Analysis

This document is the last will and testament of John Babb, a yeoman from the Parish of St Stephen in Hertfordshire, dated September 12, 1672. It outlines the distribution of his estate among his family members and includes a probate statement in Latin confirming the execution of the will.

John’s will provided a connection of a tree fragment Hertfordshire Pedigree (St Stephen 1672) occupied by his son Thomas who inherited his land. This fragment has now been joined with the much larger tree known as Hertfordshire Pedigree (Berkhamsted 1546).

Formal Transcription (Latin & Early Modern English)

September 12, 1672
It being appointed for all once to dye. I john Babb of ye Parish of St Stephens in the Countie of Hertford yoman doe make and ordain this my last Will and Testatment as flloweth,
First, I bequeath and commend my soul unto the hands of Almighie God my Creator, believing to be saved by the merits death and passion of Jesus Christ my Redeemer, and my bodie to the earth to be buryed at the discretion of my Executrix hereunder named, As concerning my temporal estate fire I give unto the poore of St Stevens four shillings,
Item I give and bequeath unto my oldest son John Babb five Shillings
Item I give and bequeath unto Anne my loving wife twentie pounds a year out of the Mills house or Lands and tenaments lying
lying in and about Park Street lately purchased of Sir Richard Franklin in the Parish of St Stevens in the Countie aforesaid during her natural life to be payd unto her quarterly of currant English money,
I doe give and bequeath all the said Mills messuages lands and tenements unto Anne my now loving wife.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Thomas Babb all those Willed houses land and tenements, and allot one cottage called Tippindill house with two closes of arable land comftyning fuit also more or less with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging; provided that my Sonne Thomas doe pay unto my wife Anne twentie pounds a year and of the said promises during her natural life, And also that he pay unto my Sonne William Babb his brother the full summe of two hundred pounds of currant English money within two years and a half next after my decease,
And also that my said Sonne Thomas shall pay unto his brother James my sonne the full summe of two hundred pounds of currant English money, one hundred pounds to be payd within one yeare next after my decease, and the other hundred pounds to be payd within six years next after my decease.
Item, I give and bequeath until my daughter Anne one hundred and fiftie pounds of currant English money to be payd unto her within one yeare and a halfe next after my decease.
Item, I give and bequeath until my daughter Mary the summe of one hundred and fiftie pounds of currant English money to be payd unto her within two yeares next after my decease.
After my funerall charges debts and legacies payd all the rest of my goods chattels and household stuff whatsoever I doe give and bequeath unto my deae and loving wife Anne, whom I doe make and full and sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seale the day and year abovesaid. The marks of John Babb Sealed and delivered in the presence of James Ayloward, Thomas Ayloward, William Knowlton.
Probatum fuit Testamentum suprascriptum apud London coram etc. honorabili viro Richardo Digby legum doctore Surrogato honorabilis et egregii viri domini Lovini Joannis militis legum etiam doctoris Curiae praerogativae Cantuarensis magistri custodis sive Commissarii legitime constituti vicesimo primo die Mensis Januarii Anno Domini millesimo sexcentesimo septuagesimo secundo juramento Annae Babb relictae et Executricis in huiusmodi Testamento nominatae Cui commissa fuit Administratio omnium et singulorum bonorum jurium et creditorum dicti defuncti de bene etc. fideliter administrando ad sancta Dei Evangelia jurat:

Modern English Translation

September 12, 1672
As it is destined for all to die once, I, John Babb, of the Parish of St Stephen in the County of Hertfordshire, yeoman, make and declare this to be my last will and testament as follows:
First, I commend my soul to Almighty God, my Creator, trusting in salvation through the death and passion of Jesus Christ, my Redeemer. My body shall be buried at the discretion of my executrix named below. Regarding my worldly estate, I give four shillings to the poor of St Stephen.
I give my eldest son, John Babb, five shillings.
I give my loving wife, Anne, twenty pounds per year from the mill house or lands and tenements located in and around Park Street, recently purchased from Sir Richard Franklin, in the Parish of St Stephen, for the duration of her natural life, to be paid quarterly in current English currency.
I bequeath all said mills, houses, lands, and tenements to my loving wife Anne.
I give my son Thomas Babb all the willed houses, lands, and tenements, including one cottage called Tippindill House and two fields of arable land, with all associated rights, provided he pays my wife Anne twenty pounds annually during her lifetime. He must also pay his brother William Babb two hundred pounds within two and a half years of my death.
Additionally, Thomas must pay his brother James two hundred pounds: one hundred within one year of my death, and the remaining hundred within six years.
I give my daughter Anne one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid within one and a half years of my death.
I give my daughter Mary one hundred and fifty pounds to be paid within two years of my death.
After funeral expenses, debts, and legacies are paid, I leave all remaining goods, chattels, and household items to my dear wife Anne, whom I appoint as sole executrix of this will. Witnessed by James Ayloward, Thomas Ayloward, and William Knowlton.
Probate granted in London on January 21, 1672/73, to Anne Babb, widow and executrix named in the will, by oath to faithfully administer the estate.

Glossary of Terms

Yeoman: A farmer who owns his own land.
Messuage: A dwelling house with its outbuildings and land.
Tenement: Any kind of permanent property, such as land or buildings.
Appurtenances: Rights or privileges associated with the property.
Executrix: A female executor of a will.
Probate: The legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate.
Arable Land: Land suitable for growing crops.
Bequeath: To leave property to someone through a will.
Quarterly: Every three months.
Currant English Money: Contemporary currency of England.

Report of People’s Names

John Babb – Testator
Anne Babb – Wife and Executrix
John Babb – Eldest son
Thomas Babb – Son, inheritor of property
William Babb – Son, receives monetary legacy
James Babb – Son, receives monetary legacy
Anne – Daughter, receives monetary legacy
Mary – Daughter, receives monetary legacy
Sir Richard Franklin – Seller of property
James Ayloward – Witness
Thomas Ayloward – Witness
William Knowlton – Witness
Richard Digby – Probate official
Lovinus Joannis – Probate official

Report of Place Names

St Stephen – Parish in Hertfordshire where John Babb resided.
Hertford – County in England where the Parish of St Stephen is located.
Park Street –A village with historical significance, including mills and cottages mentioned in wills like John Babb’s.
Tippindill House – Cottage mentioned in the will, possibly a local property in Hertfordshire.

Citation

Will of John Babb, Yeoman of Saint Stephen, Hertfordshire | The National Archives