Research comment

He who cares nothing about his ancestors will rarely achieve anything worthy of being remembered by his descendants. —author unknown

Sherebiah Ballard, grandson of William

Willington deeds document that Sherebiah was of Andover when he purchased 210 acres of Fenton's River 7 September 1749. On 8 February 1750/51, then of "Willington," he sold two pieces of land to John and Jonathan Ballard, not mentioning that they were his sons; on 2 January 1755 Jonathan, now back in Andover, sold his piece, on the "northwest corner of my... father Sherebiah's land" to John. Sherebiah sold 65 acres on 24 December 1759 to "Sherebiah Ballard Junr of sd Wellington" who the next day leased it back to his father and mother so long as either would live. On 28 November 1759, Willington Congregational Church records listed Sherebiah and Lydia Ballard among those in full communion. A number of other deeds were recorded. The picture, however, is complicated by the coming of age of his grandson, another Sherebiah, the son of John, born in 1745. On 14 April this third Sherebiah discharged Johathan Kingsbury (his stepfather) "my late gardeen," giving a receipt for the sum of 4 pounds. On 21 January 1768 "Sherebiah Ballard Jr. of Willington son to Mr. John Ballard late of Willington deceased" sold a piece of land to Timothy Pearl, a neighbor and frequent party to Ballard land transactions. As it was not Sherebiah, the son of John who was "Jr.," the eldest Sherebiah presumably had died. Unfortunately no probates are recorded for Sherebiah, Sr. or Lydia.

John William Ballard, son of William

He had a fulling mill with his brother Joseph. Was admitted to the South Church of Andover 7/18/1714. He was in Capt. Joseph Gardner's Company in King Philip's War, and was paid L2-14, 6/24/1676. He was a constable; took prominent part in arresting persons suspected of witchcraft in 1692. He inherited his father's homestead, except that part which was set off to his sister, Mrs. Blunt. His will, dated 11/30/1715 was proved 4/16/1716. Mentions wife Rebeckah; estate in Andover, and Billerica; to eldest son Jonathon land in Billerica; youngest son, Sherebiah, land in Andover; eldest daughter Rebecca; Daughters Ruth and Elizabeth unmarried. Two sons executors. Estate appraised:

• Land and buildings in Andover, L140
• in Billerica, L120
• horses and cattle, L64
• household stuff, L30
• tools, L10

Wife to be maintained by the sons.

William Ballard

William immigrated in 1634, a passenger on the "Mary and John," a wooden sailing ship that left Southampton, England March 24, 1633/34. He settled in Andover, Mass. around 1644, spending most of his life there. He served in King Philip's War. He brought up his family on a plantation in Andover where all of his children were born.

The Ballard Name

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture which was once found in Britain is the soil from which the many generations of the Ballard family have grown. The name Ballard was given to a member of the family who was a person known for their lack of hair. (So the legend goes.)
As a point of interest, the name is derived from the Old English word ball-ard, which means a bald headed man. The family lived in Yorkshire and the first Ballards came to America in the early 1600's.