CONTACT
DORIS R. SHERIDAN
TROY, NY 12180
DSheridan001@NYCAP.RR.com
JOHN BALL OF WATERTOWN MASSACHUSETTS &
SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS
First Generation
1. JOHN I BALL born say 1600 was buried on 1 Nov 1665 in Concord, Middlesex Co.
MA.1
John Ball I was supposedly from Wiltshire, England and was an early
settler of Watertown, Mass. where he was a freeman in 1650 and later removed
removed to Concord, Massachusetts. 2
The name of John's wife or wives are not known. The inventory of his
estate dated 25 10 mo. 1655 mentions that all of his property belonged to a
Ruth Ball who may have been John's spouse. 3
JOHN I married RUTH.???
They had the following children:4
+ 2 M i. NATHANIEL BALL was born say 1625 and died on 14 Jan 1705/1706.
+ 3 M ii. JOHN II BALL was born about 1620 and died on 10 Feb 1675.
Second Generation
2. NATHANIEL BALL (JOHN I) was born say 1625 in England. He died on 14 Jan
1705/1706 in Concord, Middlesex Co., MA.5
Freeman in Concord MA 22 May 1650.6
NATHANIEL married (1) MARY MOUSELL.?? Mary died on 7 Feb 1670 in Concord,
MA.7
They had the following children:8
4 M i. JOHN I BALL died on 27 Jul 1649 in Concord, MA.
5 M ii. NATHANIEL I BALL was born on 28 Jul 1649. He died Oct. or
Nov. 24, 1649.
6 M iii. JOHN II BALL was born on 15 Aug 1660 in Concord, MA.
7 M iv. EBENEZER BALL.
8 M v. ELEAZER BALL was born about 1661 in Concord, MA.
9 M vi. NATHANIEL BALL was born on 3 Jul 1663 in Concord, MA.
10 F vii. HANNAH BALL was born on 22 Jan 1665 in Concord, MA.
NATHANIEL also married (2) MARGERY KNIGHT BATEMAN on 7 Feb 1670 in
Concord, Middlesex Co., MA.9Margery died 17 Apr 1709 Concord, MA.10 Margarey m1
PHILIP KNIGHT by whom she had children (SEE KNIGHT FAMILY BY
COMPILER) She m3 THOMAS BATEMAN 27 Jan. 1668 Concord MA.11 Thomas
died 6 Feb. 1669 Concord, MA.12
3. JOHN II BALL (JOHN I) was born say 1620 in England. He died on 10
Feb 1675 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., MA as a result of an Indian attack. On 10 Feb.
1675/76 most of the people of Lancaster, MA were gathered in the town's three garrison
houses and the partially fortified house of the minister in anticipation of an Indian
attack. John Ball & Elizabeth his second wife had remained in their house at George St.
where they met their deaths at the hands of the Indians. Their infant child was also
killed and two older children were made captive.13
Soon after his second marriage John Ball removed to Lancaster, Mass.
where he was one of the earliest settlers. At the time of his death he owned four acres of
land in Watertown which were inherited by his son John.14
JOHN married (1) ELIZABETH PEIRCE, daughter of JOHN PEIRCE and
ELIZABETH, about 1643. Elizabeth died before Oct 1665 when her husband remarried .
Elizabeth Ball, John's first wife had mental problems about the Year 1656
and was not able to care for her children. Her husband was forced to apprentice their
children to friends and relatives15 On 6 Mar 1660 John Ball 2 gave the care of his wife
Elizabeth and three of their children to his in-laws John & Elizabeth Pierce. They were
to care for John's family in exchange for the use of John's house, orchard, etc.16
JOHN and ELIZABETH had the following children:17
+ 11 M i. JOHN III BALL was born about 1644 and died 8 May 1722, An Aged
Man.
12 F ii. MARY BALL was born about 1651 in Watertown, Middlesex Co.,
MA.
A lawsuit was brought by Francis Brayton of Portsmouth, RI in behalf
of Mary Ball who while working in Woburn, Mass. for Michael
Bacon Jr. became pregnant by Bacon. On 21 Apr. 1671 Bacon agreed
to pay for the bringing up of this child.18 Mary may have been the
Mary Bull of Worcester who married John Sawyer in Lancaster on
16 June 1686.19 She married secondly William Sterling. 20
13 F iii. ESTHER BALL was born in 1655.
Esther was taken into captivity by Indians at Lancaster.in 1675
14 F iv. SARAH BALL was born about 1655, died young.
15 F v. ABIGAIL BALL was born on 20 Apr 165821in Watertown,
Middlesex Co., MA - taken into captivity at Lancaster in 1675.
JOHN also married (2) ELIZABETH FOX on 30 Oct 1665 in Watertown, Middlesex
Co., MA.22 Elizabeth died on 10 Feb 1675 in Lancaster, MA as a result of Indian
attack.23
JOHN and ELIZABETH had the following child:
16 M vi. JOSEPH BALL was born on 12 Mar 1669 in Watertown,
Middlesex Co., MA.24 He died on 10 Feb 1675/1676 in Lancaster,
Worcester Co., MA as a result of Indian attack.25
Third Generation
11. JOHN III BALL (JOHN II, JOHN I) was born about 1644. He died 8 May 1722, An
Aged Man in Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.26
John Ball 3 was one of the first town officers of Waltham, Mass. where he
was a weaver by occupation 27
John was an important land owner in Waltham (formerly Watertown). John's
house was built on the north side of the Sudbury Road, east of Master's Brook. He
disposed of all his land prior to his death probably by deeds of gift of which only two
are recorded - one to his son John in 1693 and another to his son Daniel in 1708. The
latter son obtained the homestead and it was probably used as a tavern 28
At a meeting of the Watertown selectmen 23 Dec. 1684 it was ordered that
John Ball, son-in-law and Jonathan Bullard, a son, be notified of the necessity of help
for their father Bullard & his wife.29
JOHN III married SARAH BULLARD, daughter of GEORGE BULLARD and
BEATRICE HALL, on 17 Oct 1665 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.30 Sarah was
born say 1647.
JOHN III and SARAH had the following children:31
+ 17 F i. SARAH BALL was born on 11 Jul 1666.
+ 18 M ii. JOHN BALL was born on 29 Jun 1668 and died 24 Oct 1752, AE 85.
+ 19 M iii. JAMES BALL was born on 7 Mar 1670 and died on 22 Feb
1729/1730.
+ 20 M iv. JOSEPH BALL was born on 4 May 1674 and died on 12 Apr 1730.
+ 21 M v. JONATHAN BALL was born on 29 Mar 1680 and died about 1727.
+ 22 M vi. DANIEL BALL was born on 2 Aug 1683 and died 9 Mar 1717/1718
In 35th Year.
23 F vii. ABIGAIL BALL was born on 5 Oct 1686 in Watertown, Middlesex
Co., MA.
Fourth Generation
17. SARAH BALL (JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 11 Jul 1666 in Watertown,
Middlesex Co., MA.
SARAH married ALLEN FLAGG, son of THOMAS FLAGG and MARY, on 13 Mar
1684/1685 in Watertown, MA.32 Allen was born on 16 May 1665 in Watertown, MA.33
He died in Oct 1711 in Watertown, MA.34
ALLEN and SARAH had the following children:35
24 F i. SARAH FLAGG was born on 6 Aug 1686 in Watertown, MA.
25 F ii. MARY FLAGG.
26 M iii. ALLEN FLAGG was born on 9 Feb 1690/1691 in Watertown, MA.
27 F iv. DINAH FLAGG was born on 16 Oct 1699 in Watertown, MA. She
died on 10 Sep 1704 in Watertown, MA.
28 M v. DANIEL FLAGG was born on 16 Oct 1696/1699 in
Watertown, MA.
29 F vi. MERCY FLAGG was born on 13 May 1702 in Watertown,
MA.
30 F vii. DELIVERANCE FLAGG was born on 13 May 1702 in
Watertown, MA.
31 M viii. JONATHAN FLAGG was born on 1 May 1704 in Watertown,
MA.
32 F ix. DINAH FLAGG was born in Dec 1709 in Watertown, MA.
18. JOHN BALL (JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 29 Jun 1668 in Watertown,
Middlesex Co., MA. He died 24 Oct 1752, AE 85 in Waltham, Middlesex Co., MA.36
JOHN married (1) BETHIA MATTUP, daughter of DANIEL MATTUP and BETHIA
BEERS, on 27 Sep 1689 in Watertown, MA.37 Bethia was born on 24 Feb 1664 in
Watertown, MA38 She died on 13 Sep 1719.39
JOHN and BETHIA had the following children:40
33 F i. HANNAH BALL was born on 25 Dec 1700 in Watertown, MA.
34 M ii. JOHN BALL was born on 25 Dec 1705 in Watertown, MA.
JOHN also married (2) MARY CLARK on 12 Nov 1730 in Newton, MA41. Mary died on
5 Jul 1738 in Waltham, MA.42
19. JAMES BALL (JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 7 Mar 1670 in Watertown,
Middlesex Co., MA. He died on 22 Feb 1729/1730 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.43
JAMES married ELIZABETH FISKE, daughter of NATHAN FISKE and
ELIZABETH, on 16 Jan 1693/1694 in Watertown, MA. 44Elizabeth was born on 11 Jan
1667 in Watertown, MA.45
JAMES and ELIZABETH had the following children:46
35 M i. JAMES BALL was born on 2 Feb 1694/1695 in Watertown, MA.
36 M ii. NATHAN BALL was born on 28 Feb 1695/1696 in Watertown, MA.
37 M iii. JOHN BALL was born on 22 Jul 1697 in Watertown, MA.
38 F iv. SARAH BALL was born on 1 Sep 1700 in Watertown, MA.
39 F v. ABIGAIL BALL was born on 5 Jun 1702 in Watertown, MA.
40 F vi. ELIZABETH BALL was born on 9 Apr 1705 in Watertown, MA.
41 F vii. SUSANNAH BALL was born on 16 Mar 1707/1708 in Watertown,
MA.
20. JOSEPH BALL (JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 4 May 1674 in Watertown,
Middlesex Co., MA. He died on 12 Apr 1730 in Watertown, MA.47
JOSEPH married ELIZABETH PARKHURST, daughter of JOHN PARKHURST and
ABIGAIL GARFIELD, on 31 Dec 1701 in Watertown, MA.48Elizabeth was born 18 Sep
1681 in Watertown, MA.49
JOSEPH and ELIZABETH had the following children:50
42 M i. JOSEPH BALL was born on 1 Oct 1702 in Watertown, MA.
43 F ii. ABIGAIL BALL was born on 27 Mar 1705 in Watertown, MA.
44 M iii PETER BALL was born on 7 Oct 1707 in Watertown, MA.
45 F iv. ELIZABETH BALL was born on 15 Mar 1710 in Watertown, MA.
46 M v. JOSIAH BALL was born on 2 Mar 1712/1713 in Watertown, MA.
47 M vi. ISAAC BALL was born on 2 Mar 1712/1713 in Watertown, MA. He
died in Apr 1712/1713.
48 M vii. DAVID BALL was born on 17 Jan 1716/1717 in Watertown, MA.
49 F viii. PATIENCE BALL was born on 12 Oct 1718 in Watertown, MA.
50 M ix. JONAS BALL died on 10 Feb 1729/1730 in Watertown, MA.
21. JONATHAN BALL (JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 29 Mar 1680 in
Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. He died about 1727 according to Bond.
JONATHAN married SARAH WHITNEY, daughter of NATHANIEL WHITNEY and
SARAH HAGER, on 5 Jan 1709/1710 in Watertown, MA.51 Sarah was born 12 Feb.
1678/9 52
They had the following children:53
51 F i. SARAH BALL was born on 15 Jul 1710 in Watertown, MA.54
52 M ii. JONATHAN BALL.
53 F iii THANKFUL BALL was born about 1719 and was christened 7 Jan
1728 AE 09 Yrs in Watertown, MA.
54 M iv. DANIEL BALL was born about 1721 and was christened 7 Jan.1728,
AE 07 Yrs in Watertown, MA.
55 F v. JANE BALL was born about 1724 and was christened 7 Jan. 1728, AE
4 Yrs in Watertown, MA.
56 F v SUSANNA BALL was born on 6 Apr 1726 in Watertown, MA.55
22. DANIEL BALL (JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 2 Aug 1683 in Watertown,
Middlesex Co., MA. He died 9 Mar 1717/1718 In 35th Year in Waltham, Middlesex Co.,
MA.56
Daniel Ball, a weaver by trade, was licensed in 1717 to operate a tavern
on what was probably the homestead of his father. After Daniel's death this
tavern was taken over by Daniel's widow Mary's second husband Thomas Harrington.
The tavern property was eventually owned by Thomas Harrington's son Daniel after
Thomas's death, who sold it to Isaac Gleason in 1794 57
Daniel Ball borrowed money from Joseph Stratton on 24 May 1714 in the
amount of 12 pounds and 13 Sept. 1717 gave bond for the amount of 10 pounds
borrowed from Thomas Whitney. These documents were a part of Daniel's probate
record.
In 1718 Mary Ball was appointed administratrix of the estate of her
husband and on 25 Mar. 1725 Thomas Harrington, Innholder, was nominated and
allowed to be the guardian of Mary Ball in her seventeenth year, daughter of
Daniel Ball deceased. Harrington and James Chadwick, farmer, both of Watertown
gave bond in the amount of 400 pounds the document being witnessed by Christopher
Bridge & ????. On 8 Apr 1718, John Harrington, Isaac Mixer & ?? took the inventory
of the estate which consisted of the following items:58
His wearing cloathes, 10-00-00
pruter, brass & iron, 06-00-00
beds & bedding, 20-00-00
chaires, chests & tables, 03-00-00
provision, corn & meat, 05-00-00
sider and other drink. 05-00-00
gun and arms, 01-00-00
________& furniture for his hoes, 01-00-00
house and barn and house lot (can't read), 170-00-00
12 acres of plow land, 35-00-00
six acres of wood land, 05-00-00
forty acres of upland & ___, 40-00-00
horse and horse ___, 20-00-00
oxen and a paire of ____,15-00-00
one cow and two heffers, 06-00-00
cart plow and husbandry ____, 06-00-00
(Middlesex Probate Docket #884)
DANIEL married MARY EARL, daughter of JOHN EARL and MARY LAWRENCE,
on 10 Oct 1708 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.59 Mary was born on 9 Jan 1690 in
Watertown, Middlesex Co., NY.60 Mary m2 abt 1719 as 2d wife THOMAS
HARRINGTON, son of THOMAS HARRINGTON & REBECCA born 14 Jan.
1691/92 in Watertown, MA61Thomas Harrington’s will was dated 31 Jan. 1739 and
probated 15 Oct. 1750. He names his wife Mary, sons Thomas, Timothy & Daniel.62
Children of Thomas & Mary born Watertown, MA63 i. Daniel b 15 Jan.1720/21, ii.
Abigail b. 12 Jan. 1725/26, died 27 Feb. 1730.
They had the following children:64
+ 57 F i. MARY BALL was born on 27 Dec 1709 and died before 20 Aug 1777.
+ 58 F ii. LYDIA BALL was born on 7 Aug 1715 and died on 19 Oct 1808
Fifth Generation
57. MARY BALL (DANIEL, JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 27 Dec 1709 in
Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. She died before 20 Aug 1777 when her husband remarried.
MARY married JOSEPH Jr. MIXER, son of JOSEPH Sr. MIXER and ANNE
JONES, on 4 May 1726 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.65 Joseph was born on 14 Dec
1705 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA.66 He died in 1794 in Northborough, Worcester
Co., MA.67 SEE MIXER FAMILY BY COMPILER
JOSEPH and MARY had the following children:68
59 F i. MARY MIXER was born in Nov 1727 in Watertown, MA. .
60 F ii. ABIGAIL MIXER was born on 28 Apr 1730 in Shrewsbury, MA.
61 M iii. JOSEPH MIXER was born on 20 Feb 1732 in Shrewsbury, MA.
62 F iv. LYDIA MIXER was born on 16 Oct 1734 in Shrewsbury, Worcester
Co., MA.
63 F v. ANNA MIXER was born on 27 Apr 1737 in Shrewsbury, MA. .
64 F vi. LUCY MIXER was born on 26 Oct 1739 in Shrewsbury, MA.
.
65 M vii. DANIEL MIXER was born on 18 Mar 1742 in Shrewsbury, MA.
66 M viii. ASA MIXER was born on 5 Apr 1746 in Shrewsbury, MA.
67 M ix. TIMOTHY MIXER was born on 17 Jul 1748 in Shrewsbury, MA.
58. LYDIA BALL (DANIEL, JOHN III, JOHN II, JOHN I) was born on 7 Aug 1715 in
Watertown, Middlesex Co., MA. She died on 19 Oct 1808 in Waltham, Middlesex Co.,
MA.69
LYDIA married SAMUEL HARRINGTON on 28 May 1737 in Watertown, Middlesex
Co., MA.70 Samuel died on 19 Sep 1807 in Waltham, Middlesex Co., MA.71
SAMUEL and LYDIA had the following children:72
68 F i. ABIGAIL HARRINGTON was born on 6 May 1738 in Watertown,
MA.
69 F ii. LYDIA HARRINGTON was born on 7 Jun 1740 in Watertown, MA.
70 M iii. SAMUEL HARRINGTON was born on 21 Jul 1747 in Watertown,
MA.
71 M iv. SOLOMON HARRINGTON was born on 25 Feb 1748/1749 in
Watertown, MA.
72 F v. MARY HARRINGTON was born on 16 Apr 1754 in Watertown, MA.
73 F vi. GRACE HARRINGTON was born on 20 Jul 1756 in Watertown,
MA.
74 F vii. ESTHER HARRINGTON was born on 1 Sep 1758 in Watertown,
MA.
75 F viii. LUCY HARRINGTON was born on 16 Sep 1761 in Watertown,
MA.
END NOTES
1. Middlesex PR Docket #895
2. Henry Bond, Genealogies of the Families and Descendants of the Early Settlers of Watertown Massachusetts Including Waltham and Weston,.{Boston,NEH&G, 1860}, Page 11 hereinafter Bond)
3. Middlesex PR Docket #895
4. Bond, 11
5. Concord MA printed VR, 69
6. Charles Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts {Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., 1969 reprint}30
7. Concord MA printed VR, 74
8. Concord MA printed VRS, 6, 9, 11, 12 & Frank D Warren, Descendants of John Ball of Watertown Massachusetts {Boston, Warren, 1932} 1
9. Concord MA printed VR, 15
10. Ibid, 74
11. Ibid, 14
12. Ibid, 14
13. Marion Fuller Safford, The Story of Colonial Lancaster Massachusetts {Rutland, VT Tuttle Publishing, 1937} 36
14. Edmund L. Sanderson, Waltham As a Precinct of Watertown and As A Town, {Waltham, MA Waltham Historical Society, 1936), 84
15. The American Genealogist #27,#2 - April 1951, 98
16. Middlesex Deeds 3:81
17. Bond, 11
18. TAG Apr 1951 See note #15
19. Lancaster MA printed VR, 15
20. Clarence Almon Torrey, New England Marriages prior to 1700 Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing, 1985 reprint} 654
21. Watertown MA printed VR, 1:21
22. Ibid, 1:27
23. Safford, 36
24. Watertown MA printed VR, 1:32
25. Safford, 36
26. Watertown MA printed VR, 2:69
27. Charles A. Nelson, Waltham Past & Present & Its Industries With An Historical Sketch of Watertown From its Settlement in 1630 to the Incorporation of Waltham, January 15, 1738
{Cambridge, MA 1879} 61
28. Edmund L. Sanderson, Waltham As a Precinct of Watertown and As A Town,{Waltham, MA Waltham Historical Society, 1936) 84
29. Bond, 732
30. Watertown MA printed VR,1:27
31. Ibid, Vol. 1: 28,30, 33, 38, 48, 53, 58
32. Ibid, 1:55
33. Ibid, 1:26
34. Ibid, 1:55
35. Ibid, 1:62 ,2:27, 9, 14, 19, 25, 46
36. Waltham MA printed VR
37. Watertown MA printed VR, 2:6
38. Ibid, 1:26
39. Ibid, 2:65
40. Ibid, 2:28
41. Newton MA printed VR, 236
42. Waltham MA printed VR
43. Watertown MA printed VR, 2:90
44. Bond, 12
45. Watertown MA printed VR 1:29
46. Ibid, 2:1,7,9,15, 21, 38
47. Ibid, 2:89
48. Ibid, 2:16
49. Ibid 1:49
50. Ibid, 2:22,30,34, 46, 50, 61, 63, 89
51. Ibid, 45
52. Ibid, 45
53. Bond, 13
54. Watertown MA printed VR, 2:45
55. Waltham MA VR
56. Ibid, 251
57. Sanderson, 84, 107
58. Middlesex Probate Docket #884
59. Watertown MA printed VR, 2:36
60. Ibid, 1:62
61. Ibid 1:65
62. Bond, 278
63. Watertown MA printed VRS, 2:68, 79, 89
64. Ibid, 2:45, 99
65. Ibid, 2:78
66. Ibid, 2:30
67. Worcester PR & Massachusetts Spy 19 June 1794 “At Northborough, Major Joseph Mixter, aged 90”
68. Shrewsbury MA printed VRS 73 - 75
69. ”At Waltham Mrs Samuel Harrington, AE 94”(Democrat 27 Oct. 1808)
70. Watertown MA printed VR 2:107
71. ”In Waltham, Samuel Harrington, aged 94, his widow survives, AE 93, having live together in married life 72 years” Essex Register 1 Oct.1807.& Waltham MA printed VR, AE 94
72. Waltham MA printed VRS