William Ballard, the son of Phillip Ballard and Joane Fitzwilliams, was baptized c. 1540.  William Ballard held property at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1576, as evidenced by the court case of Ballard v. Weste.  (Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings, Series II, Elizabeth I to Interregnum).

Bill of Complaint of William Ballard, 1576, of Southwell, Notts, gentleman. Thomas West of Upton, Notts, yeoman, was seized of one messuage house in Southwell. About a year ago he sold it to Ballard, his heirs and assigns along with all the evidences, deeds and writings concerning the property. But some of these writings are held by Robert West of Southwell. Ballard has asked West for these but he has refused. Asks that a subpoena be issued to order West to appear before the court.

Circa 1587 he held property at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, as proven by the Court of Chancery case at C3/305/14, William “by several deeds, purchased, at several times, various messuages and tenements in the Town of Nottingham and in the County of Nottingham from Edward Samon Esq.”

He was involved in another Chancery suit in 1619 regarding property at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1587 as evidenced by the Chancery suit in 1619 of Claye v Ballard.  “William Ballard of Southwell, Nottinghamshire, gentleman v. George Crawe alias Fenwick Spoiling of peas belonging to plaintiff by lading together with rotten beans. Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire. Two bills, commission, answer.” Short title: Ballard v. Crowe alias Fenwick.  C 2/Eliz/B8/40 in 1589.

He William Ballard of Southwell, Notttinghamshire, gentleman v. Richard Banes, clerk. Refusal to pay £20 expended by plaintiff to procure a benefice for defendant. Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire. Bill only. Short title: Ballard v Baynes.  C 2/Eliz/B7/8 in 1590.

He was mentioned in the litigation of William Ballard on 11 June 1602, and was refered to in the case of Forrest v. Ballard.  [Note: document has lower part torn off and missing] (Notts John Forrest of Haughton v. William Ballard, C3/270/2, Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Pleadings, Series II, Elizabeth I to Interregnum, The National Archive).

Bill of Complaint of John Forrest of Haughton, Notts.

11 June 1602,
About four years ago he needed to borrow 300 or 400 pounds. He was acquainted with William Ballard the elder of the County of Nottingham, gentleman, and knowing him to be a man well monied and willing to lend money at interest. He asked Ballard for a loan of 400 pounds who, at first, seemed unwilling to lend it, but ‘yet in kindness and goodwill, as he then pretended’, he agreed to lend the plaintiff as much money as he requested in return for the security of a lease on the Manor of Haughton, which the plaintiff had purchased from Mr Doctor Tyndall, one of the prebends of the Collegiate Church of Southwell; the title of the Manor being in the gift of the Abbey and was sold to William Nevill Esq. by Edward VI by virtue of the Statute of Dissolutions in 1547, as well as a mortgage of certain lands lying in the Manor called the Vicar’s lands. Loan from William Ballard was at the rate of 10 pounds per hundred on the profit of two meadow closes called the Swamp Closes for the term of one year, which closes are usually let for 10 pounds.

By deed of 1 January 40 Elizabeth [1597/8], the plaintiff mortgaged the lands known as the Vicar’s Lands and the lease of the Manor of Haughton. But not to William Ballard himself but to his son, William. But he only received 200 pounds. He was further prompted by William senior that he would lend more money, if needed, on the same security. Soon afterwards, the plaintiff asked for a further 100 pounds which Ballard agreed to lend but he was ‘too greedy and covetous’, that he forgot his previous promise and would have the plaintiff acknowledge a Statute Marchaunte or else the plaintiff would not have any further money, but such was the need of the plaintiff, and having no other lands to act as assurance, was enforced to agree to Ballard’s demands and to acknowledge a statute before the Mayor of Nottingham. He received the 100 pounds.

The plaintiff was unable to repay the total debt of 300 pounds when it became due because he could not sell the premises because he had been ‘ensnared and entangled’ by William Ballard Senior. The statute became forfeited and Ballard Junior tried to extend the statute, which the plaintiff endeavoured to avoid and they came to an agreement whereby the Junior Ballard would lend the plaintiff 100 more, and have three years for its redemption. At the end of 3 years, as before, the plaintiff would pay 500 in one payment. If the plaintiff failed to pay, then William Jnr would have the premises for 16 years, paying the plaintiff 50 pounds a year. In order not to weaken the former assurance [the original agreement] the new lease of 16 years was to be granted to John Marten of Denton, Lincs., yeoman.

An Indenture of Covenant was to be made between the plaintiff and Ballard Jnr in the nature of a Defeasance to frustrate and make void all former assurances and also to reconvey the premises to the plaintiff on the payment of 500 pounds in one sum. Since the plaintiff could repay anytime within 3 years, and dispossess William Jnr of the premises, thus leaving him without a house for his wife and children and grazing for his cattle, therefore it was further agreed that the plaintiff would give William Jnr six months notice of the payment and the place of payment be the Manor House of Haughton, where William then lived. It was further agreed that William would not meddle with the expelling of any of the tenants, should only have the rent payable by the tenants and wood necessary for hedging and fencing only. He was also to have the ‘Boones’ and services of the tenants as he pretended that he could not occupy the manor without such help. Accuses William Jnr of not drawing up the agreement correctly but the plaintiff was, by the extremity of his position, his living of 100 pounds about to be taken from him, was driven to seal the agreement. He received the 100 pounds, which should have been in two payments, in ten payments instead, which was a great hindrance to him.

William is now breaking the agreement by expelling some of the tenants and spoiling the woods with his cattle and suffered the houses to fall into ruin and decay and intends to plough up the meadow grounds because he knows that the plaintiff can only repay the debt by the sale of the whole premises or part of them. [Rest is missing].

William Ballard left a will dated 8 December 1596 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England, which was probated 8 October 1605 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills: 68 Hayes 1605).

In the name of God Amen. The 8th day of December in the year of our Lord God one thousand five hundred ninety six.

I William Ballard of Southwell in the county of Nottingham gent being as it pleases god sicke in bodie but in his goodness and mercy of sound mind and memory for which I render most humble and hearty thanks unto him do make and ordain this my present testament containing herein my last will in manner and form following.

First I recommend my soul to Almighty God and my body to the earth from whence it came trusting through the merit and passion of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus and by no worldly means or help that it shall be raised again to life everlasting in the kingdom of heaven.

And for those worldly blessings which the Lord in merit hath bestowed upon me I will and give and bequeath to my son William Ballard in full satisfaction and discharge of his filial and child’s part of my goods the sum of 100 pounds and

I will and bequeath and devise to my nephew William Ballard some <???>? all those my land tenements hereditaments left <????> and being within the >< fields and territories of Nottingham <????> of Nottingham amounting to <?the yearly?> value of 16 pounds or thereabouts be it more or less which land tenements and hereditaments I first purchased of Edward <Samon> esquire as by my deeds of my first purchase made of and from the said Edward it doth and may appear to have and to hold all the said land tenements and hereditaments with the appurtenances to the said William Ballard the <?son?> and his heirs forever and

I will that with the profits and issues of the said lands and premises my said nephew be brought up in good learning.

Also I bequeath to <outwit> of the younger children of my said son William Ballard 10 pounds and

I do ordain and make my son Henry Ballard the sole and lawful executor of this my testament or last will and for his pains to be taken in the execution of the same I give and bequeath unto him all the residue of my goods and chattels <???> <???> and <???> legacies paid up and discharged and I remit and forgive to Henry Robertson of <Oxf??> in the county of Nottingham all <???????> <?????> all I have here put my hand and seal these being witnessed John Martiall, Edmund Robert farmer, William Ballard.

Probate granted London, to Henry Ballard son of the deceased 8 October 1605

William Ballard was buried on 14 September 1605 at Saxilby, Lincolnshire, England.

The name of his wife is not known.  The children of William Ballard were:

HENERY, born 4 March 1564.

WILLIAM, born 23 March 1564, died 20 June 1616.

Anne, born  6 April 1566, died 1573.  Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster.

John, born 14 December 1568, died 1569.  Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster.