthing & confirming of the said recited deed & every clause grant arise & thing herein contained & to the end the same may continue remaine & be in full force strength & virtue.
I doe by this my last will & Testament ratifie approve confirmed & declare the same to be valid firme & offered & as my legal act & deed.
Provided that Willan Arrowsmith & his wife therein mentioned make no wilful spoil or was in the Closes therein mentioned.
And in case that Elizabeth Arrowsmith the wife of William Arrowsmith in the the said recited deed mentioned shall depart this life without one of her body lawfully begotten , as in the said deed is
more at large oppressed; that then according to the power of have reserved to my selfe in & by the said deed for the giving disposing of the midle close of the three closes in the said deed mentioned of I doe give & bequeath the said Midlemost Close with sharp tannes to Alice Key the daughter of John Key late of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid however I droassers [desires] & to her heirs forever.
To have & to hold to her the said Alice Key & to her heirs according to the honour forme & effect of the said recited deed.
Item whereas by the other deed to uses bearing date the said 14th day of May 1657 made between me the said Thomas Hill of the one to the said William Hill & William Bab of the other pt for divers consideratons therein mentioned I have given granted & confirmed to that my messuage or tenent with sharpness situate lying being in Gossoms End aforsaid to push on & prons & to push uses intents & purposes as are therein mentioned expressed & declared
As in to by the said recited deed more at largest doth & may appear : Now likewise for the better strongthing of the said last recited deed I doe by this my last will and Testamt ratifie confirme & declare the same to be valid and firm to all intents & purposes therein mentioned & expressed
And whereas I have reserved unto my selfe in & by the said deed full power to give & dispose of the sum of Threescore pounds of currant money of England to be paid out of the said Messuage or tenent to such son or sons as I shall by my last Bill & Testant.
or otherwise give & bequeath the same, as more at large by the said recited deed it doth & may appraise Ten pounds of the said sum of threescore pounds & doe by this my will acknowledge that I have received of William Babb the younger of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid Tanner give the making of the said recited deed, & doe likewise by this my will ratifie & confirme the Release which I have made unto him for the same.
As for the remaining fiftie pounds I give & dispose thereof as followeth;
First I give & bequeath five & twenty of pounds thereof unto Alice Key the daughter of John Key aforesaid in this my will mentioned to be paid unto her by William Babb the younger & Mary Key their heirs or assignes in the said recited deed nominated within twelve months after my decease:
Item I give & bequeath Ten pounds more thereof to Martha of Mary Bab the daughter of said William Bab the younger, to be paid likewise unto them within the Same
The time aforesaid.
I give and bequeath ten pounds more to William Arrowsmith of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid glazier to be paid likewise unto him within the said time.
Item I give & bequeath the other five pounds being the remainder of the said fifty pounds to Hannah Culverhouse the daughter of Mary Culverhouse of Gossoms End in the parish of Northchurch aforesaid widdow to be paid unto her with six months after my decease.
Item I give & bequeath all that my Messauges and Tenanments will shary ____ situate lying & being at Gossoms End aforesaid now in the tenure of annexation of Mary Culverhouse with aforesaid to the said mary Culverhouse to live in rent free for and during the same of three years next infering after my decease, & after the expiration of the said three years I give and bequeath the said messauge or tenement with _________ to Martha & Mary Bab the daughters of William Babb the younger aforesaid & to their heirs for ever.
And my will & meaning is that the said William Bab their father shall have the use possession & comfit thereof until the said Martha & Mary shall accomplish their yeares towards their bringing up:
And further my Will & meaning is in case I shall depart this life before and quarter day of rent day on which the respective Tenants possessors or assignors of my messauges lands of Tenaments or any of them and to pay their respective rents to me for this land that all shalbe paid to my Executor hereafter in this my Will mentioned respectively & proportionally for all such part & portion of time & times as I shalbe surviving before the said quarter Daies or rent Daies aforesaid, for him to help pay & discharge my debts & funerall charges withal.
Item I give and bequeath unto Marta & Mary the daughters of William Bab the younger aforesaid to dash of them a yillowboone.
All the most of my goods debts rights _____ & sharables whatsoever unbequeathed my debts & Logaries paid & funerals discharged
I give & bequeath until William Babb the younger of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid Tanner whom I make sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament.
And in wishful that this my last Will & Testament
I have [Meaning Next Page]I have hereunto set my hand & seale the day and year first within written:.
Thomas Hill (Signature & Seal)
Sealed signed and acknowledge in the presence of
Tho: Dagnall Notary Public
John Culler
William Babb
_______ Hemhill 10 July 1661
Probated Domino 10 July 1661
Modern English Translation
In the name of God, Amen. On the fourteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty-nine, I, Thomas Hill of Gossoms End within the parish of Barkhamsted St Mary at Northchurch in the County of Hertford, Tanner, being weak in body but of perfect memory (blessed be God), do make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:
First and principally, I give my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my Creator, hoping assuredly, through the merits, death, and passion of Jesus Christ, my merciful Redeemer, to inherit life everlasting. And my body to be decently buried according to the discretion of my Executor hereafter mentioned when it shall please God to take me out of this vale of misery.
As for the worldly estate wherewith God hath of his goodness been pleased to enable me, I give and dispose thereof as follows:
Imprimis, whereas I, Thomas Hill, by a deed to uses bearing date the fourteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred fifty-seven, made between me, Thomas Hill, of the one part, and William Hill of Barkhamsted St Peter in the said County of Hertford, Tanner, and William Babb of the same, Tanner, of the other part, for divers causes and considerations therein mentioned, have given, granted, and confirmed all those my three closes of land lying and being in the high of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid to such persons and to such uses, intents, and purposes as therein expressed and declared, as in and by the said deed more at large it doth and may appear. Now, for the better strengthening and confirming of the said recited deed and every clause, grant, and thing therein contained, and to the end the same may continue, remain, and be in full force, strength, and virtue, I do by this my last Will and Testament ratify, approve, confirm, and declare the same to be valid, firm, and effectual as my legal act and deed.
Provided that William Arrowsmith and his wife therein mentioned make no willful spoil or waste in the closes therein mentioned. And in case that Elizabeth Arrowsmith, the wife of William Arrowsmith in the said recited deed mentioned, shall depart this life without issue of her body lawfully begotten, as in the said deed is more at large expressed, then according to the power reserved to myself in and by the said deed for the giving and disposing of the middle close of the three closes in the said deed mentioned, I do give and bequeath the said middlemost close with appurtenances to Alice Key, the daughter of John Key, late of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid, and to her heirs forever. To have and to hold to her, the said Alice Key, and to her heirs according to the tenor, form, and effect of the said recited deed.
Item, whereas by another deed to uses bearing date the said fourteenth day of May 1657, made between me, Thomas Hill, of the one part, and the said William Hill and William Babb of the other part, for divers considerations therein mentioned, I have given, granted, and confirmed to them my messuage or tenement with appurtenances situate, lying, and being in Gossoms End aforesaid to such persons and to such uses, intents, and purposes as are therein mentioned, expressed, and declared, as in and by the said recited deed more at large doth and may appear. Now, likewise, for the better strengthening of the said last recited deed, I do by this my last Will and Testament ratify, confirm, and declare the same to be valid and firm to all intents and purposes therein mentioned and expressed.
And whereas I have reserved unto myself in and by the said deed full power to give and dispose of the sum of threescore pounds of current money of England to be paid out of the said messuage or tenement to such person or persons as I shall by my last Will and Testament or otherwise give and bequeath the same, as more at large by the said recited deed it doth and may appear. Ten pounds of the said sum of threescore pounds I do by this my will acknowledge that I have received of William Babb the younger of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid, Tanner, since the making of the said recited deed, and do likewise by this my will ratify and confirm the release which I have made unto him for the same.
As for the remaining fifty pounds, I give and dispose thereof as follows:
First, I give and bequeath twenty-five pounds thereof unto Alice Key, the daughter of John Key aforesaid in this my will mentioned, to be paid unto her by William Babb the younger and Mary Key, their heirs or assigns, in the said recited deed nominated within twelve months after my decease.
Item, I give and bequeath ten pounds more thereof to Martha and Mary Babb, the daughters of the said William Babb the younger, to be paid likewise unto them within the time aforesaid.
Item, I give and bequeath ten pounds more to William Arrowsmith of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid, glazier, to be paid likewise unto him within the said time.
Item, I give and bequeath the other five pounds, being the remainder of the said fifty pounds, to Hannah Culverhouse, the daughter of Mary Culverhouse of Gossoms End in the parish of Northchurch aforesaid, widow, to be paid unto her within six months after my decease.
Item, I give and bequeath all that my messuages and tenements with appurtenances situate, lying, and being at Gossoms End aforesaid now in the tenure or occupation of Mary Culverhouse aforesaid to the said Mary Culverhouse to live in rent-free for and during the term of three years next ensuing after my decease, and after the expiration of the said three years, I give and bequeath the said messuage or tenement with appurtenances to Martha and Mary Babb, the daughters of William Babb the younger aforesaid, and to their heirs forever.
And my will and meaning is that the said William Babb, their father, shall have the use, possession, and benefit thereof until the said Martha and Mary shall accomplish their years towards their bringing up.
And further, my will and meaning is that in case I shall depart this life before any quarter day or rent day on which the respective tenants, possessors, or assigns of my messuages, lands, or tenements or any of them are to pay their respective rents to me for the same, that all shall be paid to my Executor hereafter in this my will mentioned respectively and proportionally for all such part and portion of time and times as I shall be surviving before the said quarter days or rent days aforesaid, for him to help pay and discharge my debts and funeral charges withal.
Item, I give and bequeath unto Martha and Mary, the daughters of William Babb the younger aforesaid, to each of them a yellow bone.
All the rest of my goods, debts, rights, credits, and chattels whatsoever unbequeathed, my debts and legacies paid and funerals discharged, I give and bequeath unto William Babb the younger of Barkhamsted St Peter aforesaid, Tanner, whom I make sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament.
And in witness whereof this my last Will and Testament, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first within written.
Thomas Hill (Signature & Seal)
Sealed, signed, and acknowledged in the presence of:
Tho: Dagnall, Notary Public
John Culler
William Babb
_______ Hemhill 10 July 1661
Probated Domino 10 July 1661
Glossary of Terms
– Imprimis: Firstly; in the first place.
– Messuage: A dwelling house with its adjacent buildings and lands.
– Tenement: Any kind of permanent property, e.g., lands or buildings.
– Appurtenances: Accessories or rights associated with property.
– Closes: Enclosed fields or pieces of land.
– Tanner: A person who tans animal hides to produce leather.
– Threescore: Sixty.
– Currant money: Current money; legal tender at the time.
– Bequeath: To leave (a personal estate) to a person or other beneficiary by a will.
– Executor: A person appointed to carry out the terms of a will.
– Probate: The official proving of a will.
– Vale of misery: A poetic term for the world or life, emphasizing its hardships.
– Ratify: To confirm or make valid.
– Release: A legal document relinquishing a claim.
– Yellow bone: Likely a term for a valuable item or token.
Report of Persons
Thomas Hill: Farmer, Testator
William Hill: Tanner, Party to a deed with the testator; possibly a trustee or associate
William Babb (elder): Tanner, Party to a deed with the testator; possibly a trustee or associate
William Babb (younger): Tanner, Executor of the will; recipient of a release and financial obligations
Martha Babb: Daughter of William Babb the younger; beneficiary
Mary Babb: Daughter of William Babb the younger; beneficiary
William Arrowsmith: Glazier, Beneficiary; husband of Elizabeth Arrowsmith
Elizabeth Arrowsmith: Wife of William Arrowsmith; mentioned in a conditional clause
Alice Key: Daughter of John Key; beneficiary of land and money
John Key: Deceased; father of Alice Key
Hannah Culverhouse: Daughter of Mary Culverhouse; beneficiary of money
Mary Culverhouse: Widow, Mother of Hannah; tenant of testator’s property; allowed to live rent-free
Thomas Dagnall: Notary Public, Witness to the will
John Culler: Witness to the will
William Babb: Also signed as a witness
[Unnamed] Hemhill: Witness to the probate (name partially illegible)
Citation
“Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom records,” images, FamilySearch (https:// http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNP-79CF-G?view=fullText : Jun 13, 2025), image 417 of 881; Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Hitchin Division. Court. Image Group Number: 008085379
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNP-79CF-G?view=fullText