Heraldry

Some Ballard’s lodged at

THE COLLEGE OF ARMS

extracts from a letter dated 17th July 1978, edited by A J Ballard 12th Sept 2000.

from

Hubert Chesshyre,  Rouge Croix Pursuivant

Azure a Griffin regardant  (or more correctly, gardant) ermine. These were the arms borne by the father of William Ballard,  March King of Arms circa 1481 – circa 1490 and are so blazoned on the second folio of the Book known as Ballard’s Book (College of Arms MS M3)  which Garter Wrythe bought from his widow.  I have looked at this and the passage which mentions the arms also names William as son of Thomas Ballard and grandson of William Ballard of Lecton, county Hereford,  whose wife Rose was fourth in decent from Sir Richard Hurtisley,   Lord of Lecton and of Hurtisley in that county.

This narrative Pedigree and description of the arms is repeated in a copy of the visitation of Chester in 1580  (MJD   14.  310).  The arms are not illustrated in these two manuscripts,  but I assume the Griffin was rampant or sergeant as most Ballard griffins were.

Sable a griffin segreant ermine beak and legs Or.   This is attributed simply to Ballard in part 2 of Fenwick’s Roll,  probably compiled at the time of Henry VI and in three early Tudor Armorials at the College of Arms, called L1, L2 and L10.

A bend cotised between six martlets.  This coat is attributed in the earliest version of <Lant’s> Roll to a John Ballard who was Wallingford and Rouge Croix in the time of Henry IV and Windsor and possibly March in the time of Edward IV,   but the editors of the London survey committee’s monograph on the College of Arms think the Arms were probably meant for William Ballard March King of Arms,   though they are quite unlike those already mentioned.

Sable a griffin regardant ermine.    Is attributed in an index to Thomas Ballard in 1448  (All Souls, Oxford).

Arms consisting of a Griffin sergeant with the crest of a demi griffin are attributed to Thomas Ballard on 15th Century Seals at the British Museum and Ashmolean Museum.  If in fact they relate to William Ballard’s father they strengthen the evidence that his griffin was sergeant.  Whether or not the field was correctly black or blue I cannot say at this time.  William Ballard states clearly that is fathers arms were azure, but most other Ballard coats of this pattern seem to be sable.

Per fess indented argent a lion rampant countercharged.  This coat is attributed to Thomas Ballard in Randle Holmes Book “temp.  Henry VI.

Per fess indented argent and gules,  the two points gules and one argent each terminating in a fleur de lys,  overall a fess sable cut in the midst by the point argent.  This curious coat is attributed to Ballard in Randle Holmes Book.

Sable a griffin argent.  Is attributed to Robert Ballard in an armoury of Kentish Gentry temp. Henry VII.

Two extensive pedigrees entered at the visitation of Sussex 1634 go back to Fulco Ballard living in 1346/7.  Of his descendants the senior line was seated in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, the second branch at Horton, county Kent and third branch at Wadhurst, county Sussex.  The arms of this family were entered as,  Sable a griffin sergeant ermine beak and forelegs Or with the crest a demi griffin,  tinctures as in the arms.

A pedigree of four generations entered at the visitation of Nottingham in 1614 starts with Philip Ballard of Greenwich, county Kent,  father of William Ballard of Southwell, county Nottingham,  father of Henry Ballard of Southwell (living 1614) who had Thomas Ballard son and heir aged 14 in 1614.  The arms of this family were apparently,  Sable a griffin sergeant ermine with the crest of a demi griffin but the tinctures are uncertain.

An undated pedigree of five generations, probably of the mid 16th Century starts with Robert Ballard who married Margaret Digby of Kettleby, Lincs. Robert’s Arms are blazoned as, Sable a griffin Salient ermine.

Sable a griffin sergeant ermine beaked and legged and holding a Fleur de lys Or.    Crest,   A demi griffin ermine beak and forelegs Or.   These were entered at the visitations of London in 1633/4 for John Ballard of London, Vintner,  one of several children of  Thomas Ballard of Swepston, county Leicester.

Sable a griffin ermine gorged with a crown Or,  beak and forelegs of the last.  Crest,    On a wreath argent and sable a demi griffin ermine beak and forelegs Or supporting a broken lance proper,  mantled gules doubled argent.   These arms   were confirmed and the crest was granted to John Ballard of  Much Dewchurch, county Hereford by a patent of Sir William Dethick, Garter, dated 1st January 1557.   All three records of this grant here show the griffin as passant, though it is not so blazoned.  The fullest record of the patent mentions that the family had previously borne arms but does not refer to a decent from William Ballard March King of Arms.

Sable a griffin passant ermine beaked,  membered and ducally gorged Or between two quatreifoils in chief and a crescent in base of the last.  Crest,    A demi griffin with several differences.  These armorial bearing were granted in 1820 to Humphrey Ballard of Highbury Place, county, Middlesex,   and to other descendants of his late father Humphrey Ballard of Ludlow, county, Salop.   A pedigree recorded the same year show’s the grantee’s parents as Humphrey Ballard of Ludlow (died 1816) and Sarah daughter of James Vashon,  Rector of Eye, county, Hereford,  and “ Lecturer” of Ludlow, county, Salop.  It is interesting that the griffin is passant and that it is collared.

WILLIAM BALLARD, MP for Hereford Ed III parliament, Westminster 1327/31.

THOMAS BALLARD, of Letton, Herefordshire. Granted Arms c 1400 by College of Arms.

WILLIAM BALLARD, College of Arms 1460 - 1480. His wife sold his heraldic records to Sir John Wrythe.
Sir Anthony Wagner K.C.B., K.C.V.O., D.Litt. in his book "English Genealogy" says ..."The oldest books of pedigrees which are known to be the work of heralds date from about 1480. William Ballard, March King of Arms c.1475 - c.1490 made a Visitation of Cheshire and recorded brief genealogies as well as arms." William Ballard in the late fifthteenth century was official cannon to the March King Of Arms and sworn to do his utmost to have knowledge of all noble gentleman within his marches and to register Arms within his province of the West of England, Wales and Cornwall. As a consequence The Ballard Book of Arms (XXVI) now resides at the College of Arms in London, recording about 136 blazoned and 420 painted coats of arms accumulated sometime between 1465 and 1490 for and under the supreme command of Edward IV, Edward V and Richard III. William Ballard's task was to establish the validity of such arms and that of there bearers, often in dispute, courts would be held and if claims were upheld, records would be made in Rolls recording pedigrees and arms of such noblemen. In addition there are two references to William in the Patent Rolls:- 28 March 1460 - Commission to William Ballard, herald at arms of Henry, duke of Exeter to purvey 3 shot of 'cables' for the duke's money for the ship called le Grace Dieu, about to go to sea to resist the king's enemies, which is destitute of cables. 18 January 1485 - Grant for life to Thomas Gibbes that he shall be one of the knights of the king's alms within the college of St.George within the castle of Wyndesore, with all fees, vestures and profits at the second vacancy, the first granted to William Ballard alias Marche.

JOHN BALLARD, of Much Dewchurch. PCC Will 13 Stevenson 1564 (AS BELOW) TRANSCRIPT OF WILL JOHN BALLARD OF MUCH DEWCHURCH PCC, QUIRE 13: FOLIO 103B (1564) the seconde daie of March in the yeare of Our Lord god a thousande ffyve hundredthe three score and three I John Ballarde of Much Dewchurch in the Dioces of Herefford sick in body and hole in mynde and perfecte in remembrance thank s be to allmightie god make my last testement and will in manner and fforme ffollowinge. Ffirst I bequeathe my sowle to Almighty God my maker and redeemer and my Bodie to be buried in the Church yarde of St Davids. Item: I bequeathe to the Cathedrall Churche of Heref XXd. Item: I bequeathe to Richard my sonne two Bullocks and two heifers in the keeping of Gwillm ab Eynan ap Llnn. Item I bequeathe to my ffyve daughters Jane, Rose, Johan, Margerie, and Katherine and everie of them two heifers. Item: I give to Alice my wife ffyve kyne and the Close called the Crossewaie Close and Close behinde the Barne so longe as she keep herself wedow. Item: I give to the maintenance of James my sonne to keepe him to schole ffyve pounds sterling. Item: I give to John my sonne my lease of the Byshopes House whom I make my sole executor of this my laste will and Testament and Mathew Webb oversea of the same and all my other Goodes and hous houlde to be devided by my said executor as he thinke the Beste Thies witnes being presente at the making of this my last will Thomas Hare, Doctor of Ffissicke Mathew Webb, Phillip Jenkin, Roger Webb, Katherine ap Morgan the wief of John ap Morgan, James Ballard and others.

This is a probate copy - no signature. Kyne = Cows. Bishops House - unable to locate. Not in PR nor on 1842 Tithe Apportion Map. Crossway Close - was, in 1842, opposite the "Old Lowe Farm" on road Aconbury to Much Dewchurch, but was part of Hill Farm which in the 1600's was owned by the Bodenham family. Present owner of the Hill has found old glass fragments and a pit believed to have been a glass furnace. In 1620's a Jenkin was buried from "Glaziers Close". Intriguing! St Davids = Much Dewchurch (Great St Davids, from Welsh) Much Dewchurch Register (checked 1558-1605). 26 October 1597 Humphrey Ballard and Elynor Ballard Married. (?) November 1603 Phillip Gwatkin and Elizabeth Ballard (my Verrier's also married Gwatkin's) Buried 4 March 1565 John Ballard. Buried. 22 November 1573 Thomas Ballard. Herefordshire Militia Assessments 1664 Langaran Rich: Ballard gent valued at 75 pds (The highest for this Parish was Henry Milbourne 90 pds). Mr Halls and Mr Ballards 15 pds (Mr Hall was Walter Hall). Hereford Hearth Tax Assessments 1664/65 These have been indexed by Herefordshire Family History Society. I don't have a copy. COMMENT It looks as though the Ballard's settled in Much Dewchurch about the same time as my Verrier's circa 1540, then moved to Llangaran. Hope this helps. If there is any further info. I will pass it on. Kind regards, ADRIAN ( information supplied by Adrian Verry, New Zealand) tuathadedaan@xtra.co.nz

JOHN BALLARD, of Lyston House. Will PCC 70 Hayes 1605 ? Estcheator 1577/90.

RICHARD BALLARD, of Llangarron. PR's & monuments.

RICHARD BALLARD, of Longrove. Name on church plate.

WILLIAM BALLARD, of " Bristol " Death 1700. Named as nephews in Anne's will, sister of Richard above.