William Ballard, the son of William Ballard, was baptized 23 March 1564 (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster) and died 20 June 1616.  As revealed by the Inquisition Post Mortem ( Inquisition Post Mortem, WARD 7/51/153) made at the time of his death, he held property at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England,

for a long time before his death was seized in his demesne as of fee of and in one capital messuage or tenement and three cottages with appurtenances situated and being within the town of Southwell aforesaid And of and in forty acres of land twenty acres meadow and thirty acres of pasture with appurtenances in the town of Southwell aforesaid and in the fields and territory of Southwell aforesaid and Upton Halam Easthorpe and Westhorpe in the same county of Nottingham aforesaid messuages whether being tenements or appurtenances

He was baptized on 23 March 1564 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.  Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster.  He figured with his father in the court case of Forrest v. Ballard, described here.

He was devised £100 in the will of his father, which was probated on 8 October 1605.  Inquisition Post Mortem, WARD 7/51/153.

The case of Ballard v. Martyn C5/589/68 identifies the family of William’s wife, Alice Martyn, sole daughter and heir of John Martyn, deceased, and his wife Isabell, deceased.  It also names their son, Martyn.

Bill of Complaint of William Ballard and Alice, his wife, 9 July 1614,

William, gent of Southwell. Alice sole daughter and heir of John Martyn, late of East Allington in Lincolnshire, deceased. John held various lands in East Allington, West Allington and Connerbie in Lincs. Along with goods, chattels, stock and sums of money. Martyn was desirous that his daughter should marry William Ballard for her better advancement.

To further this aim, Martyn by articles dated 18 November 32 Eliz I [1589] conveyed his lands to the plaintiffs and their heirs, after his death and that of his wife Isabell, both now deceased. He was also to pay William 6 score pounds at a time long since passed. If John died after Isabell (which he did), then the plaintiffs would have all his goods and chattels. The lands were conveyed to the plaintiffs, and afterwards to Martyn Ballard, one of their sons. John Martyn also delivered to the plaintiffs, goods and household stuffs to the value of 75-3-4d, as part of the 6 score pounds.

Afterwards, Isabell died, but John survived and ‘being very aged was deluded and drawen in by practises and persuasions’ to marry Margaret Leake, sister of Richard Leake, although she was led to understand that she was not to expect any advancement or preferement, for that he had conveyed his lands and agreed to leave all his goods and chattels as aforesaid. At the time of the marriage, John had goods and chattels to the value of 200 pounds at the least which should have come to the plaintiffs. But the Leakes combined with Symon Buttree, clerk, to defraud the plaintiffs of the remainder of the 6 score pounds, the rest of the goods, which ought to be theirs and the lands. John Martyn died in April last and the goods, lands etc. should have come to the plaintiffs.

The Leakes and Buttree have in their hands all the deeds, writings, bonds, agreements etc. relating to the estate of Martyn. They have entered the lands and embezzled the goods. Buttree has stated that he has a deed of gift of the goods, money and chattels made in Martyn’s life time, which is to the great wrong and defrauding of the plaintiffs and against all right and equity. Martyn never made any deed to prevent the plaintiff’s receiving the goods and if any was made, it was by ‘sinister persuasions and allurements of the defendants’, ‘defrauding and abusing him in his sickness whereof he dyed…he not understanding in any sort…’ The defendants will not allow the plaintiffs to have any sight of the goods left by Martyn or take an inventory of them nor do they have details of the deeds and other writings. Ask that Margaret Martyn, Richard Leake and Symon Buttree be subpoened to answer the bill.

He left a will dated 28 May 1616, in which he devised to his second son Edward Ballard “all those my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever with all and singuler their appurtenances sett lyinge and beinge in the townes feildes and territoryes of Southwell the burgage of Southwell Easthorp Westhorp Upton and Halam in the county of Nottingham to have and to hold all the same landes tenementes and hereditaments with their appurtenances to the same Edward Ballard my second sonne and to his heirs forever.”  Inquisition Post Mortem, WARD 7/51/153.

He died on 20 June 1616 at age 52.  William Ballard was buried on 24 July 1616 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.2  An Inquisition Port Mortem was held on 26 September 1616 at Newark upon Trent, Nottinghamshire, England.  Public Record Office WARD 7/51 no. 153

INQUISITION indented held at Newark upon Trent in the county aforesaid the twenty sixth day of September in the year of the reign of our lord James by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King defender of the faith and so forth, that is to say, England France and Ireland the fourteenth and Scotland the fiftieth [26 September 1616] Before George Wigsall Esquire Escheator of the said lord King in the county aforesaid by virtue of his office to an inquiry after the death of William Ballard late of Southwell in the county aforesaid gentleman deceased upon the oaths and so forth

WHO say upon their oaths aforesaid that the aforesaid William Ballard for a long time before his death was seized in his demesne as of fee of and in one capital messuage or tenement and three cottages with appurtenances situated and being within the town of Southwell aforesaid

And of and in forty acres of land twenty acres meadow and thirty acres of pasture with appurtenances in the town of Southwell aforesaid and in the fields and territory of Southwell aforesaid and Upton Halam Easthorpe and Westhorpe in the same county of Nottingham aforesaid messuages whether being tenements or appurtenances

And that the aforesaid William Ballard so of the aforesaid messuages or tenements and the other premises being seized made his last will in writing bearing date the twenty eighth day of May in the year of the Lord 1616 by which amongst other things he wished and bequeathed the aforesaid messuages or tenements cottages and other premises to Edward Ballard second son of the same William to have and to hold the same to him the aforesaid Edward his heirs and assigns for ever in these words in English following, that is to say,

And I will and bequeath unto my second sonne Edward Ballard all those my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever with all and singuler their appurtenances sett lyinge and beinge in the townes feildes and territoryes of Southwell the burgage of Southwell Easthorp Westhorp Upton and Halam in the county of Nottingham to have and to hold all the same landes tenementes and hereditaments with their appurtenances to the same Edward Ballard my second sonne and to his heirs forever, As by the same will the jurors aforesaid shown in evidence full appears and it is evident that afterwards he the aforesaid William Ballard thus also of the aforesaid messuages or tenements cottages and other premises being seized about the twentieth day of June now last past of such his estate died so in respect thereof seized

And the jurors aforesaid furthermore on their oaths aforesaid say that the aforesaid messuages or tenements and other premises are held and at the time of the death of the same William were held of our lord Archbishop of York of the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter York or his Archbishopric of York as of his manor of the Burgh of Southwell aforesaid in free soccage for fealty and suit of court common and annual rent of nineteen shillings and two pence by the year

And by what other services the jurors aforesaid are wholly ignorant

And that the clear value by the year in all issues above the deductions from profit is forty shillings

And that William Ballard is son and heir and the next of kin of William the father and was aged at the time of death of his father twenty four years and more

And that he had no other or more lands or tenements at the time of his death or held of the said lord King nor of any other person to their knowledge. In testimony of which thing, and so forth.

William Ballard and Alice Martyn had issue:

WILLIAM, born in 1592.

EDWARD, born c. 1594.

MARTIN, born c. 1596, died  21 March 1663.

Frances, born 18 April 1603, died before 24 July 1616.  Frances Ballard was baptized on 18 April 1603 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England., and died before 24 July 1616.  She was buried on 24 July 1616 at Edingley, Nottinghamshire, England.  Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster.