Ballard Ancestors

FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
EDWARD BALLARD AND
KATHERINE NOBLE

Edward Ballard was born in about 1500. He married Katherine Noble. Edward and Katherine were tenants of Wymeswold, Leicestershire, England: "At Wymeswold the Ballards bought one of the manors piece-meal in the sixteenth century. In I539 Edward Ballard, the elder (died before 1583), buys a sixth of the manor and in I544 a further third. By I592 Edward Ballard, the younger, was in possession of all the manor and he was presented before the depopulation commission for both severance and ·enclosure. (The Depopulation Returns for Leicestershire in 1607, L.A. Parker)

Wymeswold

Katherine may have died in 1537: ""Edward Ballard and Katherine were tenants of one of the four Manors in Wymeswold (Nevill, Beauchief, Willoughby and Wymeswold) and it would seem that Edward set about acquiring title to Nevill Manor which was then known as Crowhole or Crackhole Manor...They began the purchase of the first share of the manor on 10 September 1536 when a bargain and sale was executed from Laurence Skylman of Combye, Suffolk, and Anne his wife, one of the daughters and heirs of Thomas Anndeby, late of London, stockfishmonger, deceased, to Thomas Paley, in consideration of £52. This was for the reversion of the part and purpartie of the said Anne of the manor of Wymeswold, with appurtenances in Wymeswold, Prestwold, Burton and Hoton, in the tenure of Edward Ballard and Katherine his wife and had a covenant by Thomas Paley to convey the premises after the death of Katherine Ballard. Katherine's death either occurred in 1537 or Paley decided to convey the premises earlier for on 2nd May 1537 there was a further bargain and sale by Thomas Palley of London, stockfishmonger, to Edward Ballard of Wymeswold, gent., in consideration of £63 6s 8d., of the reversion of part and purpartie of the manor of Wymeswold...The final concord for this transaction was signed on 20th April 1540 between Edward Ballard, plaintiff, and Lawrence Skylman and Anne his wife and Thomas Anndeby deforciants of one sixth part of the manor of Wymeswold, 3 messuages, 5 cottages, 400 acres of land, 40 acres of meadow, 100 acres of pasture, 10 acres of wood, 60 acres of furze and heath and 30s rent with appurtenances in Wymeswold, Prestwold, Girton, Hawton, Cotes and Reniston for a consideration of 100 marks. (Reference D231M/T521, T522, T523 Leicester and Rutland Record Office: Archives of the Okeover Family) Perhaps to defray the cost of acquiring a share of Nevill Manor or simply to tidy up his holdings Edward sold a toft and croft with 1½ yardlands with the appurtenances situated in Cossington, Leicestershire on 16 Sep 1536 to Hugh Muston of Rothley for a consideration of £20 & quitclaimed on 20th September. (Reference: 44'28/129 & 130 & 131 Leicester and Rutland Record Office: Documents relating to the Manor and Soke of Rothley) Edward further consolidated his ownership of Nevill Manor when on 22nd April 1545 we find an exemplification of the fine and final concord between Edward Ballard, plaintiff, and Andrew Salmon and Anne his wife, a daughter of Thomas Anndeby, deforciants of a third part of the manor of Wymeswold, 3 messuages, 5 cottages, 400 acres of land, 40 acres of meadows, 100 acres of pasture, 10 acres of wood, 60 acres of furze and heath and 30s rent in Wymeswold, Prestwold, Hawton, Cotes and Rainstone... From a case in Chancery we learn that Edward also held a barn, 6 acres & 1 rood arable land in Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire at some time between 1553 and 1555." (Paul Ballard, King's Butler to King's Bench; the Fall of a Ballard Dynasty; extract on https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ballard-3539)

Edward died before 1583.

Edward and Katherine had the following children:

*1. Elizabeth, born in about 1520 of Leicestershire; married 1) Richard Rolleston in about 1549, 2) Robert Hall; died in about 1606, leaving a will.

2. William, born in about 1525 of Leicestershire; married Isabell Gelsthorpe 27 Jun 1551 in Whatton in the Vale, Nottinghamshire, England. William was mentioned in a marriage settlement for his son Edward and Valyntyne Rolleston in 1593: "Marriage settlement between William Ballard of Wymeswold, gent., Edward Ballard, his son and heir, Lancelot Rolleston of Watnall, Nottinghamshire, gent., and Richard Parkynes of Bunny, Nottinghamshire, gent., John Bowne of Nottingham, gent., John Noble of Bearsbye, Leicestershire, gent., Edward Rolleston of Rolleston, Staffordshire, clerk and Henry Hall of Costock, Nottinghamshire, gent., (trustees), by which, in consideration of a marriage between Edward Ballard and Valyntyne Rolleston, William Ballard agrees to convey to Rolleston and trustees, the manor of Wymeswold [Wymeswold Crowhole] and the (other) manor of Wymeswold purchased (of Sir Francis Willoughby); also all the messuages, lands, etc., belonging to William and Edward Ballard in Burton on the Wolds, Wymeswold and Hoton: to various uses: Crowhole manor to the use of Miles Burden of Holme, Leicestershire, yeoman, for one day, then to the use of William Ballard for his natural life, then to the use of Edward Ballard and his lawful male issue by Valyntyne; in default of issue to the use of Thomas Ballard second son and his lawful male issue; in default to the successive uses of George, William, Adrian and Daniel Ballard, third, fourth, fifth and sixth sons and their lawful male issue and in default to the use of the lawful heirs of William Ballard: the manor of Wymeswold (purchased from Willoughby) and premises in Burton and Hoton, to the use of Edward Ballard the son and Valyntyne Rolleston and their lawful male issue, and in default of issue to the successive uses of Thomas, George, William, Adrian and Daniel Ballard and their lawful male issue, and in default to the use of the rightful heirs of William Ballard: the other lands in Wymeswold to the use of William Ballard for life, then to the use of Edward Ballard and his lawful male issue and in default to the use of his brothers successively and their lawful male issue, and in default to the use of the rightful heirs of William Ballard: if Edward Ballard should die without male issue but with daughter(s), then the person(s) to whom the estates limited as above to pay £1000 to such daughter(s) within 5 years of the death of Edward Ballard; also the lands settled as the jointure of the said Valyntyne on the occasion of her death to be held by trustees to the use of the daughters of Edward Ballard until such time as the £1000 shall be paid: also as William Ballard has settled all his estates on Edward Ballard and his male issue, then within four years of his death, Edward to pay 100 marks each to George, Adrian and Daniel Ballard, three of the younger sons. (Marriage settlement for Edward Ballard and Valyntyne Rolleston, 1593, Derbyshire Record Office, reference D231M/T544)

SOURCES: The Depopulation Returns for Leicestershire in 1607, L.A. Parker; King's Butler to King's Bench; the Fall of a Ballard Dynasty, Paul Ballard; www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ballard-3539; Will of Elizabeth Hall of Costock, 1609, Prerogative Court of Canterbury; www.ancestry.com; British History Online: Costock.