Analysis

While this Will & Testament is short on details for Elisabeth Babb, it is still significant because it demonstrates an presence in Chipperfield, which is very close to Hemel Hempstead, Abbots Langley, Watford, Rickmansworth and Sarratt. All of these locations contain early Babb(s) records and may eventually prove a connection to our Elisabeth.

Formal Transcription (Early Modern English)

In the name of God Amen the twenty third day of May : 1693
I William Knight of Chippenfield in ye parish of kings Langly county of Hertford Yeoman Being weakly in body but Sonrable in mind and of good memory praised be God for it.
Doe make and ordaine this my last will & Testament in righting in Manor and forme following.
Ffirst and princippaly, I bequeath my sould unto ye hands of Allmighty God my maker hoping that through the Meritorious Death and passion of Jesus Christ my only Savior and Redeemer to rescue from pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins and to be eternally saved by him.
And as for my worldly Estate that god hath blessed me with all . I give and bequeath the same as followeth.
Imprimesse. I give and Bequeath to my well beloved wife and best he_or All my that mesuage and tenement called by the name of Pailes with all the Barnes or other buildings hereunto belonging with all the Lande Arable or Meddow and as well copy hold Land as free hold Land with all and every of ye “Thappes” is belonging to the same whatsoever [Side Note] and a barn called the Mill Barne now belongin to the Paile I give to my wife [End Side Note] and also one Cottage or Tenement called by the name of Taffs with all the Barnes as other buildings and all the Lands Arable or Meadow and as well Coppey hold land as free hold Land with all and every of sd “Thappes” belonging to ye same what soever . And also one Cottage or Tenement and by the name of keenes with all and and every of the “Thappes” is belonging to the same whatsoever.
And also one Collage or tenement called by the name of Bucsland in Watford parish  with all the Lands Arable or medow with all and every of the “Thappes” belonging to the same what soever.
All these for above said mesuages or Tenement with all and every of ye “Thappes”is belonging to them what soever. I give and bequeath to my said beloved wife and hereof for ever.
Item I give to my Kinsman Joseph Cooper & Daughters forty Shillings a peese.
Item I give to William Knight the son of Jeremiah Knight of Fodon five pounds.
Item I give to Benjamin Cooper fower [four] pounds.
I give to Sarah Parkinson fore [four] pounds.
Item I give to Mary Cooper five pounds .
Item I give to my Coson [Cousin] Sarah Cooly’s Children that asare now borned forty Shillings a piece.
Item I give to John Harnes forty Shillings.
Item I give to Elizabeth Warner forty Shillings.
Item I give to Mary Fullows twenty Shillings.
Item I give to Elisabeth Babb twenty Shillings.
Item I give to John Winkfield Six pounds.
Item I give to Samuell Whithead five pounds.
Item I give to president Lovett forty Shillings.
Item I give to Henry Southens three daughters Fowr [Four] shillings a peece.
Item I give to Sarah Munn the Daughter of John Munn five pounds.
Item I give to Thomas Judson Three pounds.
Item I give to John Gray of Watford fifty Shillings.
Item give To Samuell Carly fifty Shillings.
Item I give to Elizabeth Gray forty Shillings.
Item I give to the widdow Edwards of Hempsteed Ten Shillings and to her Son William Edwards and her Daughter Mary Twenty Shillings a peace.
Item I give to Thomas Johnson forty Shillings.
Item I give to Richard Eales the Son of Richard Galley of Gossums end five pounds.
And I give to William Gyre the same of William Tyre of Hertford five five pounds.
Item give to Daniell Field of Netterden the sum of twenty pounds.
All which above Said Legiries by me William Knight given and bequeathed my mind and will is shall be paid within six months after my wifes decease or to as many of them as shall be then alive of the above mentioned persons.
[Page 2]Item, I give to William Neale late of Kinsman Givens Twenty Shillings
Item I give to Henry Souther Twenty Shillings
Item I give to the poor of Kings Langly Parish twenty Shillings.
These three last mentioned Legires my mind and will if shall be paid within one year after my decease.

And all the Rest of my goods and chattels not before hearin bequeathed, I doe give and bequeath to my well beloved wife whome I Doe make and ordain my Sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament by me made in wrighting whereunto I the said William Knight of Chipperfield have Sett my hand and seale the day and year first above written and mentioned.
And in the fift[h] year of their majesties Reigne King William and Queen Mary over England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith.
Sealed Signed published and delivered to be the Last Will and Testament of me the abovesaid William Knight in Chipperfield in the parish of Kings Langley wittness our hands
Richard Carter
William Pratt
Joseph Gould
And I the abovesaid William Knight Doe Revoke all other former Wills and Testament made by me in Wittnesse whereunto I have put my hand and seal
William Knight [signature and seal]
[Page 3]4 January 1693 a Susanna Knight Executrix witnessed for fail dei benefield Admintland die anno Sagaat:
____________ Surrogate
Stuart Cueat de Hemelhemsted

Modern English Translation

In the name of God Amen the twenty third day of May : 1693
I William Knight of Chipperfield in the parish of Kings Langley county of Hertford Yeoman Being weak in body but sound in mind and of good memory praised be God for it.
Do make and ordain this my last will & Testament in writing in manner and form following.
First and principally, I bequeath my soul unto the hands of Almighty God my maker hoping that through the Meritorious Death and passion of Jesus Christ my only Savior and Redeemer to receive pardon and forgiveness of all my Sins and to be eternally saved by him.
And as for my worldly Estate that God hath blessed me with all. I give and bequeath the same as follows.
Firstly. I give and Bequeath to my well beloved wife and best heir All my that messuage and tenement called by the name of Pailes with all the Barns or other buildings hereunto belonging with all the Land Arable or Meadow and as well copyhold Land as freehold Land with all and every of the “Thappes” is belonging to the same whatsoever [Side Note] and a barn called the Mill Barn now belonging to the Pailes I give to my wife [End Side Note] and also one Cottage or Tenement called by the name of Taffs with all the Barns as other buildings and all the Lands Arable or Meadow and as well Copyhold land as freehold Land with all and every of said “Thappes” belonging to the same whatsoever. And also one Cottage or Tenement by the name of Keenes with all and every of the “Thappes” is belonging to the same whatsoever.
And also one Cottage or tenement called by the name of Bucsland in Watford parish with all the Lands Arable or meadow with all and every of the “Thappes” belonging to the same whatsoever.
All these for above said messuages or Tenement with all and every of the “Thappes” is belonging to them whatsoever. I give and bequeath to my said beloved wife and her heirs forever.
Item I give to my Kinsman Joseph Cooper & Daughters forty Shillings apiece.
Item I give to William Knight the son of Jeremiah Knight of Fodon five pounds.
Item I give to Benjamin Cooper four pounds.
I give to Sarah Parkinson four pounds.
Item I give to Mary Cooper five pounds.
Item I give to my Cousin Sarah Cooly’s Children that are now born forty Shillings apiece.
Item I give to John Harnes forty Shillings.
Item I give to Elizabeth Warner forty Shillings.
Item I give to Mary Fullows twenty Shillings.
Item I give to Elisabeth Babb twenty Shillings.
Item I give to John Winkfield Six pounds.
Item I give to Samuel Whithead five pounds.
Item I give to president Lovett forty Shillings.
Item I give to Henry Southens three daughters Four shillings apiece.
Item I give to Sarah Munn the Daughter of John Munn five pounds.
Item I give to Thomas Judson Three pounds.
Item I give to John Gray of Watford fifty Shillings.
Item give To Samuel Carly fifty Shillings.
Item I give to Elizabeth Gray forty Shillings.
Item I give to the widow Edwards of Hempstead Ten Shillings and to her Son William Edwards and her Daughter Mary Twenty Shillings apiece.
Item I give to Thomas Johnson forty Shillings.
Item I give to Richard Eales the Son of Richard Galley of Gossums end five pounds.
And I give to William Gyre the same of William Tyre of Hertford five pounds.
Item give to Daniel Field of Netterden the sum of twenty pounds.
All which above Said Legacies by me William Knight given and bequeathed my mind and will is shall be paid within six months after my wife’s decease or to as many of them as shall be then alive of the above mentioned persons.
[Page 2]Item, I give to William Neale late of Kinsman Givens Twenty Shillings
Item I give to Henry Souther Twenty Shillings
Item I give to the poor of Kings Langley Parish twenty Shillings.
These three last mentioned Legacies my mind and will is shall be paid within one year after my decease.

And all the Rest of my goods and chattels not before herein bequeathed, I do give and bequeath to my well beloved wife whom I Do make and ordain my Sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament by me made in writing whereunto I the said William Knight of Chipperfield have Set my hand and seal the day and year first above written and mentioned.
And in the fifth year of their majesties Reign King William and Queen Mary over England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the faith.
Sealed Signed published and delivered to be the Last Will and Testament of me the above said William Knight in Chipperfield in the parish of Kings Langley witness our hands
Richard Carter
William Pratt
Joseph Gould
And I the above said William Knight Do Revoke all other former Wills and Testament made by me in Witness whereunto I have put my hand and seal
William Knight [signature and seal]
[Page 3]4 January 1693 a Susanna Knight Executrix witnessed for fail dei benefield Admintland die anno Sagaat:
____________ Surrogate
Stuart Cueat de Hemelhemsted

Glossary of Terms

– Yeoman: A man holding and cultivating a small landed estate; a freeholder.
– Messuage: A dwelling house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use.
– Tenement: Any kind of permanent property, e.g., lands or rents, held from a superior.
– Copyhold: A type of land tenure where the title is held according to the custom of the manor.
– Freehold: Permanent and absolute tenure of land or property with freedom to dispose of it at will.
– Thappes: Likely a variation of “appurtenances,” meaning accessories or other items associated with a particular activity or style of living.
– Arable: Land suitable for growing crops.
– Meadow: A piece of grassland, especially one used for hay.
– Legacies: Money or property bequeathed to someone in a will.
– Executrix: A female executor of a will.

Report of People’s Names

– William Knight: Testator
– Susanna Knight: Wife of William Knight
– Joseph Cooper: Kinsman
– Daughters of Joseph Cooper
– William Knight: Son of Jeremiah Knight of Fodon
– Benjamin Cooper
– Sarah Parkinson
– Mary Cooper
– Sarah Cooly’s Children: Cousin’s children
– John Harnes
– Elizabeth Warner
– Mary Fullows
– Elisabeth Babb
– John Winkfield
– Samuel Whithead
– President Lovett
– Henry Southens’ three daughters
– Sarah Munn: Daughter of John Munn
– Thomas Judson
– John Gray of Watford
– Samuel Carly
– Elizabeth Gray
– Widow Edwards of Hempstead
– William Edwards: Son of Widow Edwards
– Mary: Daughter of Widow Edwards
– Thomas Johnson
– Richard Eales: Son of Richard Galley of Gossums end
– William Gyre: Same of William Tyre of Hertford
– Daniel Field of Netterden
– William Neale: Late of Kinsman Givens
– Henry Souther
– Poor of Kings Langley Parish
– Richard Carter: Witness
– William Pratt: Witness
– Joseph Gould: Witness
– Stuart Cueat de Hemelhemsted: Surrogate

List of Place Names with Modern Equivalents

– Chippenfield: Chipperfield
– Kings Langly: Kings Langley
– Hertford: Hertford
– Pailes: Unknown
– Taffs: Unknown
– Keenes: Unknown
– Bucsland: Unknown
– Watford: Watford
– Hempsteed: Hemel Hempstead
– Gossums end: Gossoms End
– Netterden: Unknown

Total money bequeathed

The total amount of money bequeathed by William Knight in his 1693 will is £70.50 (seventy pounds and ten shillings).

Citation

“Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom records,” images, FamilySearch (https:// http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH8-G9JR-W?view=fullText : Jun 17, 2025), image 819 of 875; Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Hitchin Division. Court. Image Group Number: 007908580

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH8-G9JR-W?view=fullText