Yeovil people
John Ball
Solicitor's Clerk
John Ball was born around 1798 at Harlow, Essex, the son of William Ball and Mary née Annes (1780-1851). It appears that John moved to Somerset and had a liaison with Ann Clare (1804-1885) of Babcary that produced a son, Edwin (1828-1870), born at Babcary in 1828. John and Ann married at St John's church on 29 December 1829. They were to have several more children, all born in Yeovil - Elizabeth (b1831, straw bonnet maker), Jane (1833-1889), Francis (bc1837-c1895, railway accountant), Silas (1841-1867, leather glover), Alfred (b1845, leather glover) and Charles (b1847, solicitor's clerk).
Between June 1832 and February 1833, John was involved in buying and selling land in Addlewell. His dealings concerning land and four cottages (see Gallery) are described in these four indentures from my collection -
For the first
Indenture of 20
June 1832
-
click here
For the
following
Indenture of 6
December 1832 -
click here
For the
following
Indenture of 25
December 1832 -
click here
For the
following
Indenture of 22
February 1833 -
click here
It is interesting to note that in all the indentures, John described himself as a 'Gentleman' yet in reality he was a humble solicitor's clerk.
The 1841 census recorded John and Ann with their children living in Reckleford (today's Market Street). John gave his occupation as an attorney's clerk. Because of the 'rounding' of ages in the 1841 census, it may be that there were three other children of the family; Mary, Louisa and Henry although none of these three were recorded with the family in the following census of 1851.
By the time of the 1851 census, John had moved his family to London Road (today's Sherborne Road). John was now aged 53 and Ann was 46. He gave his occupation as a solicitor's managing clerk, 23-year-old Edwin and 14-year-old Francis were both glovers, 20-year-old Elizabeth was a straw bonnet maker while Silas, Alfred and Charles, aged 10, 5 and 4 respectively, were all listed as scholars.
The 1861 census recorded the family in Sherborne Road. John gave his occupation as a solicitor's clerk as did 14-year-old Charles, Elizabeth was still a straw bonnet maker, while Silas and Alfred were listed as leather glovers. Also living with them was John and Ann's granddaughter, 6-year-old Allice M.
By the time of the 1871 census, 74-year-old John and 66-yesar-old Ann had moved to Leigh, Dorset. John gave his occupation as an annuitant.
On 5 January 1872, John died at the Dorset Lunatic Asylum and was buried at Leigh on 11 January 1872. His will was proved on 3 February by solicitor Edwin Newman of Hendford Manor - perhaps giving a clue as to John's employer. His effects were values at under £600 (around £65,000 at today's value). Ann died in Leigh on 4 November 1885, aged 81.
gallery
The 29 December 1829 marriage of John Ball and Ann Clare from St John's parish register.
From my
collection
The signature of John Ball on the 25 December 1832 indenture for houses and land at Addlewell.
One of the last houses in Park Street before it merged into Belmont. Photographed in the 1960s. It is quite likely that the short run of cottages at the right of this photo are the "four Messuages or Dwelling Houses... lately erected" and purchased by John Ball in the 1830s.