THE DAVID BALL FAMILY

DAVID BALL [#56], d. Somerset, Vt. 13 Feb 1805 or 1807, m(1) Dartmouth, MA 8 Nov 1753 SARAH BADCOCK (dau. George Badcock and Elizabeth Waste), b. Dartmouth 4 Sep 1733, d. Wilmington, VT 22 Nov 1785, m(2) Mrs. Mary Lincoln, prob. d. Taunton, MA 20 Oct 1830.

28. Noah Ball b. 31 Dec 1754 Dartmouth Massachusetts d. 10 Mar 1837 Wilmington Vermont	56. David Ball b. ? d. 1805 or 1807 Somerset, VT
	57. Sarah Badcock b. 4 Sep 1733 Dartmouth, MA d. 22 Nov 1785 Wilmington, VT	114. George Badcock b. 1692 Dartmouth, MA d. 1771 Dartmouth, MA	228. Return Badcock
			229. Sarah Deneson
		115. Elizabeth Waste b. ? d. after 17 Apr 1779

The notion has been put forth that David Ball was born in Watertown Jan. 17, 1716-7 to Joseph and Elizabeth (Parkhurst) Ball who then moved to Framingham. This premise is a possibility according to the birth and death dates of these men. However, other than the fact that David Ball of Watertown disappears from the records shortly before David Ball of Dartmouth first appears, there is no proof that the two men are in any way connected. In fact, the children of David of Watertown do not appear with David of Dartmouth. Further research needs to be done in this line. Furthermore, the David Ball of Framingham seems to have left a widow behind by 1761.

David Ball was at one time a weaver (as were the Watertown Balls) as seen by deed when he sold the land his wife received from her father "Know all men by these presents that we David Baul of Dartmouth in the County of Bristol in the State of Massachusetts Bay in Newengland weaver & Sarah Baul my wife in Consideration of the Just Sum of Two Thousand & one hundred Pounds Current money to us in hand paid by Goddard Spencer ... in witness whereof we do hereunto Set our hands and Seals this 24th Day of April, Ano Domini one thousand Seven hundred and eighty".[4/65:531] This land was that given the couple by George Badcock as the descriptions are identical and was the land where David and Sarah lived. Therefore they probably sold it just prior to moving to Vermont. That nineteen acres of land could sell for over two thousand pounds in 1780 sounds incredible. The pound must have experienced a great deal of devaluation due to the war with England. The spelling of "Baul" instead of "Ball" in these documents was not necessarily the way David spelled his name, but was more likely the interpretation of the spelling given by the county clerks who recorded the deeds.

David and Sarah Ball were living in Wilmington, Vt. in 1785 when Sarah died. It is thought that they moved to Wilmington in 1781, which seems likely as they sold their Dartmouth land in 1780. David had remarried by 1790 as seen by the following deed. "Know all Men by these presents that we David Ball of Wilmington in ye State of Vermont yeoman, & Mary his wife, in consideration of Ten Pounds lawfull money paid us before ye sealing hereof by Hedijah Baylies of Dighton in ye County of Bristol in ye Commonwealth of Massachusetts Esqr. the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge do hereby give grant sell and convey to ye said Hedijah & to his heirs & assigns allow right title and interest in & to a certain Dwelling house & about seven acres of Land Scituate in Taunton in sd County of Bristol, being what was set off to ye said Mary as part of her right of Dower in ye Estate of her late husband Daniel Lincoln Decd ... Witness our hands & seals this Thirtieth Day of November Anno Domini Seventeen Hundred Ninety".[4/71:239]

A Mary Ball, widow of David Ball, died in Taunton, MA Oct. 20, 1830 aged 97 years, 7 months, 12 days. It is possible, if not probable, that she is the Mrs. Mary Lincoln who married David, having returned to Taunton after David's death. To verify this, one must find the maiden name of Mary Lincoln and then her birth date. A Daniel Lincoln married Molly Shoars in 1750 but no birth date for this woman was found. Molly is sometimes used as a nickname for Mary.

The old Congregational Church records of Wilmington, Vt. record the death of Mr. David Ball in February 1805 (or 1807). There is little doubt that this David is the ancestor David Ball. We know he died after 1790. The fact that he was called "Mr." David Ball indicates respect as would be given to an elderly gentleman. The reference to David and Sarah's children comes from "a handwritten paper found in an old book" in Wilmington, Vt. via Mrs. Margaret Greene, town historian of Wilmington. Four of the children were also recorded in the vital records of Taunton and Dartmouth. They were Anne, Noah, Elizabeth, and Mary. Amy appears in Anne's place in the list and has the birth date of March 4, 1756 as oppossed to the vital records date of March 4, 1754. Either date may be correct, but presumably the family knew best, and thus the names and dates from the paper are used here. Noah's birth year is different as well. Dartmouth vital records give it as 1755, the paper as 1754. The first four children were baptised at the Protestant Episcopal Church in Taunton. Noah and Amy were baptised on Aug. 8, 1756. Mary, refered to as Polly in the handwritten paper, and Elizabeth were baptised July 6, 1761.[5] Birth dates were not given for the last two in the vital records. According to the paper, all children were born in New Bedford, MA.

A contemporary Ball family genealogist speculates that David Ball may have been the son of Caleb Ball of New Jersey or possibly the son of James and Mary Ball of Wallingford, CT. This James was married by 1726 and died in 1733 and may have been a brother to the above mentioned Caleb. He also has that David had a brother James, who was probably in Wilmington, VT in 1781.[6]

REF: [1] Dartmouth Vital Records
     [2] New England Historic Genealogical Register, 1860
     [3] Bristol County Probate
     [4] Bristol County Deeds
     [5] Taunton Records
     [6] Research by Dr. Joseph L. Druse of East Lansing, MI
     [7] Wilmington, VT Records
     [8] Ancestral File

Children (born at New Bedford, MA):

1. Noah, b. 31 Dec 1754, d. Wilmington, VT 10 Mar 1837,[7]
   m. (int.) Dartmouth, MA 6 Mar 1778 Mary Seekins, b. abt.
   1752
2. Amy, b. 4 Mar 1756, d. 21 Apr 1816, m. Benjamin White
3. Polly, b. 13 Oct 1757, d. 27 Aug 1836, m. Nathan Flagg
4. Elizabeth, b. 28 Oct 1759, d. Oct 1813, m. Thomas Haskell
5. James, b. 19 Oct 1761, d. 19 May 1802, m. Wilmington 28 Jun
   1780 Mary Thompson
6. Sally, b. 10 Jul 1764, d. 13 Jul 1838, m. New Bedford, MA
   19 Jun 1782[8] Daniel Rice
7. Lemuel, b. 24 Dec 1767, d. 17 May 1854, m. 1791 Lucina Chandler
   Chil.: 1) Russell; 2) Origen; 3) Clarissa; 4) Sabrina; 5) Erastus,
   m. Rebecca Hill; 6) Lucinda; 7) Levi Chandler
8. David, b. 5 Jan 1769, d. 24 Nov 1820, m. Polly Mabbit?
9. Jemima, b. 22 Aug 1772, d. 23 Mar 1816, m. Joab Johnson (son
   of Zebediah Johnson and Alicia Merrick), b. Hardiwck, MA 9 Mar
   1765, d. Dover, VT 6 May 1840[8/1F3L-T4T]
   Chil.[8]:
   1) Virtue Johnson, b. Dover, VT 13 Apr 1793; 2) Moses
   Johnson, b. Dover, VT 6 Nov 1794; 3) Jemima Johnson, b. Dover,
   VT 27 Oct 1796; 4) Joab Johnson, b. Dover 6 Aug 1798, d.
   20 Jul 1836; 5) Tryphena Johnson, b. 26 Feb 1800, d.
   7 Mar 1801; 6) Tryphoza Johnson, b. 26 Feb 1800, d. 8 May 1831;
   7) Tryphena Johnson, b. Dover, VT 31 Aug 1802, d. 25 Jul 1887,
   m. Somerset, VT 8 Nov 1820 Rufus Cobb; 8) Hofie Johnson,
   b. Dover 27 Sep 1803; 9) Ivory Johnson, b. 8 Dec 1806;
   10) Almira Johnson, b. Dover 4 Feb 1809; 11) Otis
   Johnson, b. Dover 2 Mar 1813
10. Virtue, b. 23 Jun 1775, d. 4 Oct 1840, m. Wilmington, VT 16
   May 1802[7/1:107] Hiram Bill (son of Calvin Bill and Lois
   Gibbs), b. 12 Jan 1773[8/10LB-S6M]

NOAH BALL [#28], b. Dartmouth, MA 31 Dec 1754, d. Wilmington, Vt 10 Mar, 1837,[2/8:23] m. Dartmouth (int.) 6 Mar 1778 MARY SEEKINS (dau. of Aaron Seekins and Hannah Wescott), b. abt. 1752.

14. James Ball b. Sep 1796 Wilmington Vermont d. 1839 ? ?	28. Noah Ball b. 31 Dec 1754 Dartmouth, MA d. 10 Mar 1837 Wilmington, VT	56. David Ball b. ? d. 1805 or 1807 Somerset, VT
		57. Sarah Badcock b. 1733 Dartmouth, MA d. 1785 Wilmington, VT	114. George Badcock 1692-1771
			115. Elizabeth Waste ?-after 1779
	29. Mary Seekins b. c.1752 d. ?	58. Aaron Seekins b. c.1725 d. 1777	116. Aaron Seekins c.1690-bef.1747
			117. Lydia Pierce c.1689-1785
		59. Hannah Wescott b. 1725 Middleboro, MA d. ?	62. Thomas Wescott c.1702-?
			63. Hannah Reynolds 1702-?

Noah Ball was a resident of Dartmouth, MA at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. He enlisted as a private in Capt. Thomas Kempton's Company which marched on April 21, 1775 in response to the alarm of April 19, the day the British marched on Lexington and Concord, which marked the start of the war. Noah's service was five days, but he reenlisted May 6, 1775 and served for 3 months, 2 days. His name appears on a muster roll dated August 1, 1775 in Capt. Kempton's Co., Col. Timothy Danielson's regt. with an order for bounty coat or its equivalent in money, dated at Roxbury Oct. 30, 1775.

He enlisted again on April 17, 1776 as a private in Capt. Benjamin Dillingham's Company and served for 7 months 19 days at Dartmouth. On Aug. 16, 1777, shortly before the American victory at Bennington, he enlisted as a private in Capt. John Kirkland's Company, Col. Ruggles Woodbridge's regiment and served for three months, 18 days, being discharged Nov. 29, 1777. This company was raised to reinforce the northern army and is possibly when Noah first saw the southern part of Vermont to which he later moved. During this service he reported sick at New City.

He next enlisted as Matross in Capt. Perez Cushing's Company, Col. Craft's Artillery regiment on June 6, 1778 and served one month 16 days at Dartmouth. The roll was made up to September 22, 1778, excluding the month of August. Noah enlisted as a 4th Seargent in Capt. Enoch Chapin's Company, Col. Jacob Gerrish's regiment July 10, 1778 and was discharged Dec. 31, 1778, service of 5 months, 23 days. During this time he guarded stores at Springfield and Brookfield. The company was detached from the Hampshire Militia.[3/1:542] Some of the dates in these records do not reflect the actual date of discharge as the men were compensated for the distance they had to march. The compensation was given as 20 miles equal to a day's wages. Thus 200 miles of travel would show up as ten more days of service than was actually served.

REF: [1] Dartmouth, MA Vital Records
     [2] Wilmington, Vt. Town Records
     [3] Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary
         War, 1896
     [4] History of Marlborough, Vt. - Rev. Ephraim Newton, 1930
     [5] Marlborough, VT Records
     [6] 1850 Federal Census
     [7] 1860 Federal Census

Children:

1. Sarah, b. Grafton, NH 21 Feb 1779,[2/LR1:15] d. Sullivan, Ohio
   20 Aug 1862, m. Thomas Palmer, b. Middleboro, MA 29 Dec 1779
2. Hannah, b. Cardigan, NH 8 Feb 1781,[2/LR1:15] m. Wilmington,
   VT 4 Dec 1800[2/1:106] John W. Taylor, b. Westminster, MA 9 Dec 1764
3. Allen, b. Wilmington, VT 16 Feb 1783,[2/LR1:15] m. Mary ____,
   b. 1786, res. Quincy, IL in 1850[6] and St. Louis, MO in 1860[7]
4. Mary, b. Wilmington 16 Mar 1785, d. 15 Jan 1870, m. Wilmington
   22 Mar 1814[2/1:121] Elihue Streeter of Hinsdale, NH, b. 1785, d. 1855
5. Lydia, b. Wilmington Sep 1787, d. Sullivan, Ohio 8 Oct 1867,
   m. 2 Oct 1812 John Palmer, b. Middleboro, MA 28 Dec 1784, d. Sullivan,
   Ohio 29 Jan 1856
6. Solomon, b. Wilmington Mar 1790, m. Marlboro, VT 7 May 1809[5/TR2:15]
   Polly Clark, b. 1786, res. Fort Anne, NY in 1850[6] and 1860[7]
7. Noah, b. Wilmington Mar 1792, possibly went to Naples, NY
8. David, b. Wilmington Mar 1794, d. Medford, OR 15 May 1861,
   m. Genesee Co., NY 11 Aug 1817 Abigail Hall
9. James, b. Wilmington, Vt. Sep 1796, d. 1839, m(1) 18
   Apr 1825 Susannah Chamberlain, d. 21 Mar 1826, m(2) 3 Dec 1826
   Lucy (Stearns) Bruce, b. Chesterfield, NH 21 Apr 1802,
   d. Marlboro, Vt. 3 Mar 1891

JAMES BALL [#14], b. Wilmington, Vt. Sep 1796, d. 1839, m(1) Marlborough, VT 18 Apr 1825[1/TR2:175] Susannah Chamberlain, d. Marlborough 21 Mar 1826 age 27,[1/1:65] m(2) Marlborough 3 Dec 1826[1/TR2:182] LUCY (STEARNS) Bruce (dau. of Amos Stearns and Lucy Fletcher), b. Chesterfield, NH 21 Apr 1802, d. Marlborough, VT 3 Mar 1891.[1/3:D17] She m(1) Eli Bruce, b. Dec 1801, d. Newfane, VT 8 Feb 1825.[5]

7. Lucy Ann Ball b. 12 Mar 1832 Marlborough Vermont d. 14 Aug 1908 Brattleboro Vermont	14. James Ball b. Sep 1796 Wilmington, VT d. 1839	28. Noah Ball b. 1754 Dartmouth, MA d. 1837 Wilmington, VT	56. David Ball ?-1805
			57. Sarah Badcock 1733-1785
		29. Mary Seekins b. c.1752 d. ?	58. Aaron Seekins c.1725-1777
			59. Hannah Wescott 1725-?
	15. Lucy Stearns b. 21 Apr 1802 Chesterfield, NH d. 3 Mar 1891 Marlborough, VT	30. Amos Stearns b. 1766 Chesterfield, NH d. 1829 Newfance, VT	60. Jonas Stearns 1738-1782
			61. Submit Davis 1741-1815
		31. Lucy Fletcher b. 1765 Acton, MA d. 1809 VT	62. Timothy Fletcher 1728-1779
			63. Sarah Brewer ?-?

James' first wife, Susannah, died within a year of their marriage. It is likely that she died from complications of the birth of her daughter.

According to a family bible, James Ball died in 1839, which is consistent with the facts. He signed a deed in 1837 yet did not appear in the 1840 census. In fact, Lucy Ball of Marlborough was listed as the head of the household in the census. The date of Lucy's birth also comes from the bible.

Lucy was a widow of Eli Bruce, a brother of the ancestor Orison Bruce. They were married for but a short time. It is interesting to note that Lucy was buried next to her first husband, Eli, in the South Newfane cemetery. The death date on her grave stone is March 3, 1891, rather than 1892 as appears in the records.

REF: [1] Marlborough, VT Town Records
     [2] Vermont Public Records
     [3] Lamb Family Bible
     [4] Wilmington, VT Deeds
     [5] South Newfane Cemetery, gravestone transcriptions by Charles
         Marchant, manuscript in Newfane Town Clerk's Office
     [6] 1880 Federal Census
     [7] 1860 Federal Census

Child (by Susannah):

1. Susannah, b. Marlborough, VT 24 Feb 1826,[1] m.
   William Pickering of Boston

Children (by Lucy):

2. Amos Stearns, b. Marlboro, VT 10 Sep 1827, m.
   Mary ___, b. abt. 1835[7]
   Chil.:
   A) Eli Lavender Ball, b. Marlborough 8 Feb 1855[1/2:72]
   B) Clarrie A. Ball, b. abt. 1858[7]
3. Horace Russell, b. Marlboro 14 Apr 1829,[1/1:65] d. Newfane, VT
   1 Dec 1891, m(2) Newfane, VT 25 Jan 1863 Mary A. Taylor, d.
   before 1880 VT census was taken
4. Nancy Maria, b. Marlboro 16 Sep 1830[1]
5. Lucy Ann, b. Marlboro, VT 12 Mar 1832, d. Brattleboro,
   VT 14 Aug 1908, m. Marlborough 22 Oct 1850[1/TR3:185] Noah Morell,
   b. Neversink, NY 29 Feb 1824, d. Brattleboro 26 Jun 1894
6. Caroline, b. Marlboro 17 Mar 1834,[1/1:181] d. Hardwick, MA
   7 Jan 1891, m. 28 Mar 1853 Eli Lamb, b. 1816, d. 1890; res.
   Phillipston, MA[7]
   Chil.[6]:
   A) Martha C. Lamb, b. abt. 1842
   B) Fannie M. Lamb, b. abt. 1845
   C) Lucy J. Lamb, b. abt. 1854
   D) Luke R. Lamb, b. MA abt. 1863
7. Harriet Sophia, b. Marlboro 5 Apr 1836,[1/1:176] d.
   Marlborough 8 May 1836[1/1:167]
8. Harriet Sophia, b. Marlboro 5 Jul 1837,[1/1:176] m. Holland Bellows,
   b. abt. 1833; res. Marlboro, VT
   Chil.[6]:
   A) Martha Bellows, b. abt. 1857[7]
   B) Eliza Bellows, b. 1859 and living in New Yrk in 1880 census
   C) Clark Bellows, b. abt. 1861
   D) Mary Bellows, b. abt. 1873
   E) Charles Bellows, b. abt. 1877
   F) John Bellows, b. 1880
9. Luna Mervia, b. Marlboro 1 Aug 1839,[1/1:176] d. 17 Feb 1850[5]

Lucy's child (by Eli Bruce):

1. Eli Fayette Bruce, b. Marlboro, VT 20 Dec 1824, d. Newfane,
   VT 5 Jul 1899, m. Mary Ann Timson