Nanny (Ballard) Shirley (bef. 1789)

Born before 4 Oct 1789 in Hawkhurst, Kent, England

Ancestors

Wife of Robert Sparrow — married 27 May 1810 in Greenwich, Kent, England

Wife of James Shirley — married 12 Jul 1814 in Merton, Surrey, England

Biography

Baptism

Date: 04 OCT 1789

Place: Hawkhurst, Kent, England^[1]

Correspondence

DATE: March 9th 1813

FROM: S & E BALLARD (ELIZABETH and SAMUEL)

ADDRESS: Guernsey

TO: ANN SPARROW

ADDRESS: At Mr Childs Streatham surrey

Dear sister

I once more inbrace the happy moment of writing you a few lines hoping it will find you in a good state of health as I am happy so say it leaves me with your brother ………. and children at present thanks be to God for it dear sister we received your kind and well combe yesterday and was glad to hear that you with all friends was well but sorry to hear that your …in so much trouble but the will of the lord must be done and we must submit to it but do dear sister comfort yourself as much as you can and live in hope of seeing your dear husband and child again in heaven since you cannot see them upon earth dear sister I have to inform you that I have got a fine little boy on the 8 of November last we have had him called will after your brother will my husband think it very unkind on his brother will that he never writes to him dear sister you said in your letter that your sister Elizabeth was married but you did say what occupation her husband has ……. we should be glad to know your brother and me wishes very much to see you all but travelling is very expensive and very incumbersone to travel with children but I hope by the helping of god we shall see you this summer your brother is after talking about his father and mother and wishing to see them once more …… our duty to our father and mother and loves to brothers and sisters and the same yourself from your affectionate sister and brother S E Ballard

DATE: 13 September 1813

FROM: ELIZABETH BALLARD

ADDRESS ?

TO: ANN SPARROW

ADDRESS: At Mr Childs Streatham surry

My Dear Sister with grief of heart I write you this letter to let you know that my Dear Husband your brother is no more he departed this life the 3 of this month leaving me almost inconsolable for his to go he died of the small pox. My little girl is well over them thank god for it my little boy has got them now ten boil but I hope the god will in mercy be pleased to spare him to me for his poor fathers sake not my will but thine be done o lord you my dear sister ann sympathise with me having under went the same miss fortune you then ………….. a widows sorrow and what a trial have I to put through I must now bid adue to all happiness and fix my thoughts alone. I have like wise wrote a letter to your parents hoping that they with yourself will not forget me for I always should esteem my Dear Husband friends so dear to me as my own I should be ……………… to ………. see you on your sister if you could make it convenient to come over for I have no friend belong to me hear and how I manage shall I find it to lament to children with my ………………… I hope the lord will be my friend for he expects none of his children will ………… my dear husband death was very ……… for he ………. but a fort night my dear sister have nothing more to add but a small? lock of your Dear Brothers hair to keep in remembrance of him I could not send more his poor head was so full of soars adue my dear sisters and be so good as to answer this by return of post so I am and ever will be your affectionate sister till death

Elizabeth Ballard

Betsey sends her love to you both

DATE: Oct (after 3-9-1813 when husband dies)

FROM: ELIZABETH BALLARD

ADDRESS: Guernsey

TO: MRS ANN SPARROW

ADDRESS: At Mr Reeds? Streatham surry

Dear sister

I once more embrace the happy moment of writing you a few lines to inform you that I received your kind and wellcomb letter and was happy to hear that you are well but I am sorry to inform you that my dear little boy is no better and I am afraid it will be a long time before he will recover his strength again. Dear sister you desired to know if I wanted for any thing I cannot say that I am in want now but god knows how soon I shall if my poor little boy continues so ill for sickness is very expensive therefore if you could send me a trifle without hurting yourself I should be very much obleigh to you dear sister you likewise desired to know if I should like to come to England I shall be very happy to see you all if I could make it convenient to come but I should wish to stay in the place of where my dear husband lies that I may go and morn over his grave as often as I can my own …………. has sent for me to go home with them but I cannot think of going I am in hope that I shall get work hear as I am known by a great many respectable familys but if I am obligh to leave this I shall come to you my dear sister and your dear father and mother in hopes that you will look upon meand befriend my dear little offerings I am glad to hear that my sister is well out of chill head if you please give my kind to her and her husband and tell her I hope she will never have the trouble that you and me have had you never say any thing about your brother john and his wife I should be gad to hear from them if they are alive give my kind love to them give my duty to your father and mother and tell them I hope the lord will support them under there trouble Bethesy gives her duty to her Granfather and Granmother and uncle and aunt and love to her little cousin so having nothing more to say at present but god help you and send you health and happiness is the sincear prayers of your affectionate but almost brokenhearted sister E Ballard

DATE: 13-12-1813

FROM: ELIZA BALLARD

ADDRESS Guernsey

TO: MRS ANN SPARROW

ADDRESS: At Mr Reed Streatham surrey

Dear Sister I once more take the opportunity of writing you a few lines begging that you will answer this as I have sent you one before and have had no answer to it and one to your father and mother and have had no answer to that neither and I thinks it very unkind in your father and mother in not answering it as was three month yon that I wrote to them I did not think that you would so soon have forgot me after my poor husbands death my poor little boy is very ill and has been so ever since his poor father died I cannot do anything for he is always in my arms. I wrote to your mother for her to try if she could get any thing from the parish for me but she has never sent any answer to it so I wish you would be so good as to answer this and let me know whither they will allow me any thing or not the child has got the Kings Evil11 Scrofula or tuberculosis of the neck and I fear he will always be cripple he has lost the use of his right arm and the other is very bad give my kind love to your sister ………… and her husband and to your brother john and his wife and tell them I hope they will meet with better luck in the marriage state then I have give my duty to father and mother and love to all inquiring friends and except the same your self from your affectionate

sister Eliza Ballard

Bettesy ann is very well and gives her duty to her grandfather and grandmother and love to her uncles and aunts

DATE: 22-12-1813

FROM: FATHER & MOTHER BALLARD

ADDRESS Hawkhurst

TO: MRS ANN SPARROW

ADDRESS: At Mr Reed Streatham nr the surrey road

Dear child we received yours dated the 12 the reason we did not send you answer before is your grandfather being at this time very ill and we hourly expect his death – have waited to give you the account - but thinking you might make yourself unhappy about us – therefore thought it best to wright you a few lines being the desire of your father and mother to make you as happy as we can -------------------------------- In reply to what you say about your sisters letter to us we answer no letter from her as yet is come to hand we would willingly answer it as if we had the pleasure of hearing from her in this way – in your next letter please to give us the best direction you can we know not how to direct to her --------------- your mother is as well as in common but your father is that poorly at present tho he continues his work and have not as yet laid by or been prevented from going to work and by the blessing of god he intends to come and see you all but must wait the coming of his master first who is expected and to stop a fue day and return and after that you may for the fulfilment of his …… and your desire the father to behold his children and the children a pleasing sight when duty and Love combind ------- but how much more so when we all with to part no more = may we all see to it that we may be ready to meet the bridegroom at his coming

W Savey

your brother and sister well and join us in love to you all – a mery Christmas attend you all –

from your Father and Mother Ballard –

Hawkhurst December the 20 1813

about the time I was writing to you yesterday your Grandfather departed this life which is mater of thankfulness to those that behold him in as much as he is now free from pain

the 21 December

Marriage

Date: 27 MAY 1810

Place: Greenwich, Kent, England^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S295
2. ↑ Source: #S316

• Source: S295 Title: Parish Register Transcript Abbreviation: Parish Register Transcript
• Source: S316 Title: Parish Register Abbreviation: Parish Register