Stephen Ball (1760 - 1839)

Born 1760 in Condover, Shropshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Griffiths — married 6 Nov 1780 in Shrewsbury St Julian, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England

Descendants

Died 8 Mar 1839 at about age 79 in Ragfield, Shropshire, England

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Biography

Stephen BALL, son of John BALL (1721-1788) and Martha GOUGH (1722-1802), was born in 1760 in Condover, Shropshire, England.(*1,2) He was christened on 3 February 1760 at St. Mary and St. Andrew's parish church at Condover.(*3) He married Mary GRIFFITHS on 6 November 1780 in St. Julian, Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury is about 5 miles north of Condover.(*4) They were married by J. Wingfield. Stephen and Mary both made their marks with a cross. John Hinley and Ann Davies were the witnesses.

They appear to have initially settled in Meole Brace which lies above halfway between Condover and Shrewsbury. This is evidenced by the 1851 census record of their son Richard who was born in Meole Brace and christened at Shrewsbury in 1781. Their next daughter Mary was also christened at Shrewsbury in 1783 but by 1787 Stephen was back in Condover as his daughter Sarah was christened there in 1785. They then moved 12 miles eastwards and settled in the Ragfield area of Hadley. Ragfield was a row of cottages built by the company owned by John (Iron Mad) Wilkinson in the parish of Hadley. John "Iron-Mad" Wilkinson was an English industrialist who pioneered the manufacture of cast iron and the use of cast-iron goods during the Industrial Revolution. In 1775 John Wilkinson had been the prime mover initiating the building of the Iron Bridge connecting the then-important industrial town of Broseley with the other side of the River Severn. Wilkinson was one of the first to use coke instead of charcoal, which was pioneered by Abraham Darby. Stephen Ball and several of his sons worked as cokers at Ragfield.

More background on John Wilkinson and his operation can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkinson_(industrialist) . In East Shropshire he developed iron works at Snedshill, Hollinswood, Hadley and Hampton Loade.

In 1821 Stephen was a labourer. He appeared in the census on 28 May 1821 in Ragfield, Hadley, Shropshire, England. Unlike most of Britain the 1821 census for the area as survived. The details are. 1821 Census Ragfield Stephen Ball 33 labourer Trade. Stephen Ball 60 labourer. Ragfield also known as Ragfield Row was isolated from the main settlement of Hadley. Stephen made a will on 9 May 1836.(*5) In 1836 he was resident in 'New Hadley Iron Works otherwise Ragfield', Shropshire, England.(*5) In 1836 he was a coker.(*5) In 1839 he was a collier.(*6) He died of debility on 8 March 1839 in Ragfield, Shropshire, England.(*6) The informant was "The mark of Moses Wilton occupier of Ragfield". Stephen was buried on 13 March 1839 in St. Mary and St. Leonard Parish Church, Wombridge, Shropshire, England.(*7) He had his estate probated on 10 April 1839 in Wellington, Shropshire, England.(*5). The children of his daughter Esther were the main beneficiaries.(*5)

Sources

• 1. "Birth year calculated from age on death certificate".
• 2. "Birth place inferred from a pre 1837 place of christening".
• 3. "Condover, St. Mary and St. Andrew parish register, Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury".
• 4. "Shrewsbury, St. Julian parish register, Shropshire Archives, Castle Gates, Shrewsbury".
• 5. "Will of Stephen Ball or Ragfied, Shropshire writting in 1836 and proven in 1839. Digital image at Findmypast.co.uk".
• 6. "Death certificate held by Earl Davis of Staffordshire, England".
• 7. "Wombridge St. Mary and St. Leonard parish register scanned images at findmypast.co.uk".