John Babb was renting one of the Tenements or cottages listed in John Topping’s estate. The place was located in the Parish of St. Mary in Berkhamsted. John is a member of Hertfordshire Pedigree (Berkhamsted 1665).
Formal Transcription (Early Modern English)
In the name of God Amen the Thirty first day of December In the Nineteenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second 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 forty five I John Topping of Berkhamsted Saint Peter in the County of Hertford Haberdasher of Hatts being of sound mind and memory (praise be God), and considering the Uncertainty of this life doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testament
Principally I Commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my most merciful father and my body to the Earth to be Decently Interred at the Discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named in hopes of a glorious – Resurrection from the Dead thro’ the only merits of my most blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and as for the Temporal Estate which it hath pleased God of his goodness to lend me I dispose of the same in manner and form following (that is to say)
First I Give will Devise and bequeath unto my Loving wife Mary All that my messuage or Tenement with the appurtenances situate standing and being at Berkhamsted Saint Peter aforesaid wherein I now dwell together with all Houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Gardens Orchards and backsides to the said Messuage or Tenement belonging or in any wise appurtaining
And Also all that Cottage or Tenement with the appurtenances now in the occupation of John Babb his assignes or Assigns Situate Standing and being in Berkhamsted Saint Peter aforesaid and also all Houses Outhouses Edifices Buildings Barns Stables Yards Gardens Orchard and Backsides to the said Cottage or Tenement belonging or in any wise appurtaining
And Also all that close or Inclosed piece of Meadow Ground with the appurtenances lying and being at Goshams End; and in the parish of Berkhamsted Saint Mary otherwise northchurch in the said County of Hertford Containing by estimation two acres (be the same more or less) the Meadow Ground of Godolphin Rooper Esquire lying East the Kings highway lying South and a Land called Will Land otherwise Grover Land West or howsoever otherwise the said premisses or any part thereof are or have been lying or being abutting or bounding Together with all Trees Woods Underwood , ware Waters Watercourses, Comon Profits Comodities and appurtenances to all and every the aforesaid premisses belonging or in any wise appurtaining To have and to hold the said Messuage or Tenement and Cottage or Tenement Close or Inclosed peice of Meadow Ground Hereditaments and premises with their appurtenances unto my said Loving wife Mary her heirs and Assigns for Ever
Provided always and upon this condition Nevertheless that my said Loving wife Mary do and shall continue a widow and unmarried
John Topping (Signature)
But in case she marry again then I give will Devise and bequeath all the before mentioned messuage or Tenement Cottage or Tenement close or inclosed paid of Meadow Ground with the appurtenances unto my Loving Daughter Sarah her heirs and Assigns for ever any thing herein before contained to the Contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding
Item I Give and bequeath unto my Loving Daughter Sarah the sum of Seventy pounds of good and lawfull money of Great Britain to be paid to her within Six Months next after my decease
And Lastly I Doe give will Devise and bequeath unto my Loving wife Mary all and Singular my Goods and Chattells Ready money Rights and Credits and all other my personal Estate of what nature sort or kind soever the same be she paying my Just Debts Legacy and funeral Expences and I do hereby make constitute Nominate and appoint my said Loving Wife Mary Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament
And I Doe hereby revoke all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made and do declare and publish this to be my last Will and Testament contained in two sheet of paper to the first whereof I have set my hand and to the last my hand and seal the day and year before written.
John Topping (Signature & Seal)
Signed Sealed published and Declared by the Testator John Topping as and for his last will and Testament In the Presence of us who subscribe our names as witnesses thereto John Topping In the presence of the said Testator
Witton Hopper
Thos Hoare
Wm Margrave
Modern English Translation
On December 31st, 1745, in the 19th year of the reign of King George II, I, John Topping of Berkhamsted Saint Peter in Hertfordshire, a hat seller, being of sound mind, make this my last will and testament. I commend my soul to God and my body to be buried at the discretion of my wife Mary, whom I name as my executrix. I leave to my wife Mary the house I live in, along with all buildings and land attached to it in Berkhamsted Saint Peter. I also leave her a cottage currently occupied by John Babb, and a two-acre meadow at Goshams End in the parish of Berkhamsted Saint Mary (also known as Northchurch), bordered by land owned by Godolphin Rooper, the King’s highway, and Grover Land.
Mary is to have all this property for life, provided she remains unmarried. If she remarries, the property is to go to my daughter Sarah and her heirs. I also leave Sarah seventy pounds to be paid within six months of my death. Finally, I leave all my personal property, money, and rights to Mary, provided she pays my debts, legacy, and funeral expenses. I revoke all previous wills and declare this to be my last will and testament.
Witnesses: Witton Hopper, Thos Hoare, Wm Margrave.
Glossary of Terms
Messuage: A dwelling house with outbuildings and land assigned to its use.
Tenement: A building or land held by an owner or tenant.
Appurtenances: Accessory items or rights associated with a property.
Hereditaments: Any property that can be inherited.
Executrix: A female executor of a will.
Devise: To leave real estate to someone in a will.
Chattells: Personal possessions or movable property.
Assigns: People to whom property or rights are legally transferred.
Interred: Buried in the earth.
Report of People’s Names
John Topping: Testator
Mary: Wife of John Topping and Executrix
Sarah: Daughter of John Topping
John Babb: Tenant of a cottage owned by John Topping
Godolphin Rooper: Neighbor whose land borders the meadow
Witton Hopper: Witness
Thos Hoare: Witness
Wm Margrave: Witness
Report of Place Names
Berkhamsted Saint Peter: Town in Hertfordshire, England
County of Hertford: Hertfordshire county in England
Goshams End [Gossoms End: Local area in Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted Saint Mary: Parish also known as Northchurch
northchurch: Alternate name for Berkhamsted Saint Mary
Great Britain: Country of the Testator
France: Mentioned in royal title
Ireland: Mentioned in royal title
Citation
“Hertfordshire, England records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNP-W9HL-3?view=fullText: Jun 29, 2025), image 304 of 897; Church of England. Archdeaconry of Huntingdon. Hitchin Division. Court. Image Group Number: 008085391
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNP-W9HL-3?view=fullText
The Tree
John is Person #4 in the tree below.