Analysis

As with any estate of this timeframe that was worth more than 5 pounds, it was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury in London. Initially, it didn’t seem of much interest, but as the transcription continued, it proved to be a key to the cipher of an entire family unit in Sarratt, which in turn was part of Rickmansworth at moments in history. Rickmansworth in turn, was a part of the sprawling St Albans Parish. The document describes a half dozen brothers, nieces and nephews that otherwise might have gone undiscovered…until now! The family is part of the pedigree currently named Hertfordshire Pedigree (Berkhamsted 1546).

Will of Edward Babb, Yeoman of Sarratt, Hertfordshire, 1662

Early Modern English Transcription
In the name of God Amen the eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord God one thousand six hundred sixty two I Edward Babb of Sarratt in the County of Hertford yeoman being aged and weake in body, but of sound and perfect memory (praise and thanks be given to God for the same) and well knowing the uncertainty of this mortall life being willing and deferous to settle things in order doe make declare ordain appoint and set forth this my last will and testament in writing in manner and forme as followeth And first about all I doe turned my self soul and body to the good guidance and protection of Almighty God during lif and for my worldy goods and affairs I dispose thereof it is herein hereafter declared and sett forth.

Imprimis I doe give and bequeath unto Mary my now wife for and during the remainder of her life All that my messuages or tenement with the Barnes Stables houses edifices and buildings yard orchards gardens and barksides with all the lands both Arable wood and pastuer to the same belonging routeyuing by affirmation thirty acres of land be it more of less with the appurtenances to the same Messauges belonging holden of and apperteyuing and which if purchased of Steven Winford and offer one acre and a halfe of land with the appurtnuing lyeing in a common field talled Mill Comon which Messuage and Lands are partly in my own tenure and occupation and partly in the tenure and occupation of Richard Ashby on his alagurs and are lyeing and bring in the Parish of Sarratt above said

Alsoe I doe give and bequeath unto the same Mary my now wife All and every my household goods which are not herein otherwise given and bequeathed to have and to hold the said messauges, Lands and appurteinte with all such my said household goods unto her the said Mary my wife and her assigns for and during her whole tenure _______ of her natural life And after her decease the weberfrom and _________ of all and singular the same Messauges, Lands and goods with the appurtunice

I do give and bequeath until Edward Babb Sonne of my deceased brother John Babb and to his heires and assignes for ever

Alsoe I doe give and bequeath unto the same Edward Babb the sume of thirty pounds of lawfull English money to be paid to him by my Executrix hereafter named all such tyuir as he shalle to me to the full age of one and twenty years.

Item I doe give and bequeath until the same Mary my now wife for and during the terme and tyme of her natural life all those my Cipo tenements with the appurteunce Soetuah and bring in the fower of Barkhamsted St Peters in the County  of Hertford aforesaid and were late in the tenure and occupation of Roger Cooke or his assignes to have and to hold the said two tenements with the appurtunics and every part and parcell of the same unto the onely proper aforesaid behoofe of the same Mary my now wife and her assignes for and during the terme and tyme of her natural life and after her decease the remainder or and __________ of and in the same

Two [First word of next page]
Two Tenements I doe give and bequeath unto John Babb son of Thomas Babb and to his heirs and assignes for ever

And alsoe I doe give and bequeath until the same John Babb the summe of Fuir shillings of lawfull English money to be paid to him by my Executrix within Six weekes next after my decease

Item I doe give and bequeath unto the said Mary my now wife for and during the terme of her natural life our other Tenement with three acres of land by estimation more or lesse to it belonging with the appurtening Situate lyeing and being in Sarratt aforesaid and now in the tenure and occupation of the widdow Rogers or her assigns to have and to hold the said tenement and lands with the appurtuence and every part and parcell of the same until the ourly Proper wife and behoose of the same Mary my wife and her assignes for and during the terme of her natural life and after her decease the bemibued or and reberion thereof

I doe give and bequeath to Sarah Hawes daughter of John Hawes of Harwell and to her heires and assignes for ever

Item I doe give and bequeath until the same Mary my now wife for and terme of her life All that my other tenement or cottage with the appurtenices situate and being in Sarratt aforesaid adjoining to Mill Comon and now or late in the tenur and occupation of John Smith or his assignes to have and to hold the said tenement or Cottage with the appurtenice and every part and parcell of the same until the ourly proper fige and behoofe of the same Mary my wife and her assignes for and during the terme of her naturall life and then weberton and remainder thereof after her decease to the use and behoofe [behalf] of Hoark Carter the younger sonne of Hoark Carter of Chipperfield my _______ and to his heires and assignes forever but if the law Hoark Carter doe happen to dye and depart this life before her tourneth to the full age of one and twenty yeats then my mind and will is and I doe give and bequeath the weberton and remainder of and in the tenement and appurtenice unto John Hawes Sonne of John Hawes of Harwell and to his heires and assignes for ever

Item I doe give and bequeath unto John Babb some of John Babb deceased the sume of forty pounds of lawfull English money whereor thirty pounds is to be paid until him by John Child and George Field they oweing the same to me upon bond And the other ten pounds thereof to be paid by my Executrix the whole summes both of the thirty pounts and of the ten pounds to be paid to him att his full age of one and twenty years

And alsoe I doe give and bequeath until the same John Babb two plains Chiste a little Tabli and frame standing in the Chamber two paire of Sheets and two Pewter Platters to be delivered to him or to his wife within six weekes after my decease

Item I doe give and bequeath unto Susanna Salter daughter of George Salter of St Peter Chalfont the summe of Tenn pounds of lawfull English money to be paid to her at such tyme as she shall torn to the age of one and twenty years by my Executrix

Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah Babb daughter of Thomas Babb deceased the sume of Tenn pounds to be paid to her att the age of one and twenty years by my Executrix

Item I doe give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Baldwin daughter of John Baldwin of Flandme one Brasse panne and two pairs of my best sheets to be delivered to her within six



Weekes [First word of next page]
Weekes next after my decease And of this my last will and testament I doe make ordain and appoint the afore named Mary my now wife to be sole and whole Executrix to whom I doe give and bequeath all my money goods and chattels whatsoever which I have not hereafter given and bequeathed and shee therewith to pay and discharge all my debts legatirs and funerall charges

And I doe make void all or any other former wills and testaments by me maide at any tyme hereafter In testimony whereof I the above named Edward Babb doe hereunto put my hand and Seale this day and year first above written. / Edward Babb his Seale / Sealed subscribed published and declared in the presence of John Baldwin wis marke Jospeh Crobr his marke Jeremiah Balebin



Probatum fuit
Coram ven’li viro Domino Cuthberto Mercott Milite legum doctore Curiae Prerogativae Cantuariensis Custode sive Commissario l’time constituto vicesimo die mensis May Anno Domini Millesimo Sexcentesimo Sexagesimo sexto Juramento Mariae Babb Relictae dicti defuncti et Executricis in huiusmodi Testamento nominatae Cui Commissa fuit Administratio bonorum jurium et creditorum dicti defuncti de bene et fideliter Administrando ad Sancta Dei Evangelia Jurat.

Modern English Translation

In the name of God, Amen. On the eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord 1662, I, Edward Babb of Sarratt in the County of Hertfordshire, yeoman, being old and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory (thanks be to God), and knowing the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being willing to settle my affairs, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament in the following manner:

First, I commend my soul and body to the guidance and protection of Almighty God during my life. As for my worldly goods and affairs, I dispose of them as follows:

Item: I give and bequeath to Mary, my current wife, for the remainder of her life, all my house or tenement with barns, stables, buildings, yard, orchards, gardens, and backyards, along with all the lands (arable, woodland, and pasture) belonging to it—amounting to about thirty acres, more or less. These lands were purchased from Steven Winford, including one and a half acres in a common field called Mill Common. These properties are partly occupied by me and partly by Richard Ashby or his assigns, and are located in the parish of Sarratt.

I also give to Mary, my wife, all my household goods not otherwise mentioned in this will, to have and hold for the duration of her natural life.

After her death, I give and bequeath all the said house, lands, and goods to Edward Babb, son of my deceased brother John Babb, and to his heirs and assigns forever.

I also give to the same Edward Babb the sum of thirty pounds of lawful English money, to be paid to him by my executrix when he reaches the age of twenty-one years.

Item: I give to Mary, my wife, for her lifetime, two tenements with appurtenances located in the borough of Berkhamsted St Peter, Hertfordshire, formerly occupied by Roger Cooke or his assigns. After her death, I give these two tenements to John Babb, son of Thomas Babb, and to his heirs and assigns forever. I also give to John Babb the sum of four shillings, to be paid by my executrix within six weeks of my death.

Item: I give to Mary, my wife, for her lifetime, another tenement with about three acres of land in Sarratt, currently occupied by Widow Rogers or her assigns. After her death, I give this property to Sarah Hawes, daughter of John Hawes of Harwell, and to her heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give to Mary, my wife, for her lifetime, another tenement or cottage in Sarratt, next to Mill Common, currently or recently occupied by John Smith or his assigns. After her death, I give this property to Hoark Carter the younger, son of Hoark Carter of Chipperfield, and to his heirs and assigns forever. But if Hoark Carter the younger dies before reaching the age of twenty-one, then I give the property to John Hawes, son of John Hawes of Harwell, and to his heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give to John Babb, son of John Babb deceased, the sum of forty pounds of lawful English money. Thirty pounds of this is owed to me by John Child and George Field on bond, and the remaining ten pounds is to be paid by my executrix. The full amount is to be paid to him when he reaches the age of twenty-one years.

I also give to John Babb two plain chests, a small table and frame in the chamber, two pairs of sheets, and two pewter platters, to be delivered to him or his wife within six weeks of my death.

Item: I give to Susanna Salter, daughter of George Salter of St Peter Chalfont, the sum of ten pounds, to be paid to her when she reaches the age of twenty-one years.

Item: I give to Sarah Babb, daughter of Thomas Babb deceased, the sum of ten pounds, to be paid to her at the age of twenty-one years.

Item: I give to Elizabeth Baldwin, daughter of John Baldwin of Flaunden, one brass pan and two pairs of my best sheets, to be delivered to her within six weeks of my death.

I appoint Mary, my wife, as the sole executrix of this my last will and testament. I give her all my remaining money, goods, and chattels not otherwise bequeathed, and she is to pay all my debts, legacies, and funeral expenses.

I revoke all former wills and testaments.

In witness whereof, I, Edward Babb, have set my hand and seal on the day and year first above written.

This will was proved before the worshipful Sir Cuthbert Mercott, Knight, Doctor of Laws, lawfully appointed Keeper or Commissioner of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, on the 20th day of May, in the year 1666, by the oath of Mary Babb, widow of the deceased and executrix named in the will. Administration of the goods, rights, and credits of the said deceased was granted to her, having sworn on the Holy Gospels to administer them well and faithfully.

Glossary of Terms

Appurtenances – Additional rights or property that come with a main property, such as access rights, outbuildings, or land.
Assigns – Legal term referring to people to whom property or rights are transferred.
Behoof – An archaic term meaning benefit or advantage.
Bequeath – To leave personal property to someone through a will.
Defuncti – Latin for “of the deceased.”
Executrix – A female executor; the person appointed to carry out the terms of a will.
Imprimis – Latin for “in the first place”; used to begin a list of items in a will.
Juramento – Latin for “by oath”; refers to the swearing of an oath.
Legacies (Legatirs) – Gifts of money or property left to someone in a will.
Messuage – A dwelling house with its outbuildings and land assigned to its use.
Natural life – The duration of a person’s lifetime.
Occupation – The act of residing in or using a property.
Probatum – Latin for “proved”; refers to the official proving of a will.
Relictae – Latin for “widow.”
Seisin – Legal possession of a feudal fiefdom or estate (implied in the context of landholding).
Tenement – A building or dwelling, often used in legal contexts to refer to any kind of property.
Testament – A legal document declaring a person’s wishes regarding the disposal of their property after death.
Weberton / Remainder – Likely a scribal or OCR error for “reversion” or “remainder,” referring to the interest in an estate that takes effect after the end of a prior interest (e.g., after a life estate ends).

Report of People’s Names

Edward Babb – Testator; yeoman of Sarratt, Hertfordshire.
Mary Babb – Wife of the testator; named as sole executrix and primary life tenant of his properties and goods.
Edward Babb (nephew) – Son of the testator’s deceased brother John  Babb; receives property and money upon reaching age 21.
Richard Ashby – Tenant or occupier of part of the testator’s land.
Steven Winford – Previous owner of land purchased by the testator.
John Babb (nephew) – Son of Thomas Babb; receives property and a small monetary legacy.
Thomas Babb – Brother of the testator; deceased; father of John Babb and Sarah Babb.
Sarah Babb – Daughter of Thomas Babb; receives a monetary legacy.
Widow Rogers – Tenant or occupier of one of the testator’s properties.
Sarah Hawes – Daughter of John Hawes of Harwell; receives property after Mary Babb’s death.
John Hawes – Father of Sarah Hawes and John Hawes (the younger); of Harwell.
John Hawes (the younger) – Son of John Hawes; receives property if Hoark Carter the younger dies before age 21.
Hoark Carter the younger – Son of Hoark Carter of Chipperfield; receives property after Mary Babb’s death, contingent on surviving to age 21.
Hoark Carter – Father of Hoark Carter the younger; of Chipperfield.
John Smith – Tenant or occupier of a cottage in Sarratt.
John Babb (another nephew) – Son of John Babb deceased; receives money, furniture, and household goods.
John Babb (deceased) – Father of the above John Babb.
John Child – Debtor to the testator; owes money on bond.
George Field – Debtor to the testator; owes money on bond.
Susanna Salter – Daughter of George Salter of St Peter Chalfont; receives a monetary legacy.
George Salter – Father of Susanna Salter; of St Peter Chalfont.
Elizabeth Baldwin – Daughter of John Baldwin of Flaunden; receives household goods.
John Baldwin – Father of Elizabeth Baldwin; also a witness to the will.
Joseph Crobr – Witness to the will.
Jeremiah Balebin – Witness to the will.
Cuthbert Mercott – Probate official; Doctor of Laws and Commissioner of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.

Report of Place Names

Sarratt 
A village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, located in the Three Rivers District. It was a rural farming community during the 17th century and the primary residence of Edward Babb.

Mill Common 
Likely a local common field in or near Sarratt, used for shared agricultural purposes. The name suggests proximity to a mill, possibly a watermill or windmill.

Berkhamsted St Peter 
A historic market town in west Hertfordshire. The parish of St Peter was the main ecclesiastical division of the town. The will refers to two tenements located here.

Harwell 
Possibly a scribal or phonetic error for Heronsgate or Harpenden, but more likely refers to Harwell, a small hamlet or locality in the region, though not definitively identified in Hertfordshire. It may also refer to a now-lost or renamed locality.

Chipperfield 
A village near Sarratt, historically part of the parish of Kings Langley. It was a small rural settlement in the 17th century.

St Peter Chalfont 
Likely refers to Chalfont St Peter, a village in Buckinghamshire, just west of Hertfordshire. It was a known settlement in the 17th century and home to George Salter.

Flaunden 
A village near Sarratt, historically located in Hertfordshire but now in Buckinghamshire. It was a small agricultural community during the time of the will.

The Tree

The unnamed father of the Testator Edward is Thomas Babbe, who is person #3 in the tree below. You will find him and the others beginning on page 2.

Citation

The National Archives, Kew (in London, England), Will of Edward Babb, Yeoman of Sarratt, Hertfordshire, 11 May 1666

Will of Edward Babb, Yeoman of Sarratt, Hertfordshire | The National Archives