Edward Ballard, the son of William Ballard of Southwell, Nottinghamshire, was baptized circa 1594. Edward Ballard held property at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England, in 1616 as evidenced by The Court of Requests file (REQ 2/295/5) consisted of three pages, which concerned land within the Parish of Southwell.

According to testimony of Edward Ballard, a George Malyn conveyed land to Edward’s grandfather William Ballard, gent., who a year or two later conveyed the land as an inheritance to Edward’s father William Ballard. In May 1616, his late father made a will and gave Edward the said lands, and shortly afterwards departed this life. He received all his estates in Southwell, Upton, Hallam, Easthorpe and Westhorpe, Nottinghamshire in William Ballard’s will probated on 20 June 1616. Inquisition Post Mortem, WARD 7/51/153.

He left a will dated 20 September 1653 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, and was buried on 3 July 1654 in the Collegiate Churchyard at Southwell.  His estate was probated on 28 August 1654.  Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills: PROB11/234 f178v.  (Public Record Office, PROB11/234 folio 178v, Probate Court, Prerogative Court of Canterbury).

In the name of God Amen. The six and twentieth day of September one thousand six hundred and fifty three.

I Edward Ballard of Southwell in the County of Notting being of whole mind and in good and perfect remembrance thanks and praise be unto Almighty God do make and ordain this my present Testament and last will in manner and form following. That is to say first I commend my soul unto Almighty god my maker and redeemer and my body to be buried in the Collegiate Church of Southwell near my father where he lyeth.

Item I will that such debts as I owe of right or of conscience to any person or persons be well and truly contented and <out> of my goods only the money that I owe upon the mortgage of some of my lands to be paid as hereafter is nominated and set down, and after my debts paid I will that all my lands goods and chattels shall be divided as followeth.

Item it is my will and I do bequeath that Ellin Ballard my wife shall have all my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever so <?????> appurtenances set lying and being in the town country and territories of Southwell the burgage of Southwell Easthorpe Westhorpe and Upton & Hallam in the county of Nottingham during her natural life

And after her decease I bequeath my dwelling house I now live in situate in the burgage the orchard adjoining unto it and one Close called by the name of Dovecoate Close and also one Close called by the name of Dove Close with the appurtenances to Edward Ballard my eldest son his heirs and assigns for ever.

Item I give and bequeath all the rest of my lands tenements and hereditaments whatsoever with their appurtenances set lying and being in the <Towns> <fields> Territories of Southwell the Burgage of Southwell Easthorpe Westhorpe Upton and Hallam in the County of Nottingham to <several> of my younger children to them and their heirs for ever to be equally divided amongst them. That is to say to Thomas Ballard, Jervase Ballard and Robert Ballard Elizabeth Ballard Flora Ballard Alice Ballard and Katherine Ballard provided that whereas the most part of the land is mortgaged to one Francis Leeke and William Roscoe gent it is my will that Thomas Ballard my second son shall sell so much of the said land as shall pay and redeem the said mortgage and then the rest of the said land to be divided as aforesaid.

Item I give unto Charles Ballard my youngest son the some of twenty pounds to be paid out of my goods and chattels by my executrix hereafter named when he shall accomplish the age of twenty four years of age.

Item I give unto the poor of Southwell twenty shillings

All the rest of my goods and chattels whatsoever my debts funeral <?????> legacies paid and discharged I give and bequeath to Ellin my wife to be at her disposing in good hope that she will be a good mother to all my children Whereof I institute and make Ellin Ballard my wife sole executrix of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof to this <????> being written with my own hand I have published my name and put to my seal the day and year above written Edward Ballard In the presence of these Martyn Ballard, <Magister> James <????> his mark.

Probate Westminster 28th August 1654 granted to Ellin Ballard

Ellen Ballard followed her husband to the grave three years later, when her will dated 9 May 1656 was probated 12 October 1657 (PROB11/268 folio 108r, Probate Court, Prerogative Court of Canterbury).

In the name of God Amen. The ninth day of May one thousand six hundred fifty and six I Ellen Ballard of Southwell in the County of Nottingham Widow being of whole mind and in good and perfect remembrance thanks and praise be unto Almighty God do make and ordain this my present Testament and last will in manner and form following. That is to say. First I commend my soul unto Almighty God my Maker and Redeemer and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executor.

Item I will that such debts as I owe of right or of conscience to any person or persons or persons to be well and truly <consented> and paid of my goods and after my debts paid I give and bequeath as followeth. First I give and bequeath unto Edward Ballard my son six shillings in full satisfaction of the child part or portion.

Item I give and bequeath to Thomas Ballard my son ten pounds whom I purpose in this my last will and testament to make my executor.

Item I give and bequeath to Gervase Ballard my son Ten pounds in full satisfaction of his childs part or portion.

Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Ballard my son Ten pounds in satisfaction of his childs part or portion.

Item I give and bequeath unto Charles Ballard my son Twenty pounds in full satisfaction of his childs part or portion being formerly given by his late father Edward Ballard my late husband <??????> also binding him apprentice at my charge do give unto him five shillings in full satisfaction of his childs part or portion.

Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Ballard my daughter twenty pounds in full satisfaction of her childs part or portion.

Item I give and bequeath unto Flora Ballard my daughter twenty pounds in full satisfaction of her childs part or portion.

Item I give and bequeath unto Alice Ballard my daughter twenty pounds in full satisfaction of her childs part or portion.

Item I give and bequeath unto Katherine Ballard my daughter thirty pounds in full satisfaction of her childs part or portion.

All which aforesaid sums <are> to be paid within one half year after my decease.

Item I give unto my son Edward and to his son Thomas twenty shillings.

Also I give unto my son Bayley husband to my daughter Elizabeth to his two children twenty shillings a piece to be paid aforesaid.

Item I give unto my three youngest daughters my household goods to be equally divided amongst them after my decease.

And I do make and ordain Thomas Ballard my second son full and sole executor of this my last will and testament. And this I the said Ellen Ballard do fully declare to be my last will in the presence of Ellin Ballon Ballard her mark <?????> Tho. Rixxon, Martin Ballard Clerk.

Whereas since the date of my last will and testament I have lent to my son Edward fifty pounds and have a mortgage of the lands for the security of it I do hereby devise the said fifty pounds and the ensuing interest to my executor the better to enable him to perform this my will and in case default of payment be made therein then I devise to my said executor and his heirs the said lands granted to me and my friend Master Rixxon for the security of the said fifty pounds and interest <Published?> and declared by the said Ellen Ballard in the presence of Wm. <Clan>, John Kendrick.  Probate London 12th October 1657 to Thomas Ballard

Children of Edward Ballard and Ellen ______________.

Edward, was baptized on 4 August 1622 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster).  Edward was devised by his father “… my dwelling house I now live in situate in the burgage the orchard adjoining unto it and one Close called by the name of Dovecoate Close and also one Close called by the name of Dove Close with the apputenances” following the death of Ellen, his mother (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills: PROB11/234 f178v).  Edward Ballard held property at Closes of Land, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England, on 20 March 1655/56 as evidenced by Copy quitclaim from Edward Ballard to William Cartwright and seven others, concerning closes of land in Southwell, Nottinghamshire (20 March 1655, Derbyshire Record Office: Wright of Eyam Hall, Reference: D5430/59/5/1).  He held property at Dove Cote and Dove Close, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England, before 12 October 1657. He received two shillings and six pence from his brother Thomas Ballard in Ballard’s will probated on 24 August 1659 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills: PROB11/394 f28v).  He is known to have had at least one child, Thomas, who was born c. 1638.

Elizabeth, was baptized on 8 December 1623 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster)  As of circa 1645, she married ___________Bayley. Elizabeth Ballard received two shillings and six pence in Thomas Ballard’s will probated on 24 August 1659 (Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills: PROB11/394 f28v).

THOMAS, was baptized 14 July 1626.

Flora, baptized 8 February at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster).

JARVIS, baptized 8 September 1630 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.  (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster).

Alice, baptized 16 September 1632 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England. (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster)   As of between 1657 and 1659,her married name was Morehouse. On “21 December 1657 at St Mary, Whitechapel, London, Middlesex, England, Samuel Morehouse of this parish haberdasher aged 27 and Alice Ballard of the same spinster yeares above published in the market at Leaden hall three market days in three general viz on Saturday the 12th & one Monday 14th & one Monday 22nd December 1657” (Parish Register).

Robert, baptized 3 September 1635 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster).  Per Mr. Weisner: “Possibly, he was the Robert Ballard of St. Mary’s, White Chapel (the area just to the east of Aldgate) who on 11/30/1663 at the age of about 27 (the son of Edward by that name would have just turned 28) obtained a license to marry Anne Page of St. Michael’s, Cornhill, London at Trinity, Minories, London. See Allegations for Marriage Licenses by the Vicar-General of the Archbishop of Canterbury, 1660 to 1668, G. Armytage, ed., p.118 (Publications of the Harleian Society, Vol. 33, 1892). About two years later, on October 12, 1665 (during the plague), a Robert Ballard from White Chapel was buried at St. Botolph without Aldgate (perhaps near his mother and brother).”

CHARLES, baptized on 15 February 1637 at Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster).

Katherine, baptized 8 August 1640 at Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England (Baptismal Register of Southwell Minster).