"START," for #52ancestors challenge: John BALL, c.1635-1717, Kittery, Maine

John BALL, is my 7th great-grandfather on my mother's lines. Born approximately 1635, likely in Kittery, York, Maine, he is the end-point of this line. Kittery is on Pascataqua River, the border between Maine and New Hampshire. Historically, Kittery began to be settled by the English settlers as early as 1623, and was incorporated as a town in 1647.

I have very few records of John BALL. He had land grants in Kittery, as early as 1649, where he and three other men are listed as having a grant at Cape Nattucke, Kittery. Note the line pointing to his name, Jno Ball, in roughly the top third of the map of Lower Kittery on this page. He's mentioned as a witness on several land sales for Wm. Pepperell, and in regards to his will in 1717, registered/recorded in York County, Maine. His marriage date is estimated from records of his children's marriages, showing their adult status. Not very much information at all for such an early settler in the region.

It is known that he had an uncle, his father's brother Richard Ball, as John (1635-1717) was executor of his [Richard's] estate. His father may have been the John BALL, a fisherman, who was a juryman in court held at Gorgeana, Maine, March 15, 1649.

John BALL married Joanna [unknown surname] perhaps 1665-1670s, in Kittery Maine, per Torrey's New England Marriages to 1700, Vol.1, p78. Her parents were also unknown.

John and Joanna had the following known children, all born in Kittery, in no particular order:
   1.  William, m. Mary Roberts 14 Sep 1687, Kittery, York, ME
   2.  Thomas,
   3.  John [jr.], m. Anne Allen 9 Dec 1717, Kittery, York, ME
   4.  Joanna, d. bef 1717; m. Benjamin Hutchins [s/o Enoch, Mary] in 1702
   5.  Mary,  m. Joseph Crockett jr. 12 Oct 1700
   6.  Elizabeth, [ancestor], d. 1 Mar 1725/26; m. [1] Edward Hammons, 1 dau.; m. [2] Francis PETTYGROVE/PETTEGREW  20 Oct 1706; 7 children; our line through their son Thomas. You can see Francis P's land in the map, above John Ball.

As mentioned above, it is known he purchased land, e.g., at Eagle Point in April 1667, as well as land on Spruce Creek, from Thomas Withers. The map of Lower Kittery at the top of this blog, loosely dated 1635-1700, shows his Spruce Creek land. It is unclear what occupation he had, perhaps a fisherman. He left only a minor mark in the history books, as many do. He worked, married, had children, wrote a will, and died.

He wrote his will on 6 June 1717, which is fully transcribed on p. 398, Vol.8 of  York Deeds, part of the collection Maine: Early Wills and Deeds 1640-1760.  This can be seen on AmericanAncestors website. In his will, signed/marked by both himself and his wife, he provides to give all property, house, goods and chattels, to his daughter Elizabeth and her husband Francis Pettygrew [sic]. This was to be in payment for their assistance in providing nursing and personal care needs. No mention is  made of their other children or grandchildren. Possibly John had already provided for them. One child would have already died before this date, daughter Joanna.

Scarcely 10 days later, on 17 Jun 1717, John Ball died.

John's wife Joanna, died 9 years later, on March 1726, in Kittery, York, Maine.

Several additional sources for these details included [a] The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 1623-1660, 1908 by Charles H Pope; [b] Old Kittery and Her Families, 1903 by Everett Stackpole;  [c] Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire, 1928 by Charles T Libby; and, [d] New England Marriages prior to 1700, by Clarence A. Torrey.

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If any of these are ancestors of yours, I would be happy to hear from you with your comments or corrected information. I am also very happy to share any details I might have that are not shown on this post. Contact information is found at the very bottom of this blog.

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