John Ball

brief biography

John Ball apparently lived his entire life in Watertown. He was a weaver, having learned the trade from his grandfather Peirce. In 1675 John received 16 shillings, 8 pence from the town for weaving done for Ned Sanders.[2/1:124] The Ball's had a maid as seen in this record, dated 18 January 1669-70. "Ordered that John Bigelow shall agree with John Balle the younger a bought Edward Sanderson his Daughter what wagis he shall give her for a yeeres sevis according to his best Descrition for providing for her such things as may be for her clothing as comfortably as may be".[2/1:98] Sanderson was apparently unable to care for his children as the town was looking to put them out as apprentices. John was chosen as one of the "Tything men" on 15 January 1683-4[2/2:16] and on 23 December 1684 was appraised of the fact that his parentsinlaw were "in great nesesity of sum Hellp By reson of Thear age Being unabell To Hellp Them selves".[2/2:20] On 9 April 1694 at a selectmen's meeting it was reported that "We have been at John Balls senr: and we could not find sippio: and we warned John Ball senr: from entertaining him as he would answer it to the town". The day before Sippio was warned to depart from Watertown "that the town be keept from trouble and charge with him".[2/2:114] Sippio was a negro. Whether he was an escaped slave or wanted for breaking the law does not appear. Perhaps the town just didn't want to be obliged for his care. Sippio had been Ellis Baron's negro.

REF: [1] History of Watertown - Henry Bond, 1860

    [2] Watertown Records, 1894

[3] Records of Births Marriages and Deaths, First Book - Watertown
Records, Vol. 1, 1894
[4] Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Second Book - Watertown Records,
Vol. 2, 1900
==links==

• http://www.newenglandballproject.com/g0/p1.htm#i4 https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LTPY-M9J https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79877566/john-ball

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• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Dec 28 2021, 18:51:44 UTC