FAMILY GROUP RECORD OF
RICHARD ROLLESTON AND
ELIZABETH BALLARD


Richard Rolleston was born in about 1520 of Leicestershire. He married Elizabeth Ballard in about 1549. Elizabeth was the daughter of Edward Ballard and Katherine Noble. Richard and Elizabeth had six children. Some time after 1559 Richard Rolleston died, and Elizabeth married Robert Hall.


Elizabeth died as a widow and was buried 7 December 1608 in Costock. She left a will written 4 September 1606 and proven 23 June 1609.


Elizabeth Hall

Will of Elizabeth Hall of Costock, 1609


In the name of God Amen, the fourteenth day of September in the year of our Lord God One Thousand Six Hundred and Six and the fourth yeare of the reigne of our most gratious Sovereigne Lord James by the grace of God king of England Ffrance and Ireland and of Scotland the ffortith Defender of the fayth etc. I Elizabeth Hall of Costock in the Countie of Nottingham widdow being at this instant of good and perfect remembrance (I hartily prayse god therefore) doe ordayne and make this my last will and testament in manner and forme following. Ffirst I commit my soule unto the most mercifull protection and tuition of Almighty God that made it hoping to be saved and to lye for ever with the blessed company of Angells in heaven by no other wayes or meanes than by the only death passion mediation and intersession of the most dere sonne of God Christ Jesus myne only redeemer lord and Saviour. And my body I commytt to the earth from whence it came and whereof it was made there to be buried where it shall please my trustie and wellbeloved sonne Edward Rollestone and my sonne in law Henry Hall to appoint and think meete both whom I constitute and make of this my last will myne only Executors. Item my funeral expenses discharged and all my debts well and truly satisfied contented and payd I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Rolleston the daughter of my sonne Edward Rolleston one fetherbed and mattrice one boulster three pillows two pillow-beeres three blankets two coverlets and one bed covering all which are the furniture belonging and usually arranged with and unto the bedstedd standing in the parlour wherein I commonly lye. Item I give and bequeathe unto Thomas Hall sonne of Henry Hall my sonne in law and unto his heires as heire-loomes for ever one goblet double gylt one counterpoynt used to ly upon the bedsted standing in the dyning chamber one presse to lay cloathes in of waynscott A table commonly called a counter conteyning in it a chest to lay clothes in one greate double chest one morter and a pestle one crowe of iron one greate spitt one payre of lanndornes a leade to brine in one mash fatt one trough to powder meate in two cheese-waights the one of leade the other of stone, and one little table now having a close stoole joyned underneath the same. Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Wigley daughter of my sonne in lawe Henry Hall one stone pott tipped and footed with silver and gylt. Provyded always that Elizabeth Hall my daughter mother of the sayd Thomas Hall have the using and occupation of all those things during her naturall life without making any wilfull waste or distruction of them or any of them Item I give and bequeathe unto Jane Hall one chest standing in the parlour wherein I now lye. Item I give and bequeathe unto Elizabeth Rollestone one chest standing in the parlour wherein I now lye. The residue of my goodes being all or the most part in money the certain and expresse somme whereof I cannot now sett downe because the most parte thereof is due and owing unto me by other men and so may either increase in my lyfe tyme or otherwise diminish and be lesse then I nowe take it to bee, being not able to be getten in by my Executors after my decease I will and require to be equally divided into sixteen parts: whereof I will and require that Ffrancis Rollestone my sonne because he hath no childe or children shall have one equall part to his owne proper use and behoofe. Item I will and require that Edward Rollestone my sonne shall have three partes of my goodes being devided into sixteen partes as aforesaid to dispose of as he himself shall think good in consideration of the greate charge my sonne Edward Rolleston hath bene at in the bestowing in marriage and otherwise preferring of Richard Rolleston Arthur Rolleston and Elizabeth Agard his children. Item I will and require that Thomas Hall Beniamyne Hall Robert Hall Henry Hall Elizabeth Wigley and Jane Hall being all the children of my daughter Elizabeth Hall shall have six equall partes of my goodes so devyded as aforesaid to their owne severall and proper use and behoofe. Item I will and require that Henry Bannister Thomas Bannester Jane Bannester Anne Bannoster and Elizabeth Bannester being all the children of my daughter Anne Bannester shall have fyve equall partes of my goodes being devyded into sixteen partes to their owne proper and severall use and behoofe. Item I will and bequeath that Elizabeth Rolleston daughter of my sonne William Rollestone deceassed shall have one equal part of my goodes being devyded as aforesaid to her owne proper use and behoofe to be payd unto her by my Executors when she shall accomplish the age of fower and twentie yeares or at the day of her marriage which shall first happen and come to passe But yf she marry without the consent and good liking of my Executors either before her age of fower and twenty yeares or after or depart this world unmarried Then my will and desire is that shee content her self and rest satisfied only with that portion that her ffather hath bequeathed it unto her in his will And then my will is that that parte and portion which she should have had of my goodes shalbe at the only disposing of my Executors. In witness whereof I have putt to my hand and seale the day and yeare above written. The marke of Elizabeth Hall. Witnesses Gabriell Hobbe The marke of Richard Lane, William Howson the marke of Richard Beadmore./


Elizabeth and Richard Rolleston had the following children:


1. Edward, born in about 1550. Edward was the rector of Rolleston parish in Staffordshire. He married 1) unknown, then 2) Gartrude Fowler. He was the father of William (1577), Elizabeth (1579, who married William Agard), Richard (1581), Arthur (1584) and Edward (1586, buried 1586). Edward was buried 4 May 1615 in Rolleston. Edward was mentioned in a marriage agreement 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)


2. William, had children William (1574) and Elizabeth.


3. Francis, mentioned in mother's will of 1609 as having no children; buried 3 March 1609 in Rolleston.


*4. Elizabeth; married Henry Hall.




SOURCES: Will of Elizabeth Hall of Costock, 1609, Prerogative Court of Canterbury; www.ancestry.com; British History Online: Costock; Rolleston parish register,www.findmypast.com.