Onehouse missing birth

[Olicana]

I would like to find the birth and parents of John Balls who married Mary Frost on 25 Oct 1779 in Great Finborough. He was from Onehouse at the time of marriage, so was probably (though not necessarily) born nearby. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you.

[Brentor boy]

Free Reg has the baptism of a John Balls on 14 May 1758 at St Nicholas, Bradwell. Son of Rebecca Balls. Within a reasonable time frame but not sure about the location.

[Olicana]

Thank you for your reply Brentnor Boy. I think that christening might apply to a different family of Balls I have come across before in Norfolk.

FS has a John Balls, son of Elizabeth and George Balls, christened 24 Feb 1754 in Suffolk. Is there a way of finding out where in Suffolk?

I have just found another christening in Buxhall on 16 Feb 1752, which looks promising as Buxhall is quite near to Great Finborough where the marriage took place. FS only lists the father as John Balls. Could someone please look up the Buxhall christening to see if the mother is named, or whether any other siblings were christened around the same time that might give other details?

Thank you

[Kay99]

From F M P
John    Balls
Birth year    1754
Baptism date    24 Feb 1754
Parish    Dalham, St Mary
Parents George and Elizabeth

Kay

[Olicana]

Thank you Kay. That is closer, but the Buxhall christening looks the most promising now.
Could smeone look that one up please? Many thanks.

[Brentor boy]

An earlier Buxhall baptism. (Family Search)
John Balls. 30 July 1749 Buxhall. Parents John and Eliz.

[Kay99]

Baptisms pre 1756 for Buxhall don't appear to be on F M P

Kay

[gobbitt]

From Suffolk FHS transcripts:

John son of John & Elizabeth Balls buried at Buxhall 3 Sept. 1749

John son of John Balls of Great Finborough [no mother recorded] baptized at Buxhall 16 Feb. 1752

John Balls son of Hellen of Old Newton [no legitimate father] privately baptized about 22 Oct. 1749 & received into the church at Old Newton 17 Feb. 1750 [probably 1749/50]

Burials at Old Newton: Thomas & Hellen Balls Nov. 1757; John Balls 28 Jan. 1759

David

[Olicana]

Thank you David, Kay and Brentor Boy. I thought you might like to know the outcome of your help so far.

The John, son of John Balls of Great Finborough, baptised at Buxhall 16 Feb 1752 gave the connection needed between Buxhall and Great Finborough and gave credence to the likelihood that the earlier baptism on 30 July 1749 and burial on 3 Sep 1749, both at Buxhall, of John, son of John & Elizabeth Balls, belonged to the same family.

Consequently, I looked for and found the marriage of John Balls and Elizabeth Osborne on 17 Jan 1748 in Buxhall. This fits time-wise with the birth of their first son. Rather strangely, FS has a second entry for this marriage on 11 Jan 1749. Presumably a transcription error?

I found the death of John Balls on 16 Oct 1794 in Great Finborough. He was aged 69, so born about 1725. Elizabeth Osbourne, daughter of Antony Osbourne, was baptised on 7 Nov 1725 in Buxhall. I still need to find her mother and her death as well as John's parents.

FS has a burial on 28 Mar 1757 in Great Finborough of Thomas Balls, son of John & Elizabeth, and a baptism, also in Great Finborough, on 9 Jan 1758 of another Thomas Balls, son of John & Elizabeth. These two children seem to be John's siblings. Could anyone find the baptism of the older Thomas Balls in either Buxhall or more likely Great Finborough before Mar 1757 please? There is a Suffolk burial on 28 May 1758  of Thomas Balls, son of John & Elizabeth, which might apply to the younger boy if it could be narrowed down to Great Finborough.

In addition, FS has a possible sister, a Mary Balls, daughter of John and Elizabeth, baptised 24 Nov 1754 in Suffolk, but doesn't specify whereabouts. Is it possible to locate this baptism?

Any help to fill in the gaps would be very much appreciated. Thank you.