In the shadow of the 1693 ecclesiastical drama we explored yesterday—“A Rector, a Widow, and a Minor”—lies the quieter but no less consequential story of Thomas Babb’s last will and testament. Drafted in St Albans in 1690, this document reveals the legal scaffolding that supported (and sometimes failed) the Babb family during a time of transition.
Thomas Babb, a painter by trade, left behind a modest estate and a carefully structured plan: his wife Anne would hold the family home on Spicer Street for life—so long as she remained unmarried. His young son Robert, still a minor, was to inherit the estate in full upon her death. But life, as ever, had other plans.
Thomas’ Will was probated on Jan 17 1690/91 which means he died about 4 months after the Will was written. So, in November 1692 when Anne Babb remarried John Houston (See the record below) she forfeited her rights to the estate, as stipulated in the will. Yet Robert was still underage, and his grandmother Francesca Babb stepped in as guardian. By the time of Francesca’s death in 1693, Robert—though still not of legal age—was the only remaining heir. What followed was a tangle of ecclesiastical proceedings, guardianship transfers, and legal maneuvering that we unraveled in yesterday’s post.
This newly transcribed and translated will provides the legal foundation for that story. It’s a testament not only to the foresight of a father but also to the fragile balance of family, law, and inheritance in early modern England.
The document is the last Will & Testament of Thomas Babb, a painter from St Albans, Hertfordshire, dated 20 September 1690. It outlines the distribution of his estate, including properties and monetary bequests to his wife Anne, son Robert, and mother Frances. The will also included stipulations regarding remarriage and apprenticeship arrangements for his son.
Formal Transcription (Latin & Early Modern English)
The Twentyeth day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand six hundred & ninety, I Thomas Babb of the Towne of St Albans in the County of Herts Painter Doe make & ordain this my last will & Testament in manner following (being thankfus thanks be to God) of sound memory & being desires that when I come to dye I may have nothing to do but to dye
And as to what wordly estate it hath pleased God to let me have the use of here in to world I dispose of & ____ as followeth
first I give devise to my loving wife Anne Babb my messuage with the appertuances in Spiroro street in St Albans aforesaid wherein I now dwell during her life and after her decease I give the same to my son Robert Babb & his heirs forever
Item I doe give & devise to my said loveing wife Anne my messuage Shippenite in Spicer Street aforesaid adjoyning to the above devised messuage for her sooner to take the rent of imediately after the decease of my loving Mother Frances Babb widdowe during the natural life of my said wife if she shall so long keepe herself single a widdowe & unmarried
But if my said wife shall happen to marry again then my will is that immediately after such marriage my said son Robert shall enter upon & have the profit of the said last mentioned messuages with appurtenances to him & his heirs forever
Item I give & bequeath to my said wife Anne fower pounds of lawfull English money to be payd to her within three years after my decease out of the Twelve pounds due to me on my father bond
Item I give to my said sonne Robert Eight pounds of lawfull English money out of the said bond of twelve pounds
And my will is that my Executor hereafter named shall have the use of the said twelve pounds untill my said sonne Robert shalbe of full age to go for an Apprentice and that then shee wilbe carefull to put him out an Apprentice with the said eight pounds
Item I give to my said loveing mother forty shillings to be payd to her within three years next after my decease
And lastly I doe make & ordain my said loveing wife Anne Babb sole Executrix of the my last Will & Testament
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Babb have hereto set my hand & seale the day & year first above written
The Mark of (x) Thomas Babb
Signed sealed delivered published & declared the in the presence of
Thomas Poche
Francis Babb
Gill Bigg
Probation Record Details
Probation fuit humoi testamentum apud Santi Albomum Dominis Sophonio die Mensis Jany Anno Dni Millemo Septem Nonages gentesimo nonagesimo Coram Reverendus Johe Cole Arartino St Albani tumde Sonssh halo Jurem fo Anna Babb Relecte et executrix &c de bond &c Jurat
Anne’s 2nd Marriage Record
Mense Novembris 1692
Hewson cum Babbs
Domino Cono die Conjecta fuit in matrimonium coram Johanne Hewson eius Sancti Albani in Comitatu Hertfordiensi, Colibom et Anna Babbs de eadem persona, vidua.
Modern English Translation
On the 20th of September, 1690, I, Thomas Babb, a painter from the town of St Albans, Hertfordshire, being of sound mind, make this my last will and testament. I wish that when I die, I may have nothing left to do but to die.
I give to my beloved wife Anne Babb the house with its appurtenances on Spicer Street, St Albans, where I currently live, for the duration of her life. After her death, I give it to my son Robert Babb and his heirs forever.
I also give to my wife Anne the adjoining house on Spicer Street, to receive rent from it after the death of my mother Frances Babb, widow, for as long as she remains unmarried. If she remarries, then my son Robert shall take possession and benefit from the property.
I give my wife Anne four pounds from the twelve pounds owed to me on my father’s bond, to be paid within three years of my death.
I give my son Robert eight pounds from the same bond. My executor shall use the twelve pounds until Robert is of age to be apprenticed, and then use the eight pounds to place him in an apprenticeship.
I give my mother Frances forty shillings to be paid within three years of my death.
I appoint my wife Anne Babb as the sole executrix of this will.
Signed and sealed by Thomas Babb in the presence of Thomas Poche, Francis Babb, and Gill Bigg.
Probation Record Details
The probate of this will was granted at St Albans before the Reverend Mr. Sophonius on a day in the month of January in the year of our Lord 1790, in the presence of the Reverend John Cole, Archdeacon of St Albans. Then and there appeared Anna Babb, widow and executrix, who was duly sworn under bond, etc.
Anne’s 2nd Marriage Record (English)
Month of November 1692
Houston with Babbs
On the Lord’s Day
John Houston of St Albans, in the County of Hertfordshire,
was joined in marriage with Anna Babbs, of the same parish, a widow.
Glossary of Terms
Messuage: A dwelling house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use.
Appurtenances: Accessories or other items associated with a particular property.
Devise: To bequeath real estate by will.
Widow: A woman whose spouse has died and who has not remarried.
Bond: A written agreement in which a person commits to pay a sum of money.
Apprentice: A person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer.
Executrix: A female executor of a will.
Report of People’s Names
Thomas Babb – Testator, painter from St Albans.
Anne Babb – Wife of Thomas, named as executrix.
Robert Babb – Son of Thomas and Anne.
Frances Babb – Mother of Thomas, widow. Witness to the will.
Thomas Poche – Witness to the will.
Gill Bigg – Witness to the will.
Report of Place Names
St Albans – A historic market town in Hertfordshire, England.
Spicer Street – A street in St Albans, the location of the Babb residence.
Citations
“St Albans, Hertfordshire, England records,” images, FamilySearch (https:// http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSRJ-ZQHX-1?view=fullText : Jul 6, 2025), image 192 of 883; Church of England. Archdeaconry of St. Albans. Court. Image Group Number: 008306393
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSRJ-ZQHX-1?view=fullText
“Buckinghamshire, England records,” images, FamilySearch (https:// http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNH-QS41-K?view=fullText : Jul 8, 2025), image 225 of 716; Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Hitchin Division. Court, Church of England. Archdeaconry of St. Albans. Court. Image Group Number: 008072099
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNH-QS41-K?view=fullText