Thomas Ballard ^{1 2}

  Events

• Occupation: barrister, 8 Jan 1587/88, Gray's Inn, 8 South Square, London, WC1R 5ET, GB. ⁴

• Will, 11 Sep 1611, Maidstone, Kent, GB. ⁵ In the name of God amen the
eleaventh Day of September One thousand six hundred and eleaven and in the yeares
of the raigne of our Soveraigne Lord James by the grace of God King of England
Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faithe etc viz of England
France and Ireland the nynthe and of Scotland the five and fortithe I
Richard Ballard of Maidstone in the County of Kent gent beinge sicke and weake
of bodie but of good and perfect remembrance (praise be unto God) doe make and
ordaine this my present testament conteyninge herein my last will in forme here
after menconed wherein I first bequeath my Soule uito the hands of Almighty
God my maker and his sonne Jesus Christ my onlie Saviour and Redeemer And
my bodie to the earthe from whence it came to be decent and Christian like buried
at the discretion of my sonne Stephen Ballard whome I make and ordaine
my full and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament And for the disposing
of such messuages or tenements goodes chatteles and other things as God hath lent
me in this worlde I give will and bequeath the same in forme followinge viz I
give will and bequeathe all that my messuage or tenement with thappurtenances
scituate lyinge and beinge in Maidstone aforesaid wherein I now dwell with the
Backsides and garden thereto belonginge unto my son John Ballard and to
his heirs forever provided nevertheless and my will and mind is that Anne
my wife shall houlde and enioy and remaine and dwell in the same howse one
yeare next after my decease (if she shall think good) without payinge anie
rent therefor Item I give and bequeathe unto the saide Anne my wife all my
plate Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Ballard sonne of my sonne Thomas
Ballard the somme of Twentie pounds to be paide him at his age of one and
twentie years And I will that my saide executor shall paie the same Twentie
poundes unto my said sonne Thomas Ballard for the use of his saide son within
five yeares next after my decease yf the saide Thomas the younger shall soe
longe live And if the saide Thomas Ballard the younger shall happen to dye
or decease before his said age of one and twentie years and after the expiracion
of the saide five yeares then I give and bequeathe the same Twentie poundes
unto my saide sonne Thomas Ballard Item I give and bequeathe unto my said
sonne John Ballard twentie pounds to be paide him within sixe monthes next
after my decease Item I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Anne Smith
Twentie pounds to be paide her within sixe monthes after my decease Item I give
and bequeathe unto Richard Austin my godsonne sonne of my Sonne in lawe
Robert Austin Twentiepoundes to be paide him at his age of one and twentie
years And I will that my saide Executor shall paie the same Twentie pounds unto
the saide Robert Austin for the use of his saide sonne within five yeares next after
my decease (if the said Richard shalbe then livinge) And if the said Richard shall
happen to die before his full age of one and twentie yeares after the expiracion
of the saide Five years Then I give and bequeath the same Twentie poundes
unto the saide Robert Austin Alsoe I give and bequeathe unto George Dodd sonne
of my sonne in lawe Thomas Dodd Five pounds to be paid him at his age of
one and twentie years I will that my saide Executor shall paie the same five
poundes unto the saide Thomas Dodd for the use of his saide sonne within five
yeares next after my decease if the saide George shalbe then livinge And if the
saide George shall happen to die before his full age of one and twentie yeares
after the expiracion of the said Five yeares Then I give and bequeathe the
same five pounds unto the saide Thomas Dodd Alsoe I will and bequeathe
unto everie one and eche of my grandchildren except such of them as before I
have given legacies tenne shillinges a peece Alsoe I give and bequeath unto the

poore people of the town of Maidstone aforesaide fortie shillinges unto the poore
people of the parishe of Wadhurste fortie shillinges unto the poore people of the
parishe of Lamberhurste the like some of Fortie shillings Provided alwaies
and my will and minde is that if the saide Thomas Ballard sonne of my saide
sonne Thomas Ballard and my saide god sonne Richard Austin and George Dodd
or anie of them shall happen to dye or decease out of this worlde within Five
yeares next after my decease Then my saide Executor shall have holde and enioye
to his owne use the legacie above given and bequeathed to him or them soe deceasinge
any thinge in this my will to the contrarie notwithstanding The residue of all
my goodes chattels and other thinges not herein before bequeathed I give and
leave them unto my saide Executor Lastlie I doe by this presentes revoke & disanul
all former Wills and testamentes by me made at anie tyme before the date hereof
And doe make and ordaine this to be my onelie last will and testament In witness
whereof I have hereunto putt my hande and seale the daie and yeare firste
before written Richard Ballard Sealed published and delivered the daie of
the date hereof in the presence of us George Smith JVR? Swone and Will Further his s………

[Transcribed by Helen Hartley]

• Will, 10 Oct 1622, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5, GB. ⁶ In the name of God Amen I Henry Ballarde of Wadhurst
in the Countie of Sussex yeoman beinge sicke in bodie but of sounde and perfect memo-
rie the Lord be praised therefore) doe make and ordaine this my last Will and testament
this tenth daie of October Anno Dmi 1622 for and concerninge the disposinge of such
landes and tenements as Almightie God hath blessed me withall First I will and de-
vise unto Mary my welbeloved Wieffe tenn poundes by the yeare for and duringe here
naturall life for and in lieu of all Dower and other right in or to my landes what-
soever yssueinge or goeinge out of all my landes in Wadhust aforesaid comonlie called
Barkley Beerewoode and Sterlinge to be paide unto her at fower severall feastes in the
yeare viz at the Feast of St Michaell thearchangell the birth of our Lord God thannun-
ciacon of the blessed virgin St Mary and the Nativitie of St John Baptist be even and
equall porcons the first payment to begin at such of the saide Feaste daies as shall first
happen next after my decease and for default of payment it shalbe lawfull for her and
her assignes into all or any parte of my said landes to enter and distreine And the same
to deteyne untill thereof fully satisfied and paide Item I give and devise unto
Mary Stiver my daughter the wife of Richard Stiver of Brenchley the somme of
Three poundes by the yeare of like lawfull money of England duringe her naturall
Life to be paide at the said fower severall feastes in the yeare by even and equall porcons
Which Like clause of distresse in all my said landes as aforesaid the first payment to begine
At such of the aforesaid Feastes dayes as shall first happen next after the decease of the

aforesaid Mary my wieffe Also I give and devise unto Fraunces Wood my daughter
the wife of Richard Wood of Hollingbourne the like somme of three pounds by the
yeare of good and lawfull money of England yssuinge and goeinge out of my said
landes in Wadhurst aforesaid dureinge her naturall life to be paide at two
usuall Feastes in the yeare viz St Michaell tharchangell and thannunciacon of
our blessed lady St mary the virgin by even and equall portions the first pay-
ment to beginne at such of the two feastes as shall first happen next after the
decease of the said Mary my wieffe with like clause of distresse in the landes
aforesaid, and after the decease of my said daughter Frauncis I give the said yearly
rent of three poundes per annum to Henry the second sonne of my said daughter
Frauncis and his heires for ever yssuing and going out of my said landes aforesaid
to be paid in manner and forme aforesaid with distress for him his heires and assignes
in manner aforesaid and my meaning is that neither of my said daughters Mary
nor Frauncis shall have any right unto any rent goeing out of my said landes untill
after the decease of the said Mary my wife Also my will and meaning is that
if Mary my wiefe or Mary or Frauncis my daughters or any of them shall challenge
Clayme and demand any other right title interest of or demand unto any of my said
lands in Wadhurst aforesaid or unto any lands by me formerly bargained sold
given or infeoffed unto any person or persons whatsoever then unto them is given
and devised by this my last will and testament Then any of them that shall
soe Claime Challenge and demand shalbe from thenceforth utterly frusrate
and voyd of any benefitt by this my Will given and devised and her of their
legacie or legacies from thenceforth to Cease and be of none effecte Item my Will
and meaning is that all the aforesaid Annuityes shall goe out of my landes and
Tenements in Wadhurst Comonly Called Barkley lands Berwoode and Sterlinge
and not out of any other lands Comonly called or known by the name of Lock?
Webb Item I give unto Alice Shepard my daughter all my house and lands
in Wadhurst Comonly Called Barkley Berwood Sterlinge and Lockwebbs
or by what soever other name or names they are called or knowne for and during
her naturall life And the remainder thereof I give unto Mr Thomas Ballard
of Wadhust my nephew his executors and administrators for and during the
whole tearme of one and Twentie yeares next ymediately ensueing after
the decease of my said daughter Alice if the said Thomas Ballard shall soe
long live for and towards the maintenance and provision for such of my daugh-
ters Children as shee shall leave behynd her and not married before her death to
dispose soe much of the profitts thereof to only Child as he the said Thomas
Ballard shall judge or think fitt Provided alwaies that when either of my
daughters two sonnes Henry or Thomas shall accomplishe their severall are or
ages of Twenty fower yeares that then for his or their part ot partes so
accomplishing his or their said age the said lease shall Cease and that he
or they then shall or may enter into his or their remainder or remainders given
to them by this my said last Will and Testament the said lease or any other
thing herein to the Contrary not wythstanding the remainder of my house and
all my said landes called Barkley and Sterlings lyinge on the South west parte of the
way leading lading from Barkley unto Cousley Wood and the remainder of
all my lands lying or against my said house called Barkely lyeing on the
North part of the said way Conteyningby estimacon twelve acres called Ber-
wood I doe give unto Henry Shepard the second sonne of my said daughter
Alice Shepard and to his heires for ever The remainder of all my other
Lands lyeng on the North est part of the said way Comonly Called or Knowne
by the name of Lockwells I doe give unto Thomas Shepard the third sone of
my said daughter Alice Shepard to him and his heires for ever To have ….. and

enioy according as before in this my Will is limited and appointed Item I give unto Anne
Shepard daughter of my said daughter Alice forty pounds the same to be paid out
unto Mr Thomas Ballard my nephew withyn one year nexte after my decease to be
imployed unto the benefit of the said Ann & the same with the profitt thereof to
be paid by him unto her at the daye of her marriage or thage of twenty and one
yeares wch shall first happen Item I give unto Suzan Shepard one other of the
daughters of my said daughter Alice all the underwood standing growing or being
in or upon twenty Acres or thereabouts of wood ground whereof one Mr Browne
bought the wood at the last felling of the said wood to be felled within six yeares
after the date of this my last will being the Tenth day of October anno Dmi 1622 And
if it happen that they the said Anne or Suzan dye before they marry that then
her porcon shall goe unto Martha Shepard the youngest daughter of my said daugh
ter Alice if she be then living if not then to Children of my daughter Wood to bee
equally devided between them Also if the said Martha happen to dye afterward
before the daye of her marriage that then the legacye soe falling to her by the death of
any of her said sisters shalbe equally distributed betweene the Children of my daughter
Wood Item I give unto the six Children of my daughter Wood viz William Henry
Anne Mary Frauncis and Martha twenty shillings a peece to be paid unto their
Father to their use wythin one whole yeare next after my decease Item I make and
ordaine Mary my welbeloved wife the sole Executrix of this my last Will and testament
In witness whereof I the said Henry Ballard have hereunto set my hand and seale
dated the tenth day of October ann dmi 1622 Henry Ballard Read sealed published
and subscribed this tenth day of October in the yeare of our Lorde god 1622 in the presence
of us Thos Ballard Peter Pomell

[Transcribed by Helen Hartley]

• Will, 14 Dec 1622, Pell [Green], Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5, GB. ² In the name of God Amen, the
Fowertenth daye of December in the yeare of our Lord god one thousand
sixe hundred twenty two I Thomas Ballard of Pell in the parish of
Wadhurst in the county of Sussex gent being now sick in body & entering?
into the consideration of thuncertainty of mans life First and principally
(commending my soul unto Gods mercy which by the blessed merritts and intercession
of Jesus Christ only I hope assuredly to obteyne) have thought fytt nowe
(in perfect rememberance) by my last will to settle and dispose of that estate that
God hath blessed me withall First I give unto Marye my well beloved wife
one hundred pounds of currant English money and all the Goulde in my house
at the tyme of my deathe and half my plate and howsehould stuff (Cupboards
Tables Beddinge vessells and Iron thynges only excepted) which I will shall
remayneth the howse. Item I give to my daughter Martha Sixe hundred pounds
of lawful English money To be payed unto her at the day of her marriage or
at her age of One and twenty yeares (which shall first happen by my executors
hereafter named Soe as shee marrye with the consent of her mother and myne
executors or the more parte of them then livinge Otherwise shee shall have but
Three hundred pounds. Item I give unto Elizabeth my youngest daughter the lyke
Some of Sixe hundred pounds To be payed unto her at her daye of marriage
or at her age of one and twenty years which shall first happen Soe as she
marrye with consent of her mother and myne executors the more parte of
them then livinge Otherwise she shall have but three hundred pounds Item I
will that my wife have the custody and educacon of my sayd Two daughters
until the tyme of the payment of their sayd monyes and to be allowed for their
mayntenance (viz.) for either of them Twenty poundes a yeare apeece To be payd
(quarterly) by my said executors. My other Children to be educated & brought up
at the discretion of my sayd Executors And for the raysing of the sayd porcons
payment of my debts, and legacies and for theducacon of my sayd Children I will
that my Executor hereafter named shall enjoy and have all my lands whatsoever (ex-
cepte the lands assured to my wife for her Joynture and given her by this my
will for thenlargement of her joynture during her lyfe only) untill my Son
Thomas shall accomplish the age of Fower and twenty years and shall lett and
sell the same and the Rentes and usuall proffitts thereof shall receive and shall
cutte downe suche reasonable underwoods from my sayd landes for the raysing
of porcons as by my Overseers or the more parte of them shall be thought fytte
and meete And moreover my executors shall receive all my debts goods and chattells
for and towards the raysing of the said porcons payment of my debts and
funeral expenses Thother moytye of my plate and howshould stuff (before not be
queathed unto my said wife) I will shall be divided between my three Sonnes
my eldest sonne to have the one half thereof and my two younger sonnes
thother half Item my will and meaninge is that if my sayde wife or her frends
shall putt in suche securitie for the payment of the porcon of my said daughter
Elizabeth at such tymes as are appoynted Then my will and meaninge is that
(for the better preferment of my sayd daughter) her porcon shall within one
yeare after my decease be payd over unto my said wife So as the sayd Se-
curitye be to the lykinge of my Executors* for the benefitte of my sayd daughter
Item my will and meaning is that yf any of my sayd daughters happen to dye
before they are marryed That then her pARte so dyeinge shalbe equally devided
amongste all the residue of my sayd Children then survivinge Item if the lands

that God hathe blessed me withall my Will and meaning is that my Wife shall
have for increase of her joynture all the Landes and Tenements whIch I bought of my
kynsman Mr.John Whitfield of Worthe Esquire for and during her naturall lyfe (the
Woodes and Underwoods only excepted) Item I give unto my twoe younger Sonnes
Richard and William and their heires all my howses and landes lyinge in Goudhurst
in the county of Kent which I bowghte of Robert Austen my Brother in lawe And
the aforesayd landes and Tenements wch I bowghte of my sayd kynsman Mr John
Whitfeild And all the Landes and Tenements in the occupacon of Edward Walters
widowe or her assignes And all the Landes and Tenements in the occupacon of
Groombridge sometymes demised by me unto Joan Bate widowe To have and to
houlde all the foresayd Landes to the sayd Richard and William my Sonnes &
theire heires foever And if any one of them dye withoute yssue of his body Then the
Remaynder to thother survivinge and his heires forever All the residue of my Landes
and Tenements I give unto my Sonne Thomas and his heires forever To take the pro-
fitts thereof when he shall atteyne to thage of Twenty and fower yeares he beinge
only allowed Fifty poundes a yeare in the meane tyme for his mayntenance To be
payd quarterly and to have one Quarter in hand And for lykewise my wife
for her daughters And I will that my executors wth my overseers or one of them
shall take a true Inventorye of all my sayd Goodes Chattells debts and Stocks
And the sayd Inventorye shall enter into a Booke And my sayd executors shall
make yearlie an Accompte to my overseers or the survivors or survivor of them of
his Receipts expenses & payments by vertue of this my Will The which shall yerely
be entered into the said Booke And I will that my executors shall allow rea-
sonable proffitte for the sayd debts, goods and Stocke which they shall yerelie
also accompte for deductinge for their owne reasonable expense And I will that
(after my debts Funerall expenses and Legacies payde) that the overplus arysinge of the
proffitts of my sayd Landes Wood sales Goodes Chattells debts and Stocke and
the reasonable proffitte comeinge thereof shalbe by my executirs and overseers the
survivor and survivors of them, payde and distributed unto suche of my Children or
or my Childrens children as they or the most parte of them shall iudge to be best deserving
and of best lyfe and converacon And they to be called by none of the rest to any ac-
compte for the same but shall be thereof clerelye be discharged by this my will Item
I do make and ordaine my loving brother Mr. Richard Ballard of Lamberhurst and Mr.
John Hattley of Wadhurst Executors of this my last Will and Testament And I doe
give them Five poundes apeece for their paynes And I doe make overseers
thereof my well beloved friend Mr Nicholas Eversfield of Hollington esq Mr John Porter
of Lamberhurst Esquire and Mr John Frewen thelder of Northiam clerke And I do give
every one of them for their paynes Three poundes a peece to buy each of them a Ringe Item
I do give unto the Poore of Wadhurst Five poundes to be payde by my executors after my de-
cease And I do give unto my wife Ten poundes to be distributed unto my servants as
shee shall think fytte And I will that she shall give a dwelling in my howse one
quarter of a year after my decease and reasonable provision of all things and Servants
wages to be provided and payde by my executors And afterwards she shall have Tenn
quarters of Wheate and six quarters of barley Maulte yf there be then so muche re-
mayninge towards her owne provision And because it were inconvenient that my estate
should be in the disposition of Strangers Therefore I will that yf my exectors dye then I
appoynte Richard my second son executor of this my Will And I do entreate my sayd over
seers to be helpfull and aydinge unto him in disposing and ordering of the same And that then
my daughters porcions shalbe payd over unto my sayd overseers or the survivor or survivors
of them and they to have the receivinge and medlinge therewith for the benefitte of my said
daughters and my sonne Richard But my desyer is that with all convenient speed soe
soone as the same can raysed that by buyinge of Land or Leases or otherwise at the dis-
crecon of my executors and overseers or the greater number of them the same shalbe settled
for the better securitie and benefitte of my sayd daughters And all other things my said
sonne Richard to performe accordinge to this my will and to take the goods chattells debts
Stocke and estate and profittes of lands and Woodes before menconed not receaved &
taken by my sayd executors And that neither the executors nor admors of my foresaid executors
nor any of them shall have any further receivinge thereof nor medlinge with my Will

Item my will and meaning is that my sayd executors shall within six monthes after
my decease enter into reasonable Bonds with my sayd overseers to paye and deliver over
unto the said Mr. Porter and my sonne Richard within one yeare after the death of
the survivor of them all such sums of money goods chattells and stocke, as shalbe be in the
handes of the sayd survivor at the time of his death by vertue of this my will
And that they the sayd executors take the lyke bonds one of another Item I give
unto my brother Richard for to help place and bring up Edward Austen my sisters
son the sum of ten pounds. In witness whereof to every of the three sheets I
have sett my hand and seal this fowertenthe day of december one thowsand sixe
hundredth twenty twoe Tho Ballard Read, published and sealed and subscribed the sayd
fowertenth daye of September (sic) in the yeare of oure Lorde God one thowsand six hun-
dred twenty twoe and in the twentieth yeare of the Raigne of oure sovereigne Lorde
Kinge James of his Kingdomes of England France and Ireland and of Scotland
the Fifty sixe in the presence of John Porter Henry Thompson Anthony Ward
Thomas Bryan Added to this my last will the nynetenth day of december as followeth
Item my meaning is that none of my sonnes shall take any profitt of the lands
given him until he come to the age of fower and twenty yeares but that my executors
shall take the profittes thereof in performance of my will and all their said several
ages everye one to enter into his or their pte. Also I will that if all my sayd sonnes
shall dye withoute yssue of their bodyes That then all my sayd Landes shall goe unto my
sayd twoe daughters and theire heires forever. Item I give unto my brother Stephen
in rememberance of my love Tenn poundes And unto mother Fowle Forty shillings
and her dwelling in the howse where she is for her lyfetyme: Thos Ballard This
Addicon was made the nynetenth daye of december in the yeare of our Lorde God one
thowsand six hundred twenty and twoe in the presence of us Henry Thompson Anthony
Ward Thomas Bryan. Item in the second page there is strucken out of this my will one ?????? and
and fower whole lynes and the moste part of the fifte And after one whole lyne and parte of
two other lynes, And in that Leafe parte of two other lynes. And I have given to my
two daughters Martha and Elizabeth six hundred pounds apeece. This alteration
was made by the said Thomas Ballard the thirtith of Januarye Ano dmi 1623
Thos Ballard In the presence of John Porter Anthony Ward the mark of
Richard Moate the marke of John Sands. Memorand that the abovenamed
Testator Mr Thomas Ballard uppon the second of Februarie anno dmi 1623 wherein
the deceased beinge of perfect memorie in the presence of his executors willed unto Mr
Anthony Ward schoolmaster in his house the sum of Five poundes And to Dorothy
Ward sister unto they sayd Anthony his servante fourtye shillings to be paid unto
him by his executors. John Hatley Richd Ballard

Probate London 4th May 1624 to Richard Ballard and John Hatley executors.

[Transcribed by Helen Hartley]

• Probate, 4 May 1624, London, GB. ² Probate London 4th May 1624 to Richard Ballard and John Hatley executors.

[Transcribed by Helen Hartley]

Thomas married Mary before 1603. (Mary died before 1 Dec 1608 and was buried on 1 Dec 1608 in St. Peter's & St. Paul's Church, Church Street, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6AA, GB ³.)

Thomas next married Mary Luson before 1603.