Category: Unproven Lineages: Hertfordshire
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Vouche v Babbe: Circa 1433-1472
Analysis This accusation of fraud is against John Babbe & his brother William Babbe, feoffe’s to the manor of Nettleden, which today sits in Buckinghamshire County, but was historically part […]
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Maimed but Not Forgotten – A Hertfordshire Soldier’s Plea
Analysis This document is a pension petition dated 8 February 1636/37 from the Star Chamber, submitted on behalf of Thomas Babbe, a maimed soldier from Hertfordshire, England. It outlines his […]
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A Widow’s betrayal – Treachery at St Stephens
In the quiet parish of St Stephens near St Albans, Hertfordshire, a drama unfolded in 1729 that would echo through generations of the Babb family. It was not a tale […]
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Legacy in Leather: The Estate of Thomas Hill, Tanner of Berkhamsted, 1659
Note: This article supersedes “From Gossom’s End to the Grave: The 1659 Will of Thomas Hill – Babb Unabridged” as new information has come to light. Analysis This document is […]
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The Mills, the Money, and the Babb Legacy: A 1672 Will from St Stephen
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 […]
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When the Records Whisper: The Babbs of Hertfordshire
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 […]
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Fields, Faith, and Family – The Testament of Edward Babb
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 […]
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Feathers, Felt, and Final Wishes: The Will of John Topping, 1745
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 […]
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A Widow’s Legacy in the Age of Annuities – The 1784 Will of Sarah Babbs of Much Hadham
In the quiet Hertfordshire village of Much Hadham, Sarah Babbs—widow of William Babbs (Hertfordshire Pedigree (Hertford 1712), matriarch, and prudent investor—committed her final wishes to paper in the autumn of […]
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A Voice from the Threshold of Death”: The 1699 Nuncupative Will of Ephraim Babb
In the waning days of 1699, as winter settled over Abbots Langley, Ephraim Babb lay dying. Too weak to write, he summoned witnesses and spoke his final wishes aloud—a “nuncupative” […]
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A Widow’s Choice, a Minor’s Right: The 1690 Will of Thomas Babb
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 […]
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A Rector, a Widow, and a Minor – Untangling the Babb Family’s 1693 Ecclesiastical Trail
What begins as a routine clerical appointment in the parish of Bushey quickly unravels into a layered tale of death, guardianship, and inheritance—spanning from the Parish hamlet of Bushey to […]
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Josiah Vane of Berkhamsted, St Peters – Estate Bond, 12 Oct 1719
Analysis This document is a legal bond and obligation from the early 18th century, involving Elizabeth Vane, widow of Josiah Vane of Berkhamsted St Peters, Hertfordshire. It is a probate-related […]
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Bound by Bond: John Babb’s 1738 Pledge in Berkhamsted
This appears to be the same John Babb who served as the Guarantee for the Bond on Mary Grover’s estate. He clearly was a man of means to be able […]
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1712 Probate Bond and Obligation, for Mary Grover
John Babb of Berkhamsted, St Peter served as a Surety (guarantor) for Mary Grover in this legal bond from 1712. Formal Transcription (Early Modern Latin/English) [Latin] Noverint universi per praesentes: […]
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The Baker’s Bequest: The 1771 Will of Edward Babb of Rickmansworth
In the spring of 1771, Edward Babb—a baker of Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire—set his affairs in order with a will that offers a modest yet meaningful glimpse into the life and […]
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Gasper Coy of Berkhamsted, Innholder – Last Will & Testament, 1657
In Gasper Coy’s Last Will & Testament, he left an inheritance to his niece Mary (maiden name is apparently Coy) Babb. She was married to William Babb the younger and […]
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Cadwallader Smith, Miller of St Andrews Parish, Hertfordshire – Estate Records (6 Mar 1707)
Cover Image: St Andrews Parish Church, Hertford, Hertfordshire. This is the single largest estate I’ve seen on record in Hertfordshire. Cadwallider (Cadwallader) was a very wealthy man, and the cash […]
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John Babb of Berkhamsted, Wheelright – Estate Papers 1775
This will serves as a clap back to my last post regarding the curious estate of William Babb who demanded that his brother marry and start a family before being […]
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William Babb of Berkhamsted, Wheelright – Estate Records (1766-1775)
Sworn Affidavit Regarding Handwriting Verification of William Babb’s Will At first this set of estate records appears very confusing. For whatever reason, the Will needed to be verified by people […]
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From Gossom’s End to the Grave: The 1659 Will of Thomas Hill
Analysis This estate record reveals new details about the Babb family unit that otherwise would be lost to history. We already have William Bab[be] the elder in our tree (1619 […]
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William Knight of Chipperfield, Yeoman – Last Will & Testament 1693
Analysis While this Will & Testament is short on details for Elisabeth Babb, it is still significant because it demonstrates an presence in Chipperfield, which is very close to Hemel […]
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Robert Salter of North Mimms – Last Will & Testament (1679)
This will is notable for including an entire family unit within a timeframe that many records do not cover. Robert Salter’s sister Elizabeth married a Babbs and they bore at […]
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John Bab[b] of Berkhamsted St Peter, Wheelright – Estate Records (1756-1757)
![John Bab[b] of Berkhamsted St Peter, Wheelright – Estate Records (1756-1757)](https://babbunabridged.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/image.jpg)
Formal Transcription (Early Modern English) In the Name of God Amen the five and twentieth day of June in the thirtieth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord George […]
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Thomas Babb and the Struggle of a Maimed Soldier: A Lens on 1646 Hertfordshire
In the twilight years of the English Civil War (1642–1646)—a time when personal sacrifice was laid bare against the backdrop of national turmoil—one name captured my curiosity: Thomas Babb. Unearthed […]
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William Babb & the Barber of St Albans
In the hidden corners of St Albans’ history lies a remarkable deed—one dated March 17, 1702—that offers us a captivating glimpse into the everyday lives and monumental institutions of the […]
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Nehemiah Babb of Berkhamsted – Estate Records 1640-1641
Cover Image: Last Will and Testament – Feb 1640/41 (proved 7 Mar 1640/41) Formal Transcription (Early Modern English) On or about the beginning of the month of February Anno Domini […]
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William Babb of Berkhamsted – Estate Records (1698)
William appears to have been a resident of Berkhamsted his entire life. He is a member of the tree we refer to as Hertfordshire Pedigree (Berkhamsted 1546) Formal Transcription (Early […]
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John Babb of Hertford, Hertfordshire, 1723 – Estate Records
Today, we’re taking a closer look at the estate records of John Babb of Hertford, Hertfordshire, dating back to 1723. These records provide a unique glimpse into the life and […]
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Unearthing 17th-Century Trade: The Curious Case of John Babb
I’ve always been fascinated by the ways our ancestors organized their lives and built their economic world. While sifting through historical records from Hertford, Hertfordshire [pronounced Heart-ford-shire] I came upon […]
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Francis Babb: A Witness to History and Leadership in St Albans
Before we dive into the wine trade and Tudor feasts, let’s take a moment to recognize Francis Babb, a key witness to the 1592 indenture that granted Robert Robyns exclusive […]
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Unraveling the Legacy of Francis Babb and Le Clockhouse
History has a way of leaving breadcrumbs, and sometimes, those breadcrumbs lead straight to fascinating discoveries. My latest deep dive into the past has uncovered the story of Francis Babb, […]
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A Token for the Ages: Hertfordshire
This is the story of how a coin located in the British Museum is increasing our understanding of the Babb surname. Working to research the 1667 coin issued by William […]