Cover Image: St Andrews Parish Church, Hertford, Hertfordshire.
This is the single largest estate I’ve seen on record in Hertfordshire. Cadwallider (Cadwallader) was a very wealthy man, and the cash portion of his bequests amount to £584. Our John Babb was put in charge as an co-executor of this massive estate. Who was John, you may ask? The record isn’t perfectly clear on this topic, but he appears to be the same person as John Babbs who was granted a license as a Higgler in 1683. By 1706 he is listed in this estate record as a mealmaker. Here’s a quick breakdown of what a mealmaker might have done in 1707 Hertfordshire:
- 🌾 Grinding Grain: Operated or worked at a mill to produce meal from cereal grains.
- 🛒 Selling Meal: May have sold the ground product directly to bakers, brewers, or households.
- 🧺 Supplying Households: In some contexts, especially in Scotland, the term could also refer to a meal dealer or provisioner.
Given that Cadwallader Smith is self-described as a miller in this estate, “mealmaker” would be a natural occupational synonym—especially if used in reference to someone in his family or trade circle. If it appears in a will or inventory, it might also hint at someone involved in the commercial side of milling rather than just the mechanical process. If you are peddling live animals, it is an easy add-on sale to have meal on hand as an add-on sale.
This evidence is in no way conclusive, but it is a theory that at-least explains how he trusted John to deliver as an Executor. They likely would have been in business for years prior to Cadwallader’s death. John is not explicitly called out as a kinsman, but in the context of the way it was written can be construed that way. For that reason, I have placed all of the people mentioned in Cadwallader’s Will into the same tree under the name Hertfordshire Pedigree (Hertford 1683) so that they can be held together as research continues.
What sort of living would a Miller make in 1705 Hertfordshire?
A miller in early 18th-century England, especially in a rural county like Hertfordshire, would typically be considered a respectable tradesman. Here’s a breakdown of what that might have looked like:
📌 Economic Status
- Middle class: Millers often owned or leased mills, which were essential to local agriculture. They processed grain for farmers and were paid in cash or a portion of the grain (a system called “multure”).
- Income: While exact figures vary, a successful miller could earn £20–£50 per year, possibly more if they owned the mill and land.
- Wealth accumulation: Cadwallader’s ability to bequeath over £500 and property suggests he was affluent by local standards.
🏡 Assets
- He owned or leased:
- A water mill, Barns and arable land, A messuage (dwelling house with land)
- These holdings indicate he was more than a laborer—likely a yeoman or small landowner.
📚 Social Role
- Millers were often central figures in rural communities, both economically and socially.
- However, they were sometimes viewed with suspicion due to their control over grain processing and pricing.
What would £584 buy in 1705?
| Item | Quantity £584 Could Buy |
| Daily wage of a skilled worker | 97,333 days (266.5 years) |
| Daily wage of an unskilled worker | 146,000 days (400 years) |
| Loaves of bread | 1,168,000 loaves (a loaf a day for 3,196 years) |
| Gallons of ale | 389,333 gallons (a gallon a day for 1,065 years) |
| Pounds of meat | 233,600 pounds (623 of the largest of Red Stag Deers) |
| Pairs of shoes | 23,360 pairs (almost 8 Imelda Marcos’) |
| Wool coats | 5,840 coats (enough for 1 collector) |
| Months of rent (small house) | 2,336 months (195 years of rent) |
| Cows | 2,336 cows (243.5 metric tons of methane annually) |
| Horses | 1,168 horses (still couldn’t drag me away from genealogy) |
Formal Transcription (Early Modern English/Latin)
In the Name of God Amen I Cadwallider [Cadwallader] Smith of the Parish of St Andrews in the County of Hertford Miller being Antient and weary in body, but of sound mind and understanding praised be Almighty God for the same Doe make and declare this to be my Last will and testament bequeathing my Soul into the hands of Allmighty God hoping that through the merritts death and passion of his Son and my Saviour Jesus Christ to receive perfect remission and forgiveness of all my Sins And as for touching and conceming the Temporall Estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose thereof as followeth,
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman Christopher Nickolls the sum of one hundred pounds of lawfull money of England to be paid unto him by my Executors hereinafter after named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my kinswoman Joane the wife of George Haynes the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawfull money of England, to be paid unto her by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Samuel Randall of the parish of St Andrew ‘s Hertford aforesaid Collermaker the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman John Nicholls of Hertford Baker the Sume of four pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Thomas Smith Son of Daniell Smith late att___ Cross Keys deceased Jun in Hertford aforesaid Baker deceased the sum of thirty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Brother William Smith of Hertford aforesaid Shoemaker the sum of thirty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto the five children of my said Brother William (being one son and four Daughters) the Sume of fifty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be equally divided until and amongst them. Share and Share alike by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease, But in case any of them shall haven to depart this life before that hichor or their legacy’s, become due and payable as aforesaid, that then my Will and meaning is, that the legacy or Legacyes, Share or shares of him her or them so dying as aforesaid, shall equally divided unto & amongst the Survivors or survivor of them,
Item I give and be unto my Kinswoman Sarah Randall the sum of thirty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Mary Randall the sum of Thirty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Margarett of Alexander Moore the sume of twenty Pounds of like lawful of England, to be paid unto her by my Execute herein after named within two month my decease,
Item I give and bequeath a Kinsman John Wicks of Hatfield in the County of Hertford aforesaid Baker the sume of twenty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and
The mark of
Cadwallider (Mark) Smith (Seal)
[Page 2]Bequeath until my Kinsman Richard Mayor of Enfield in the County of Middlesex County Coachman the sum of twenty pounds of like lawfull money of England, to be paid unto him by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Elizabeth Logsdon the Daughter of Robert Logsdon and Sume of twenty pounds of like lawfull money of England to be paid unto her by my Executor hereinafter [named] & wikthin two months after my decease,
Item
I give and unto my Kinsman Daniell Smith one other of the sonns of Daniel Smith late at the Crosse Keys Inn in Hertford aforesaid Baker deceased All that my messuage or tenement Lands and hereditaments with their appertinces situate and being near Cowbridge in the parish of St. Andrews Hertford aforesaid and in the Possession or occupation of one William Barkett or his Assigns
And also all that my Barns and Close of arrable ground, likewise in the said parish of St Andrews Hertford, and which now are in my own possession, to have and to hold to the said Daniel Smith his heirs and Assignes forever
Item I give bequeath and Assigne unto my said Kinswoman Joane the wife of the said George Haynes the remainder residue & interest time & forme which shall be to come & unexpired of the Lease which I now have of the Water Mills with the appurtenances which now are in my own possession, and all those my whenfills therewith left, To hold to the said Joane the wife of the said George Haynes during the residue and remainder of the said forme which shall be then to some & unexpired of the and Lease, the said Joane & George Haynes paying and rendering the profitte thereof to my Brother Thomas Smith during the terme of his natural life,
Item all other my goods moneys and that all whatsoever not herein before by and given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto the said Joane the wife of the said George Haynes to be paid and delivered unto her by my said Executor hereinafter named within six months after my decease,
And I do hereby Nominate Constitute & appoint my Kinsman Christopher Nicholl and John Babb of Hertford aforesaid Mealman Executors of this my last Will and testament, desiring my said Executors to be decently buryed
Thus revoaking all former Wills by me heretofore made, doe make publish and declare this to be my last Will and testament being couheymed [countinenced] in two sheets of paper whereof I have Sett my hand and Seale to each Sheet of paper this fourth day of January in foworth yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne over England & AnnoQB [Anno Quinto Britanniae] Die 1705
The marke of
Cadwallider (mark) Smith (Seal)
Sealed published and declared by the said the marke of Cadwallider Smith & Elder Smith to be his last Will and went in the presence of us who subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto in the same
John Barfoot
Thomas Anderson
_____ Kent
[Page 3: in Latin]Apud Hertford, sexto die mensis Martii, Anno Domini 1707. In propria juris [persona] comparuerunt Christopher Nicholls et Johannes Babb, executores in huiusmodi testamento dicti Cadwallader Smith nuper defuncti, coram Hodgkins meo, Vine. Probatum fuit testamentum sexto die apud Hertford, Anno Domini 1707, coram Reverendo Hodgkin, Clerico, Surrogato Reverendi Barnardiston Clee, Artium Magistri, in Archidiaconatu Huntingdoniensi, Commissario jurato.
Christopher Nicholls et Johannes Babb in eorum [personis] admissi sunt custodes et administratores bonorum ad [dictum testamentum] sancte Dei Evangelia jurati.
Tho: Harris.
Modern English Translation
In the Name of God Amen I Cadwallader Smith of the Parish of St Andrews in the County of Hertford Miller being Ancient and weary in body, but of sound mind and understanding praised be Almighty God for the same Do make and declare this to be my Last will and testament bequeathing my Soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping that through the merits death and passion of his Son and my Savior Jesus Christ to receive perfect remission and forgiveness of all my Sins And as for touching and concerning the Temporal Estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose thereof as follows,
Firstly I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman Christopher Nickolls the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money of England to be paid unto him by my Executors hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Joane the wife of George Haynes the sum of one hundred pounds of like lawful money of England, to be paid unto her by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Samuel Randall of the parish of St Andrew’s Hertford aforesaid Collermaker the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinsman John Nicholls of Hertford Baker the Sum of four pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my kinsman Thomas Smith Son of Daniel Smith late at Cross Keys deceased Jun in Hertford aforesaid Baker deceased the sum of thirty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Brother William Smith of Hertford aforesaid Shoemaker the sum of thirty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto the five children of my said Brother William (being one son and four Daughters) the Sum of fifty pounds of like lawful money of England to be equally divided until and amongst them. Share and Share alike by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease, But in case any of them shall happen to depart this life before that their legacy’s, become due and payable as aforesaid, that then my Will and meaning is, that the legacy or Legacyes, Share or shares of him her or them so dying as aforesaid, shall equally divided unto & amongst the Survivors or survivor of them,
Item I give and be unto my Kinswoman Sarah Randall the sum of thirty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Mary Randall the sum of Thirty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Margarett of Alexander Moore of Great Bounds of like lawful money of England, to be paid unto her by my Executor herein after named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto Kinsman John Wicks of Hatfield in the County of Hertford aforesaid Baker the sum of twenty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and
The mark of
Cadwallader (Mark) Smith (Seal)
[Page 2]Bequeath unto my Kinsman Richard Mayor of Enfield in the County of Middlesex County Coachman the sum of twenty pounds of like lawful money of England, to be paid unto him by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give and bequeath unto my Kinswoman Elizabeth Logsdon the Daughter of Robert Logsdon the Sum of twenty pounds of like lawful money of England to be paid unto her by my Executor hereinafter named within two months after my decease,
Item I give unto my Kinsman Daniel Smith one other of the sons of Daniel Smith late at the Cross Keys Inn in Hertford aforesaid Baker deceased All that my messuage or tenement Lands and hereditaments with their appurtenances situate and being near Cowbridge in the parish of St. Andrews Hertford aforesaid and in the Possession or occupation of one William Barkett or his Assigns
And also all that my Barns and Close of arable ground, likewise in the said parish of St Andrews Hertford, and which now are in my own possession, to have and to hold to the said Daniel Smith his heirs and Assigns forever
Item I give bequeath and Assign unto my said Kinswoman Joane the wife of the said George Haynes the remainder residue & interest time & form which shall be to come & unexpired of the Lease which I now have of the Water Mills with the appurtenances which now are in my own possession, and all those my whenfills therewith left, To hold to the said Joane the wife of the said George Haynes during the residue and remainder of the said form which shall be then to come & unexpired of the Lease, the said Joane & George Haynes paying and rendering the profit thereof to my Brother Thomas Smith during the term of his natural life,
Item all other my goods moneys and that all whatsoever not herein before by and given and bequeathed I give and bequeath unto the said Joane the wife of the said George Haynes to be paid and delivered unto her by my said Executor hereinafter named within six months after my decease,
And I do hereby Nominate Constitute & appoint my Kinsman Christopher Nicholl and John Babb of Hertford aforesaid Mealman Executors of this my last Will and testament, desiring my said Executors to be decently buried
Thus revoking all former Wills by me heretofore made, do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and testament being contained in two sheets of paper whereof I have Set my hand and Seal to each Sheet of paper this fourth day of January in fourth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Queen Anne over England & AnnoQB [Anno Quinto Britanniae] Die 1705
The mark of
Cadwallader (mark) Smith (Seal)
Sealed published and declared by the said the mark of Cadwallader Smith & Elder Smith to be his last Will and testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto in the same
John Barfoot
Thomas Anderson
_____ Kent
[Page 3]At Hertford, on the sixth day of the month of March, in the year of our Lord 1707. In their own right appeared Christopher Nicholls and John Babb, executors named in the testament of the said Cadwallader Smith, lately deceased, before Hodgkins, me, Vine.
The will was proved on the sixth day at Hertford, in the year of our Lord 1707, before the Reverend Hodgkin, Clerk, surrogate of the Reverend Barnardiston Clee, Master of Arts, in the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon, sworn commissary.
Christopher Nicholls and John Babb were admitted as custodians and administrators of the goods according to the said testament, having sworn on the Holy Gospels.
[Signed] Tho: Harris.Glossary of Terms
– Imprimis: In the first place.
– Kinsman/Kinswoman: typically referred to a relative by blood, but the exact degree of relationship could vary depending on context.
– Messuage: A dwelling house with its adjacent buildings and lands.
– Hereditaments: Property that can be inherited.
– Appurtenances: Accessories or rights associated with property.
– Arable: Land suitable for growing crops.
– Collermaker: Collar maker, a person who makes collars for horses.
– Lawful money of England: Currency that is legally recognized in England.
– Temporal Estate: Material possessions or property.
– Revoking: Canceling or annulling.
– Bequeath: To leave property or money to someone in a will.
– Executors: Persons appointed to carry out the terms of a will.
– Assigns: Persons to whom property rights or powers are transferred.
Report of People’s Names
– Cadwallader Smith: Testator
– Christopher Nickolls: Kinsman
– Joane: Kinswoman, wife of George Haynes
– George Haynes: Husband of Joane
– Samuel Randall: Kinsman, Collermaker
– John Nicholls: Kinsman, Baker
– Thomas Smith: Kinsman, Son of Daniel Smith
– Daniel Smith: Deceased, Baker
– William Smith: Brother of Testator, Shoemaker
– Sarah Randall: Kinswoman
– Mary Randall: Kinswoman
– Margarett: Kinswoman, wife of Alexander Moore
– Alexander Moore: Husband of Margarett
– John Wicks: Kinsman, Baker
– Richard Mayor: Kinsman, Coachman
– Elizabeth Logsdon: Kinswoman, Daughter of Robert Logsdon
– Robert Logsdon: Father of Elizabeth Logsdon
– William Barkett: Possessor or occupier of property
– Thomas Smith: Brother of Testator
– Christopher Nicholl: Executor
– John Babb: Executor, Mealman
– John Barfoot: Witness
– Thomas Anderson: Witness
– Kent: Witness
– Hodgkins: Cleric
– Barnardiston Clee: Cleric
– Tho: Harris: Cleric
Report of Place Names
– St Andrews: Parish in Hertford
– Hertford: Hertfordshire County in England
– Hatfield: Place in Hertford
– Enfield: Place in Middlesex County (A modern Borough of London).
– Cowbridge: Place in St. Andrews Parish, Hertford
– Cross Keys Inn: Place in Hertford
Citation:
“Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom records,” images, FamilySearch (https:// http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGK-9QDW-4?view=fullText : Jun 19, 2025), image 247 of 826; Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Hitchin Division. Court.
Image Group Number: 008220330
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSGK-9QDW-4?view=fullText