"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.

Blooger has a glitch which is stopping me from replying to your comments, but please do know that I appreciate your comments very much. You make my day! Thanks so much for stopping by to read my family blog. 

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.46: Christopher ADAMS, Margaret HUNKING

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was "Free" but I chose to write about my son-in-law's 3rd great-grandparents This week's theme is "Changes" and I'm stymied once more.  Back to my lines to look for another early settler to North America: Christopher ADAMS, and wife Margaret HUNKING or HAMBURG, both likely b. in England.  These are my 7th great-grandparents on my mother's lines - KUHN-TERWILLIGER.

Christopher ADAMS appears to have settled in Braintree, Massachusetts before 1645. A marriage is listed in Torrey's book on New England Marriages Prior to 1700 as having taken place between 1655 and 1662.  That is, they don't know when!  It seems most likely to be the latter date, however.  His wife's surname has been listed as either HUNKING  or  HAMBURG, forename, Margaret. Her surname still needs to be clarified.

An ADAMS man was involved with a group arguing to be granted a separate town from Boston, first in 1640 - Henry ADAMS. This could have been Christopher's father or other relative, but is not yet proven.  Again, a few years later, in 1645 an additional petition was denied as to building a new plantation where "Gorton and his companie had erected two or more houses," Gorton having left the colony, and the various other adventureres having left also.  In that second petition group were six ADAMS men:  Christopher, Henry Sr., Henry Jr., John, Samuel, and Thomas. This would seem to indicate that Christopher was of age by that date, e.g., born in the early or mid 1620s.  Again, more research is needed to clarify these names and relationships.

The ADAMS couple moved to Kittery, at some point after the above Braintree petitions, and remained there until their deaths. Christopher and Margaret appear to have had the following children, listed on Christopher's will of 13 Jan 1686/7, born in either Braintree or Kittery:

1. Mark, b. estimated ? 1665?; not listed in mother's will of 1722
2. Anne, b. estimated ? 1668?; m. ___ Weeks, children
3. Mary, b. estimated ? 1671?, m. also, children
4. John Sr. [ancestor], b. ?1675, possibly in Kittery; m. abt 1700 to Anna ___; children including ancestor John ADAMS Jr.

Christopher had a fairly large acreage of land, and his will inventory includes several distinct pieces; total inventory was £621:7:00.  He lists the above children on his will, but no grandchildren. He also provides for his wife, Margaret with house, lands, orchard, etc. There is an attestation on another page with more inventory, by Margaret, agreeing it is a true/accurate inventory. 

Margaret continued to live in Kittery after Christopher's death. On 30 Jun 1720, she made out a will in detail, listing her children, but not Mark.  She also listed many grandchildren, with surnames... Ah yes, more research to complete.  Probate was 23 Jan 1722/23.  The final inventory was returned 30 Jun 1723, totalling £818.  While Christopher's will was the original image, Margaret's is a transcribed/typed published account. Easier to read this, but I would love to see the original handwritten will.  [Both wills are availabe to view on Ancestry, in Massachusetts Wills.]

As you can see, I have a great deal more research to do to flesh out this ADAMS couple and their children.  Land records have yet to be clarified... there are several of the same forenames living in both MA and ME.  However, it is always a treasure to find wills and probates with children's names and grandchildren.

If you know anything about Christopher & Margaret ADAMS, in early Braintree and Kittery, I would be so pleased for more details. Contact me at my address at the bottom of the page, or in the Comments section.

Sometimes my Blogger account seems not to allow me to "reply" to your comments. Do know that I value your comments immensely. You make my day! Thanks for stopping by to read my weekly post.

52 ANCESTORS in 52 WEEKS, No. 38: Francis PETTEGREW, 1669-1747

Following the challenge from Amy Johnson Crow to write a post weekly, 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks, here is my 38th installment, Francis PETTYGROVE/PETTIGREW.  He is my 6th great-grandfather on my maternal lines, and was born and settled in the Kittery, Maine, region. 

Earlier Pettygrove families spelled their surname variously: as Pettegrew or Pettigrew, later as Pettigrove, and in my recent ancestors, as Pettygrove. All variants are found currently in the United States. Because the name appears to be of French origin, some have assumed that Francis came from France, but this assumption has not been proven.  Perhaps long before Francis was born, a French Pettigrew settled in England?  

Francis PETTYGROVE was apparently born about 1669 in Kittery.  In 20 Oct 1706, he married, first, Elizabeth BALL Hammons, the widow of Edward Hammons. Elizabeth's parents were John Ball and wife, Joan/Joanna. Elizabeth brought to the marriage her daughter by Edward, Joanna Hammons, b. 20 Apr 1701. 

Francis and Elizabeth had 7 children that we are aware of, born in Kittery:

1. Mary, b 12 Oct 1707, m. Francis Allen
2. John, b 3 Dec 1708, m. Mary____
3. Francis, b 27 Jan 1709/10, m. Elizabeth Hutchins
4. *Thomas [ancestor], b 27 Sep 1713, m. Mary HUTCHINS 12 Feb 1729/30, 9 children
5. William, b 29 Jun 1716, m. Lydia (?Ball); Wm d. abt 1748
6. Joseph, b 20 Sep 1719, d. bef 1747
7. Benjamin, b 9 Jun 1723

Note that the Hutchins wives of #3 and #4 above, are apparently NOT sisters. Two Hutchins brothers, Enoch and John, were very early settlers in Kittery, and it is likely the women are cousins. However, this has yet to be proved. The 3rd Hutchins wife, in the paragraph that follows, also needs to have her paternity determined.

Elizabeth BALL Hammons died several years after her youngest son, Benjamin, was born.  Francis married, second, another Elizabeth - widow Elizabeth HUTCHINS Davis.  There were apparently no children of this second marriage. I have yet to determine the relationships between the three Hutchins women who married into the Pettygrove family! 

Francis is listed in 1703 as having a land grant in the Kittery area.  After marrying Elizabeth BALL Hammons, his father-in-law, John BALL, deeded a house & 30 acres for them.  Later, in 1717, John BALL conveyed the whole of his land to his son-in-law, for maintenance of himself and his wife Joan/Joanne, during their lifetimes. 

Francis died approximately 1747, in Kittery.  His 2nd wife, Elizabeth Hutchins Davis, and the "two surviving sons waived adm. in favor of Francis Allen".  Note that Francis' eldest daughter, Mary, married Francis Allen.  I do not have a death date for Francis' 2nd wife, Elizabeth Hutchins Davis, nor do I have burial information for Frances and his two wives.

Most details have come from Old Kittery and Her Families (by Everett S. Stackpole), and Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire (by Sybil Noyes, Charles T. Libby, & Walter G. Davis). 

If you have more information, or corrections to the above details, please do not hesitate to contact me via calewis at telus dot net or in the Comments below. Thanks for stopping by.