This appears to be the same John Babb who served as the Guarantee for the Bond on Mary Grover’s estate. He clearly was a man of means to be able to confer such a guarantee. In this instance though, he is joined by two others due to the large value of the estate of over £200. In this instance he is joined by Daniel Wheeler, for whom we already have a couple of previous connections.
This connection indicates that we need to merge this tree Hertfordshire Pedigree (Berkhamsted 1712) with Hertfordshire Pedigree (Berkhamsted 1665).
So, in one fowl swoop, John b. bef. 1691 is merged with John b. abt. 27 Apr 1674 and the trees are now merged. It turns out that John Babb’s daughter Frances married Daniel Wheeler. So, Daniel is John’s son-in-law.
Formal Transcription (Early Modern English)
Know all men by these presents that wee John Babb of Berkhamstead of St. Peter in the county of Hertford & Daniel Wheeler of Berkhamstead St. Peter aforesaid county Husbandman & Joseph Bells of Hemphed in the county Hertford Carpenter
Are held and firmly bound until John Andrews Dr of Laws County of Huntingdon lawfully appointed In the sum of two hundred pounds of good and lawfull Money of Great Britain to be paid unto the said John Andrew or to his certain attorney his executors Administrators or Assigns to which payment well and truly to be made Wee Oblige our selves and each and every of us by himself and themselves in the whole & for the whole our and each and every of our Heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these presents Sealed with our Seals dated the Twenty third day of May in the eleventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the II by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith and so forth And in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and thirty eight.
The Condition of is such that the said John Babb Creditor & Administrator of all and singular the goods Chattells and credits of John Morris late of Berkhamsted St Peters Waggoner Deceased do make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattells and Credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to the hands possession or knowledge of the said John Babb or into the hands and possession of any person or persons for him – and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be Exhibited into the Registry of the Archdeaconry aforesaid, at or before the Twenty third day of June next ensuing and the same goods chattells and credits and all other the goods to the hands or possession of the said John Babb, or into the hands and possession of any other person or persons for him do well and truly administer according to law And further do make or cause to be made a true and just accompt of his said administration at or before the Twenty third day of June 1738 and all the rest and residue of the said Goods Chattells and Credits which shall be found remaining upon the said Administrators accompt the same being first Examined and allowed of by the Judge or Judges for the time being of the said Court shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively as the said Judge or Judges by his or their decree or Sentence pursuant to the true intent and meaning of a late Act of Parliament made in the two and twentieth and three and twentieth years of the reign of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second (Intituted An Act for the better settling of Intestates Estates) Shall limit and appoint And if it shall hereafter appear that any last Will and Testament was made by the said deceased and the Executor or Executors therein named do exhibit the same into the said Court making request to have it allowed and approved accordingly if the said John Babb above bounden being thereunto required do render and deliver the said Letters of Administration (approbation of such Testament being first had and made) in the said Court then this Obligation to be void or else to remain in full force and Vertue
John Babb (Signature)
Daniel Wheeler (Signature)
Joseph Bells (Signature)
Sealed and delivered being first duly Stamped in the presence of
Thomas Taylor
R____ T____
Modern English Translation
We, John Babb, Daniel Wheeler, and Joseph Bells, are legally bound to John Andrews, Doctor of Laws in the County of Huntingdon, in the amount of £200 sterling. This bond is dated May 23, 1738, during the reign of King George II.
The condition of this bond is that John Babb, as creditor and administrator of the estate of John Morris, deceased, must create a full and accurate inventory of the deceased’s possessions and submit it to the Archdeaconry by June 23. He must also administer the estate according to law and provide a full account of his administration by that date. Any remaining assets must be distributed according to the law governing intestate estates. If a valid will is later found, and the named executor requests probate, John Babb must surrender his letters of administration. If all these conditions are met, the bond is void; otherwise, it remains in effect.
Glossary of Terms
Oblige: To legally bind someone to a duty or obligation.
Chattells: Movable personal property.
Administrator: A person appointed to manage the estate of someone who died without a will.
Archdeaconry: A division of a diocese with its own ecclesiastical court.
Letters of Administration: Legal documents authorizing someone to administer a deceased person’s estate.
Intestate: Dying without a legal will.
Approbation: Approval, especially in a legal or ecclesiastical context.
Vertue: Archaic spelling of ‘virtue’, meaning legal force or effect.
Report of People’s Names
John Babb: Creditor and Administrator of John Morris’s estate
Daniel Wheeler: Surety (guarantor) for the bond
Joseph Bells: Surety (guarantor) for the bond
John Morris: Deceased, former resident of Berkhamsted St Peters
John Andrews: Doctor of Laws, legal authority in Huntingdon
Thomas Taylor: Witness
R____ T____: Witness (name partially illegible)
Report of Place Names
Berkhamsted St. Peter: Parish in Hertfordshire, England
Hemphed: Likely a variant or misspelling of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire
Hertford: County in England
Huntingdon: County in England
Great Britain: United Kingdom
France and Ireland: Part of the royal title of King George II
Citation
“Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom records,” images, FamilySearch (https:// http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNK-X94B-N?view=fullText : Jun 29, 2025), image 729 of 958; Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Hitchin Division. Court.
Image Group Number: 008083173
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNK-X94B-N?view=fullText