EDWARD BALL

By Mrs. Wm. A. Sayre,
Nova Caesarea Chapter.

Edward Ball was one or Newark's Founders from Bran-
ford, as such signing the Fundamental Agreement October
30th, 1666.

He was used on many committees, and filled many im-
portant posts. He was Surveyor and Layer Out of High-
ways, Messinger, and in 1677 we find him chosen to go to
every man who has not brought in the list of his estate,
and make such a list, "for so doing he shall have four
Pence a Piece".

In 1684 he had a similar task given him, for the
"Minister's and the Town Rate shall be made in one this
Year. All Home Lotts and improved Lands shall pay a
Penny p. Acre, and Unimproved Lands lying within Fence,
and Meadow - a half Penny p. Acre".

He and Richard Fletcher were Grave Diggers - "to
have 3 s. for a Man's Grave, 2 s for a Middle Persons,
and 1 s. 6 d. for a Child". He was one of a "Committee
to treat with Elizabeth Town about the Bounds, and to
issue it with them if they can, - to defend their and our
just Rights and Titles to our Land".

He and Joseph Harrison were Town Attorneys in 1679,
'80, and '86. He "signed for the Town On the 20th of
February, 1699, when John Gardner agreed to take Richard
Hore into his House for the year, for Two Shillings and
Six Pence a Week", (Hore was the Town's Poor.)
He was Constable, Town's Man four terms - 1679, '80,
'85 and '91. In 1693 he was High Sheriff or Essex, His
children probably all born in Newark were 1 - Joseph,
who died April 25, 1733, aged 60. His will names children:
Daniel, Joseph, Samuel, Isaac, Jonathan, Hannah and Rebecca
Baldwin, and his wife Elizabeth. 2 - Moses, died April
20, 1747, aged 62. No children. Gave legacies to
cousins (nephews) Caleb, John and Joseph Ball; Joseph,
Timothy and Sarah Peck; Moses Harrison; Moses Baldwin;
Ruth Seward; Mary and Elizabeth Dowd; the rest of the
estate to "Samuel Alling, John Ogden, Jr., and Stephen
Baldwin, for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian
Society in Newark, and no other use or uses whatsoever".
3 - Thomas, married Sarah Davis, died October 18, 1744,
aged 57. "an aged man of 4 years". His will names
children, Timothy, Aaron, Nathaniel, David, Ezekiel,
John, Thomas, Amos, Moses, Mary, Rachael and Apphia,
widow of Simon Searing. Timothy married Esther Bruen;
died January 7, 1758, buried in Orange, N. J.{wrong} 4 -
Caleb "of Hanover, 1748". 5 - Lydia, married - Peck.
6 -Abigail, married - Harrison.

In 1704, Edward Ball conveyed to his son Caleb
50 acres "by the Mountain". Caleb and Sarah, his wife,
conveyed the same 50 acres to John Canfield.
In the Old Burying Ground in Orange{Newark}, the grave
stones of Thomas Ball and his wife Sarah Davis bore the
following inscriptions: "Here lies ye Body of Thomas
Ball - Died October 18, 1744 - In ye 57 years of his
age - Here lies an Aged Man of 4 years (This refers to
his late profession of Religion) - Beloved wife and
children dear - Remember now I am gone".

The inscription on his widow's tombstone read:
"Here lies ye Body of Sarah wife of Thomas Ball, Deceased -
who died Feby ye 1 A. D. 1778 in the 88th year of her age -

The dame that lies beneath this Tomb
Had Rachel's Beauty, Leah's fruitful womb
Abigail's wisdom, Lydia's faithful heart
Martha's great trust and Mary's better part"

There were twelve children and a total of seventy-
seven grandchildren.

Shaw's Essex and Hudson Counties, Vol.l,p.359.
Collections N. J. Historical Society, Vol.6,pp.2,5,9,68.
71,73,77,94,99. Appendix pp.274,275,277,278.