Notes:

Benjamin was born in Broseley on April 2, 1769 and his parents were Silvanus and Eleanor Ball (?), there were 12 children in this family.

We know that Benjamin’s wife’s name was Sarah and the only record that I can find of Benjamin Ball marrying was to Sarah Cotton on October 9, 1803 at Newbold Verdon, Leicester, this town being 77 kilometres from Broseley. They must have settled in Madeley following their marriage because there are records of their 9 children being christened there

MARIA - Census indicates 1800 - although can’t find record of birth or christening.
MARY ANN BALL
Christening: 20 JUL 1807 Madeley, Shropshire, England
BENJAMIN BALL <
Christening: 22 SEP 1809 Madeley, Shropshire, England
AMELIA - Census indicates 1811
EDWIN BALL
Christening: 19 JAN 1812 Madeley, Shropshire, England
CAROLINE BALL <
Christening: 25 DEC 1812 Madeley, Shropshire, England died 1814
EBENEZER BALL
Christening: 09 JUN 1815 Madeley, Shropshire, England
ANN CLARKE BALL
Birth: 07 JUN 1820 - Christening: 07 OCT 1827 Madeley, Shropshire, England
HENRY CHARLES TALBOT BALL
Christening: 22 APR 1822 Wesleyan
Gender: Male Christening: 07 OCT 1827 Madeley, Shropshire, England
Methodist, Broseley, Shropshire, England

A Benjamin Ball leased a warehouse and land at Willey wharf in 1816 and between 1817 and 1838 he leased the Swinney iron foundry from the Willey estate. It stood beside the railway from Willey ironworks, on the site of the public house of 1790. Possibly he was the Benjamin Ball who managed the Barnett’s Leasow furnaces in Broseley. The Iron Bridge, from Benthall to Madeley Wood, opened in 1780. At first the road from the bridge to the Wenlock-Broseley turnpike ran through Benthall parish. In 1828 a new route from Ironbridge was built using the parish poor as labourers: from the bridge it ran east for 1 km. before turning south for 1.5 km., past a tollhouse, to the south end of Broseley town. Among those involved in its construction were Benjamin Ball, manager of James Foster's Barnett's Leasow ironworks from C.1821 and Silvanus Ball, a Broseley ironfounder. A private carriageway, with a lodge at its entrance, extended from the road to Willey Hall.

Maybe something untoward happened in Broseley around this time as in the 1841 Census we find Benjamin, occupation contractor, age 70 , living near Blaenavon at Llanover, Upper Monmouthsire. The household consists of Benjamin and Sarah, Amelia, Ebenezer and Frances Hughes who is the daughter of Mary Anne and her husband, William Henry Hughes. There is also a lodger, Reed William Bakes who was a Westleyan Minister. There was a large Iron Foundry at Blaenavon.

In 1841 Sarah’s death is registered at Pontypool, Monmouthsire.

The 1851 Census shows Benjamin, retired iron founder, living with his daughter, Maria, who is shown as the head of the household and curate, school keeper. As well there is Henry, brother of Maria, age 28, grocer: Frances Hughes, neice, age 25; George Pascoe 7, Henry Pascoe 5, nephews-sons of Amelia, and Mary Smith housemaid.

Benjamin’s death is listed as in the March quarter, 1852.

Dot Singe has him as a high official in the Anglican Church

Benjamin — Sarah (Ball). Sarah was born 1770. [Group Sheet]

1. Mary Anne Ball was born 31 May 1806, Madelay, Shropshire, England; died 10 Sep 1888, Cod St, Stawell, Victoria; was buried 12 Sep 1888, Stawell Cemetery, Vic..

Sylvanus — Eleanor (Ball). [Group Sheet]