William’s probable marriage record and a 1773 indenture describe him as a mariner. His burial monument and some other documents relating to property in North Meols refer to him as Captain William Ball. His will describes him as a gentleman.
Events
Date of Birth: about 1734.
William’s burial record gives his age at death as 80. A 1773 indenture gives his age as 39.
Date of Baptism: 13 October 1734.
Place of Baptism: North Meols, Lancashire, England (Saint Cuthbert’s).
Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks gives the baptism, without citing a source. Otterstrom cites Cheetham.
Date of Death: 24 August 1814.
The date is given by Otterstrom. The monumental inscription given by Otterstrom gives 26 Aug 1814 as the date of death. The probate record gives 4 August 1814.
Date of Burial: 26 August 1814.
Place of Burial: North Meols (Saint Cuthbert’s).
Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks give an abstract of the burial record, citing a microfilm of the bishop’s transcripts.
Relationships
Father: William Ball (about 1676 - about 1744).
Mother: Margaret (probably died 1754).
See the Commentary section.
(probable) Spouse: Mary Wright (about 1735 - 1772). Married (probably) 29 March 1758 in Liverpool (Saint Nicholas).
Otterstrom gives transcriptions of the marriage banns and license. Mary Wright is described as of the parish of “North Maghull”, presumably an error for North Meols. William is a mariner of Liverpool. William’s wife’s name is given as Mary on her burial monument and in the baptism records of most of her children.
Children:
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project.)
Margaret Ball (baptized 4 February 1759 in North Meols) married Thomas Aindow 20 July 1783 in North Meols.
William Ball (baptized 5 September 1762 in North Meols - died 1 March 1844 in Southport, Lancashire) married Elizabeth Ball 18 December 1791 in North Meols.
Ellen Ball (baptized 30 June 1764).
Mary Ball (baptized 20 July 1766 - buried 2 August 1781).
Richard Ball (baptized 22 May 1768 - died 3 January 1840 in Southport) married Hannah Jackson 24 December 1788 in North Meols.
Thomas Ball (died 22 April 1771).
Evidence
William Ball baptism (from Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks)
Baptism: 13 Oct 1734 St Cuthbert, North Meols, Lancashire, England
William Ball - Son of William Ball & Margrat
Abode: South Hose
William Ball - Mary Wright marriage license
Day of the Month: Mar: 30
Year: 1758
a Marr Licence grant’d to: William Ball
Of the parish, or Chapelry of: Liverpool
And: Mary Wright
Of the Par. or Chapelry of: North Maghull
To be Solemn. in the Chh or Chapel of: St. Nicholas
Oath and Bond given by: The same and Will: Charnley
Before: Mr Brereton
Information from the marriage bond (30 March 1758):
William Ball (mariner) of the Parish of Liverpool, aged 21 years and upwards, bachelor
Mary Wright of the Parish North Magul, aged 21 years and upwards, spinster
to be married in Liverpool
Baptisms of children (North Meols, St Mary)
Xstnings 1759
Feby 4th Margret Dr of W.m & Anne Mary Ball of South Haws
Xstnings 1762
Sept 5th William Son of William & Anne Mary Ball of South Haws
Xstnings 1764
June the 30th Ellen Dr of William & Anne Mary Ball of South Haws
Xstnings 1766
July the 20th Mary D.r of William & Anne Ball of South Haws
1768
May the 22.d Richard Son of William & Mary Ball of South Haws
William was a party to two indentures made in 1773 with Anna Maria Bold, spinster, daughter of Peter Bold of Bold (deceased). (I have not seen the originals, but a transcription made by Joyce Otterstrom, from, I think Lancashire Record Office DDSC 135/1, and 135/2).
Here are the relevant details. Both were made 11 September 1773.
135/2:
Parties:
(1) Anna Maria Bold [AMB], spinster, eldest daughter and a devisee named in the will of Peter Bold of Bold, esquire, deceased.
(2) William Ball [WB] of “Southhalls within Northmeols”, mariner.
WB surrendered and gave up to AMB an indenture of a lease granted to his father William Ball, fisherman, deceased, for three lives (only two of which remain). WB also gave to AMB £40.
AMB granted to WB the Haus Field (4 acres), the Hills (4 acres), and the Moss Field on Blowick Moss (2 acres) for the term of the several lives of William Ball (aged 39 or thereabouts), WB’s daughter Margaret Ball (aged 14 or thereabouts), and WBs son William Ball (aged 11 or thereabouts) for an annual rent of 10 shillings and the grinding of their corn at her mill.
135/1:
Parties:
(1) Anna Maria Bold [AMB], spinster, eldest daughter and a devisee named in the will of Peter Bold of Bold, esquire, deceased.
(2) William Ball [WB] of “Southhalls within Northmeols”, mariner.
WB paid £100 to AMB for the lease of this land within “Southhalls within North Meols”: the Moss Close in two parts (2 acres, 1 rood, 1 perch), the Higher Hey (1 acres, 1 rood, 1 perch), the New Ground (2 acres), the Yates Field (3 acres, 2 roods), and the Starry Hey (3 acres, 1 rood), which was formerly in lease to Robert Rymmer, for the lives of WB’s children Ellen Ball (aged 9 or thereabouts), Mary Ball (aged 6 or thereabouts), and Richard Ball (aged 4 or thereabouts) at the yearly rent of 20 shillings and the grinding of their corn at her mill.
This indenture is marked “Out of Lease by the death of Richard Ball January 3 1840”.
A “Life Book” belonging to Anna Maria Bold gives these details:
Row Lane
1773
Lessee William Ball
Present possessor William Ball
William Ball 39
Margaret Ball 14
William Ball 11
Ellen Ball 9
Richard Ball 4
William Ball’s burial (from Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks)
Burial: 26 Aug 1814 St Cuthbert, North Meols, Lancashire, England
William Ball -
Age: 80
Abode: Southport
Buried by: E. W.Yorke Curate
Register: Burials 1813 -1845, Page 8, Entry 57
Source: LDS Film 1068944
William Ball’s will
This is the last will and Testament of me William Ball the elder of South Haws in the parish of North Meols in the County of Lancaster Gentleman First I Direct that all my Just Debts funeral and testamentary Expences shall be fully paid and satisfied I give devise and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Mary Molton and her Assigns the use and occupation of my Dwelling house wherein I now dwell during the term of her life if she so long continue single -- she permitting my Daughter Margaret Andow to reside therein with her in Case of her husbands death and her being necessitated during the term of her natural life And subject to the several life Estates so given conditionally to my said Grand daughter and Daughter (my Daughter still to take notwithstanding the determination of my Grand daughter) I give and devise my said dwellinghouse unto my son William Ball his heirs executors administrators and assigns from or during such Estate and Interest as I possess them -- Also I give devise and bequeath unto my said Daughter Margaret Andow and her Assigns during her life One annuity or yearly sum of Eight pounds to be bieyearly issuing and payable out of my Dwelling house and appurtenances adjoining that wherein I now dwell situate in South Haws aforesaid and now occupied by Mrs. Weeler (or some such name) an occasional Resident and to be recoverable in Case of nonpayment in the same manner as rent in Arrea[rs] And subject to the said Annuity I give the said last mentioned Dwelling house and appurtenance to my said Son William Balle his Heirs and Assigns forever or during my Estate therein Also I give and bequeath to my said Son William Ball his Heirs and Assigns for ever or during my Estate and Interest therein all that my dwelling House with the Outbuildings and appurtenances thereto belonging which he now occupies And also all that part of my Arable Meadow and Pasture Land which I hold on Lease from Patton Esquire and of which my father purchased from John Marshall all his Interest (save and except the Eastern part thereof which is to be divided therefrom by a line to be drawn from the Gap in the New Ground along the Headland across the Brows to the Great Lum adjoining the large Field in Rimmer’s Tenement which excepted part I herein after give to my Son Richard) -- Also I give and devise unto my Son Richard Ball his Heirs and Assigns for ever All that my Dwelling house and appurtenances thereto belonging in North Meols aforesaid now in his occupation with the other Dwelling houses thereto erected by him And also all that part of my arable meadow and pasture Land which I hold on Lease from Patton Esquire and of which I purchased from Robert Rimmer all his Estate and Interest (save and except the large Field lying before my door containing somewhat more than two acres be it more or less which I herein after devise to my son William) And also all that the said Eastern part of my said household Land purchased from the said Marshall to be divided from the Western part by the said Line to be drawn from the Lum to the Gap aforesaid as herein before excepted out of the Devise to my Son William To hold the same to my said Son Richard Ball his Heirs executors administrators and assigns forever or according to my Estate and interest therein --- Also I give and devise all that the said Large Field lying before my door (being the Field herein before excepted out of the Devise to my said Son Richard) unto my said Son William Ball his Heirs and assigns for ever or according to my Estate or Interest therein Also I give and devise to my said Grand daughter Mary Molton and her Assigns during her life One Annuity or yearly rent charge or four pounds to be issuing and payable out of my Dwellinghouse in Queen Street in Liverpool which was devised to me by my Brother Thomas with the like powers of distress (determinable nevertheless on the Cessation of my Estate and Interest in the said Dwellinghouse) --- Also I give devise and bequeath the said Dwelling house in Liverpool with all appurtenances thereto belonging (subject nevertheless to the said Annuity) unto my said Sons William Ball and Richard Ball their Heirs executors administrators and Assigns equally as tenants in Common during all my Estate and Interest therein --- Also I give and bequeath unto my said Son William Ball my writing Desk with Drawers he paying to my son Richard two pounds twelve shillings and six pence And as to all the rest residue and Remainder of my Personal Estate and effects of whatever nature or kind soever of which I shall die possessed I give and bequeath the same unto my said two sons Richard Ball and William Ball equally and if they shall either of them die in my life time I give the Share of such so dying to his Children -- And I appoint my said Sons William Ball and Richard Ball Executors of this my will hereby revoking all former Wills and do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament In witness whreeof I have set my hand and seal in manner following to the four first pages my hand and to this fifth page my hand and seal This eleventh Day of August One thousand eight hundred and fourteen --
W Ball [seal]
Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator as and for his last will and testament we first observing the following interlineations “and appurtenances” in the first page “or during my estate therein” and “my father” and “in North Meols aforesaid” in the second page and “with the like powers of distress” and “and Richard Ball” and “equally as tenants in common” in the fourth page) in the presence of us who put our Names in the presence of him and of each other
T. Walley
M Hampson of Radcliffe
Tho Tompson of Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire
[Probate 31 August 1814. Testator died 4 August 1814]
A gravestone at St Cuthbert’s:
Here lieth the Body of Thomas
Son of Captain William Ball of
South Haws who departed this Life
April 22.d 1771
Also Mary the Wife of Captain Ball
who departed this Life March 2. 1772
Aged 37
Oh cruel Death that little warning gave
To take my Wife and leave me here to grieve
I hope in time my tears I Shall Retrain
To think with joy that we Shall meet
again
Here lieth the Body of Captain
William Ball died 26th Augst1814
Aged 80 Years
Capt. Wm Ball of South Haws
Eldest Son of the above Capt Wm
Ball departed this life on the 1st
March 1844 Aged 82 Years
Also of RICHARD BALL Captain
Son of the above died July 29th 18…
Aged 75 Years
Looking unto Jesus
Commentary
William’s parentage:
William’s 26 August 1814 burial record gives his age at death as 80. This age corresponds to William’s age of 39 in the year 1773 recorded in the “Life Book” of property belonging to Anna Maria Bold.
A 1773 indenture records that William’s father was William Ball, fisherman, deceased.
The baptism entries for William’s children and William’s will record his residence as South Haws in the parish of North Meols.
Taken together, this information is enough for us to identify William’s baptism:
13 October 1734. William Ball son of William Ball & Margrat. South Hose.
The parish registers and the elder William’s will make it clear that he was married twice, and that the William of this page was a son of his second marriage.
It seems likely that William’s mother Margaret was the Margaret Swift who married William Ball in 1734 (according to the marriage bond). Margaret was a widow, and “Swift” was the surname of her first husband.
References
Cheetham, F.H., The Parish Registers of North Meols 1732 -1812. (Lancashire Register Society: 1934).
Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerks
Otterstrom, Joyce L.C., “William Ball” in RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Park, accessed 5 April 2014. Otterstrom gives a transcription of the marriage banns and license, William Ball’s will, a 1773 indenture, and William Ball’s monumental inscription.
Parish register of North Meols. Digital images available on FamilySearch, accessed 15 January 2018.
William Ball - Mary Wright marriage bond no. 702 (1758) in Cheshire Marriage licence bonds and allegations 1606-1905; digital image on Findmypast.co.uk (accessed 6 April 2014).
William Ball - Margaret Swift marriage bond no. 879 (1734) in Cheshire Marriage licence bonds and allegations 1606-1905; digital image on Findmypast.co.uk (accessed 6 April 2014).
Will of William Ball the elder South Haws, gentleman. Consistory Court of Chester, 1814. Digital image on FamilySearch (Film # 004424729).