Relation of Benjamin Ball, 17841

Introduction

Benjamin Ball first appeared in the Reverend Ebenezer Parkman’s diary in 1765 when “Several Lads came to assist in getting our Muck and placing it in the Hills.” The lads included fifteen-year-old Benjamin Ball2 and Benjamin Whitney who were sent by Parkman’s neighbor, Levi Warren, and Jonathan Forbes, who was sent by Benjamin Tainter (May 17, 1765). In their mid-teens, the “lads” were strong enough to load manure onto carts and spread it on newly planted fields. That they were sent by Levi Warren and Benjamin Tainter suggests that they were hired workers, probably living with the Warren and Tainter families for the agricultural season.

Six years after carting muck, Benjamin Ball was among eleven cutters who came to cut and cart wood from the ministerial lot: “Benjamin Ball for Mr. Morse.” Benjamin may have been Seth Morse’s seasonal worker, or Morse may have hired him as his replacement for the communal obligation of cutting the minister’s wood. All but a few of the cutters stayed for supper, although “Messrs. Abraham Bond, Abraham Beeman, and Benjamin Ball” went home with their teams (Nov. 25, 1771). Parkman’s use of “Messrs.” Sand reference to “teams” suggests the now 22-year-old Benjamin’s greater maturity and possible ownership of a team of oxen.

Benjamin Ball married Lucy Belknap on May 22, 1777.3 Like Benjamin, she was not born in Westborough, and her place of birth remains to be determined. Her first pregnancy resulted in a stillbirth, with Parkman “solemnizing the Burying of his [Ball’s] New born, but Dead Child, and prayed there” (Apr. 7, 1778). Benjamin did not record the death of that child with the town clerk, nor did he record the birth of their three other children. Benjamin and Lucy Ball joined the Westborough church on July 4, 1784, and their two children and namesakes were baptized on October 10.4 Their third child, Lydia, was baptized on June 24, 1787.5 Benjamin Ball appeared in the federal census of 1790, with his household consisting of one free white male of sixteen years of age or older; one free white male under sixteen; and three white females—undoubtedly Benjamin himself, his son Benjamin, his wife Lucy, and daughters Lucy and Lydia.6

Benjamin Ball was in his mid-forties when he died, signing his last will and testament on February 4, 1795, with Amos Bradish, a blacksmith of Upton, posting bond as executor on July 7.7 A guardianship was recorded for Benjamin Ball, presumably the son who had been baptized in 1784. Rufus Forbush, described as a gentleman of Westborough, was appointed guardian for that Benjamin Ball, “a minor of his own Election aged fifteen years.” That is, Benjamin (born about 1780) chose Forbush as his guardian.8

Ball made provision for his wife Lucy for as long as she remained his widow. She was to care for their daughters Lucy and Lydia who, when they reached eighteen years of age, would each receive 100 dollars in silver. His son Benjamin was to receive his lands and possessions in Westborough and Upton when he reached the age of twenty-one. The estate was valued at £494 5s 7d. The “books,” valued at one pound, may have included the Bible from which Benjamin and Lucy Ball cited scriptural passages such as Matthew 11:28, Revelation 22:17, Isaiah 1:18, and Proverbs 28:13 in their relations when they joined the Westborough church.

Lucy Ball apparently sold some possessions several months after Benjamin’s death, with Breck Parkman noting, “Attend A Vendue at Widow Lucy Balls.”9 She did not re-marry, and after her daughter Lydia married Josiah Newton, a native of Northborough, at St. Albans, Vermont, on November 2, 1807, Lucy Ball moved to St. Albans. She died there on August 15, 1810.10

The Relation

I believe in one god in three parsons and I believe that god made man holy and uprite but man being left to the freedom of his own will fell from that Estate lost the image of god and So became dad to all good but god of his infinite marcy was pleased to provide a Savorer Jesus Christ that whosoeve believeth in him Shall not pirish but have Everlasting life but god of his infinite marcy has ben pleased to Show me in Some mesure the lost and ondone Condishon that I am in by nature and the need that I have to rely on the blod of Christ for Clensing and that I cannot have peace with god without being Justifid by the riteousness of Christ and to be sanctified by his holy Spirit. I desire to bless god that I was born and brought up under the preching of the gospil and that I was Early given up to god in baptism and I would take my baptismel Vows upon my Self and make it my own act and dede and I desire to exept of Christ as the only mediator between god and man but I must confess that I have lived contriary to the marcyes that I have injoyed I have had adesire to Come for Sum time but asence of my own unworthiness I was afraid to come but takeing incoragement from divers places of Scripture Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy leaden and I will give you rest let him that is atherst Come and whosoever will let him come and take of the waters of life freely So I would come and desireing god to ennable me to cast my Sole into the armes of ableading Savour and resolving if I perish to perish in the way and means that god hath apointed and I would desier your prayers to god for me that I might be aworthy pertaker at the Lord table and ask your exceptance of me

Benjamin Ball