In the name of God Amen I Gregory Ballard of the University of Oxford Batchelor of Laws being of perfect and sound sense memory and understanding praised be God but infirm in the present condition of my body having a desire to settle my estate I do now this two and twentieth day of December in the year of our Lord 1664 make and declare this following the last will and testament as followeth vizt. First I commend my soul unto Almighty God my creator and Redeemer my body to the earth to Christian burial with as little expense as conveniently may be my worldly goods I thus dispose first I give and bequeath unto my son John Ballard of <Twelve Acres> in the parish of Eynsham in the county of Oxford <two> shillings sixpence and no more and I do utterly acquit, <forbid> and  discharge him from any title claims or interest in any of <???> goods credits chattels leases or hereditaments whatsoever or any part or parts of them. Item I give unto William <Fflipary?> my wife’s son by her previous husband five pounds to be paid within one year after my decease. Item I give unto my loving friend Mr John Speed of St John’s College the sum of twenty five shillings to buy him a ring to my son-in-law Nicholas <Houseman or Horseman> and Adrian his wife 25 shillings apiece to buy them rings to my servant John Rhodes my <scaird> ring which I commonly wear. Item I give to my loving son Thomas Ballard now in Jamaica £40 of <???rant> money to be paid unto him when he shall make lawful command thereof. Item I give unto my grandchild William Houseman £40 to be paid unto him or for his use within one year after the decease of my wife. And further my will is that my <brother> William Gray and my sister Adrian his wife shall have each of them a ring to wear in remembrance of me of such price as my executrixes hereafter named shall think fit all the rest and residue of my goods and credits and chattels rents leases and annuities whatsoever I give and bequeath to my said wife <Meriall> and my loving daughters Alice and Elizabeth Ballard equally to be divided amongst them and I nominate constitute and appoint them joint executrixes of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the day and year above written Gregory Ballard signed sealed published and declared <??> <?????> last will and testament of the said Gregory Ballard in the presence of Mr.J <????> Nic. <Evilett> …….

Probate granted in London 6^th April 1665 to <??????> <?????> and Elizabeth Ballard

Gregory’s bequest to his son Thomas Ballard in Jamaica backs up the assertion in Burke’s “A Genealogical and Heraldic History of The Commoners of Great Britain And Ireland Enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank: But Uninvested With Heritable Honours” that:-

II. Thomas {Beckford of Basing Park}, b. in 1682 , m. Mary , dau. and heir of Thomas Ballard , esq. (son of Colonel Thomas Ballard , one of the officers who accompanied the expedition in 1655 , and grandson of Gregory Ballard , esq. of Oxford , LL.B.) and dying in 1731 left issue …

It seems possible from the records of the Oxford Diocese held at Oxfordshire Record Office: Oxford Diocese [DIOC/2 - DIOC/9] that Gregory was the Registrar of the Oxford Diocese. The Miscellaneous register - ref.  DIOC/5/A/1 at page 82 contains copies of the patents of appointment of Richard Zouche, chancellor, 17 August 1632, and Gregory Ballard, registrar, 10 June 1625. It would also appear from the correspondence in DIOC/4/F/1  - that they did not always get on!! (fol. 1) Letter from Gregory Ballard, bishop's registrar, to Richard Zouche, chancellor of the diocese, 1 August 1635; begins "Sir - You have always been my adversary, as malicious as undeserved; since I have not wronged you, nor deserved this your usage, I scorn to beg your favour. You have thrown dust in my face, you have maliciously slandered me to my letters and your own. I may chance to spatter you! Besides all your false accusations and practices against me, you have most unjustly and indiscreetly disgraced me this day in court."

In the Blake Collection also held at the Oxford Record Office we find reference to John Ballard as witnessing land transactions in Eynsham on 3^rd July and 21^st September 1655 (Blake/I/ii/1 & Blake/I/ii/2). Furthermore, in the same collection we find reference to a Thomas Ballard (the son of John?) involved as one of the witnesses in Blake/I/i/14 for an “Assignment in trust to attend the inheritance.” On 13th October, 4 William and Mary, 1692 which involved the farm or several farm lands called Twelve Acres Farme containing Northeast Ground 71a., Southeast ground 38a., Northhill ground 30a., Furzey ground 14a. and meadow or pasture ground called the Bitterols 36a. and mead or meadow ground adjoin. Ensham Mill lying in the parish or manor of Ensham called Worzey 43a. - all in the parish or manor of Ensham and heretofore occups. Richard Castle Christopher Almond William Bishop John Graunt and others and heretofore parcel of the demesne lands of the said manor.

Finally there are references to Adrian Horseman widow

E115/442/76

Certificate of Residence

For the taxing, levying, collecting and paying of the 2 first subsidies of the 4 entire subsidies granted by the King this present parliament,

6 April 1641

City of Oxford.

Register of the Diocese of Oxford, Gregory Ballard has two mansions, one in the suburbs of the city where he hath part of his family to which mansion he doth often resort and the other mansion in Ascott in the County of Oxon where the residue of his family inhabit and to which mansion also he doth often resort. And that Gregory at the time of the said taxation and for the most part of the year next before by reason of his office did often resort to the mansion in the suburbs and that part of his family at the time of the taxation and for the most part of the year before were constantly abiding in the mansion. He is taxed there.