Analysis
This document is a noncupative (verbal) will of Oliver Babb of Frithden, in the parish of Berkhamsted, St Peter, Hertfordshire, dated 18 September 1649. It outlines bequests to many family members and helps to solidify his extended family unit. It describes his land holdings in Frithden, Hertfordshire and Pitstone, Buckinghamshire.
Formal Transcription (Latin & Early Modern English)
The Last Will and Testament (Noncupative) of Oliver Babb of Frithden, in the parish of Barthamstead St Peter, in the county of Hertford, Yeoman, made this eighteenth day of September Anno Domini One thousand and six hundred forty nine, in the Presents of those whose names are hereunto subscribed and requested to be witnesses:
Imprimis I give will and bequeath unto John Harding my sisters sonne and to his heirs for ever (after my wives decease) my two Houses of Land with their appurtenances called & knowne by the name of the Ray House and Lower House Containing by affirmation both of them Six Acres be they more or less lying together in Frithden aforesaid in the parish of Piththoens [Pitstone] in the County of Bucks, and adjoining to the Churchyard of me the said Oliver on the South, Anderson the land of Francis Landon and Worth Ham
I give will and bequeath unto my Brothers John Babb & William Babb ten shillings a piece to be payd unto them by mine Executrix
Item, I give and bequeath unto my brother Ephraim Babb Forty Shillings whereof he with until me four and Thirty Shillings.
Item, I give and bequeath unto the Four children of John Harding my Brother in Law Ten pounds a piece to be payed unto them by my aforesaid John Harding , their brother until my Lands within One Year next after my _______ do least All the residue of my good and chattels I give and bequeath unto Susan my loving wife, whom I do ordain and make this Last and only Executrix of this my last will and testament.
Wittnesses hereunto the mark of Michael Young, Edward Lowe.
[Best effort Latin transcription due to poor state of the document] Probatu[m] fuit Testamentum suprascriptum apud London vicesimo sexto die September Anno D[omi]ni Millesimo Sexcentesimo quadragesimo nono coram ven[erabi]li viro Domino Nathanaele Brent Milite Legum Doctore Surrogato etc. juramento Thomae Lee et Roberti Greene duorum ex testibus in eodem Testamento nominat[is] Quibus commissa fuit Administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum iurium et creditorum dict[i] defunct[i] de bene etc. ad sancta Dei Evangelia jurat[is].
Modern English Translation
This is the last will and testament (spoken) of Oliver Babb of Frithden, in the parish of Berkhamsted, St Peter, in the county of Hertfordshire, a yeoman, made on the 18th of September 1649, in the presence of the witnesses named below:
Firstly, I give and bequeath to John Harding, my sister’s son, and to his heirs forever (after my wife’s death), my two plots of land with their buildings, known as the Ray House and Lower House, together comprising approximately six acres, located in Frithden [in Berkhampstead Parish] in the parish of Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, adjacent to my churchyard on the south, and bordering the land of Francis Landon and Worth Ham.
I give and bequeath to my brothers John Babb and William Babb ten shillings each, to be paid by my executrix.
I give and bequeath to my brother Ephraim Babb forty shillings, of which he already owes me thirty-four shillings.
I give and bequeath to the four children of John Harding, my brother-in-law, ten pounds each, to be paid by their brother John Harding from my lands within one year after my death.
All the remaining goods and possessions I give to my loving wife Susan, whom I appoint as the sole executrix of this my last will and testament.
Witnesses: the mark of Michael Young, Edward Lowe.
Probate:
The above-written will was proved at London on the twenty-sixth day of September in the year of our Lord 1649 before the worshipful Sir Nathaniel Brent, Knight, Doctor of Laws, surrogate, etc., by the oath of Thomas Lee and Robert Greene, two of the witnesses named in the same will, to whom administration was granted of all and singular the goods, rights, and credits of the said deceased, sworn on the Holy Gospels to well and faithfully administer the same.
Glossary of Terms
Noncupative: Spoken rather than written will.
Yeoman: A farmer who owns his own land.
Appurtenances: Additional rights or property associated with the main property.
Executrix: A female executor of a will.
Bequeath: To leave property to someone in a will.
Report of People’s Names
Oliver Babb – Testator
John Harding – Nephew (sister’s son)
John Babb – Brother
William Babb – Brother
Ephraim Babb – Brother
John Harding – Brother-in-law
Children of John Harding – Nieces/nephews
Susan– Wife and Executrix
Michael Young – Witness
Edward Lowe – Witness
Report of Place Names
Suesden – Likely a historical name or variant spelling; possibly refers to a location near Berkhamsted.
Barthamstead St Peter – Likely refers to Berkhamsted St Peter, a parish in Hertfordshire.
Hertford – County in England.
Piththoens – Possibly a misspelling or variant of Pitstone, a village in Buckinghamshire.
Bucks – Abbreviation for Buckinghamshire.
Worth Ham – Possibly refers to Worminghall or Woughton, places in Buckinghamshire.