Repository Name

Public Record Office

Repository Reference

PROB11/127f 331

Probate Court

Prerogative Court of Canterbury

 

Christopher Ballard

Ipswich, Suffolk

 

Will dated

30th September 1615

   

Will probated

8th May 1616


In the name of God Amen the last day of September in the year of our Lord god a thousand six hundred and fifteen and in the thirteenth year of the reign of our most gracious Sovereign Lord King James etc, I Christopher Ballard of Ipswich in the county of Suffolk gent being in strength of body and of good & perfect memory I thank god & remembering and calling to mind the uncertainty of this vane and transitory life and that all flesh is as grass and that man is by nature frail subject to death and the time uncertain and at the pleasure of Almighty god I make and ordain my testament and last will in form following. First and most principally I do most humbly commend my soul and spirit unto Almighty god that gave it me hoping most confidently and assuredly in <?yams> thorough the only means mercy death passion and glorious resurrection of my alone Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ to have free and absolute remission and forgiveness of all my sins and to be an inheritor of that eternal and immortal kingdom which is prepared for his select. My body I do commend unto the earth to be buried in Christian sepulture at and by the discretion of mine executrix hereafter mentioned. And as touching the disposition and ordering of such goods and chattels lands and tenements as the Lorde in mercy hath lent me I give and dispose in form following, Firstly I give and bequeath unto the poor of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Ipswich where I had a greater part of my education three pounds six shillings eight pence to be distributed to them by my most loving and respected friend Mr. William Cage (if he be living) if not by the churchwardens there. Item I give and bequeath unto Faith my most dear and well beloved wife by whom I have received a good part of that portion that god hath lent me all my messuages lands tenements and heriditaments whatsoever to the free and copy lying and being in Ipswich or elsewhere. To have and to hold to her the said Faith my wife and to her heirs for ever towards the payment of my debts and legacies education of my children and performance of these my testament and performance of trusts formerly reposed in me by Mr. Robert Baron gent to whom I was executor, legacies given to my cousin Hollands children some part whereof I was put in trust withal and all other things wherein I was put in trust. All which I will shall be fully truly and faithfully discharged before my children’s portion shall be paid unless it be my three oldest children. And because my wife is and hath been a faithful wife to me and is as I know by long and tried experience a loving and natural affectionate lover to those five children that god hath left us I leave the consideration of further provision for our said children as god shall enable her over and besides that that hereafter I have given them. Item I give unto Faith my daughter two hundred marks in full discharge of a legacy given unto her by her grandmother. Also I give unto her one silver tankard parcel guilt to be paid unto her at or shortly after her day of marriage. Item I give unto John my son one hundred pounds and my greatest silver goblet parcel guilt to be paid at this age of four and twenty years upon condition that when he shall accomplish his full age of one and twenty years or within six months after he shall release and surrender unto my said wife and her heirs all his right interest title and demands of and in the Copyhold garden plot adjoining to the Inn called the Lion in Ipswich and in the occupation of me the said Christopher. Item I give unto my son Tobias one hundred pounds to be paid at his age of four and twenty years. Item to Elizabeth my daughter one hundred marks to be paid to her at her age of one and twenty years. Item I give unto my daughter Debora one hundred markes at her age of one and twenty years. All the rest of my goods chattels household stuff plate jewels and ready money whatsoever I give unto Faith my loving wife. And do ordain and make the said Faith my wife my sole executrix of this my last will and testament. Which my said wife and children I do most humbly commend to the blessing and protection of the most high eternal and almighty god what is ever was and will be the father of the fatherless and comforter of the distressed widow. And I ordain appoint and nominate my loving <????ient> and trusty friends Thomas <Clench> esquire of Holbrook and loving cousin Anthony <Wenning> esquire supervisors of this my last will and testament. And I do give unto each of them three pounds six shillings eight pence a piece towards the buying of each of them a gold ring which I desire them to employ to that use in remembrance of my love. And forgiving all possible honour glory and praise unto the almighty god forever son and holy ghost I cease pronouncing this to be my last will and testament by putting hereunto my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Xpofer Ballard. Sealed published ratified and confirmed as the last will and testament of the within named Xpofer Ballard in the presence of us Edward Cameron and Xpofer Conlon Daniel Holt; Per me xpofer Ballard.

 

Probatum fuit etc. London 8th May 1616 Faith Ballard relict of the deceased.

 In the Visitation of Leicester (p.203) there is a pedigree for Sherman within which it states that Faith Sherman eldest daughter of William Sherman, Grocer and Merchant of London by his wife, Faith daughter of John Lany of Cratfield of Suffolk, married …. Ballard of the county of York who died in Ipswich, Suffolk.