Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 14,526, John Ball, Mass.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
Mass. 
Ball, John
Conant, Lydia former widow
NUMBER
W.14.526.
CONTENTS
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Massachusetts 
Lydia Conant, formerly, widow of John Ball who died on the 8th February 1814 of Franklin Co in the State of Massa. who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Alexander of the Regt. commanded by Col. Porter in the Massa. line for 12 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Massa. at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents, per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of [illegible] 1837 and sent Hon Geo. Grennell of Ho. of Reps. 
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1837 $260.00 Semi=annual allowance ending 4 March '38. 20 
$380.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 & law of Mar. 3. 1837
Recorded by W.W. Addison Clerk,
Book A Vol. 20 Page 47
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V 2730 
Lydia Conant 
Declaration
Wid of John Ball 
Named 1769 
Died 1814
[illegible] 12[illegible] $40
per ann. [illegible]
1831
Mass. line. Col Porter
Capt Alexander

Hon. Geo Grennell Jr. 
HR
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State of Massachusetts 
County of Franklin SS
On this twenty sunday of august A.D. 1837 personally appeared before the Probate Court held at Greenfield on & for said county 
Lydia Conant, a resident of Deerfield in the County of Franklin & State of Massachusetts aged Eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on her oath, in open court make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836. That she was the widow of John Ball, who died February the 8th 1814, that she remained the widow of the said John Ball for about seven years after his death, when she married Asa Conant, who died February 21th 1832 and that she has remained the widow of the said Asa Conant ever since. That her first husband the said John Ball, was a soldier of the Revolution that the said John Ball enlisted into the Continental army in the year 1776 in the month of January, according to her recollection, for one year, and served one year in the Company under the command of Capt. Thomas Alexander of Northfield in the then County of Hampshire Massachusetts, in Col. Williams Regt. as she thinks, but will not be positive that he served in Col. Williams Regt. My [illegible] belief according to my best recollection, at my advanced age is that, this was the Colonel's name-his Christian name I do not recollect. My said husband marched in the army that [illegible] expedition to Canada in 1776, as I have often heard him say. I well recollect his leaving home for the army. He left home
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State of Massachusetts
County of Franklin SS
On this twenty sunday of august A.D. 1837 personally appeared before the Probate Court held at Greenfield on & for said county
Lydia Conant, a resident of Deerfield in the County of Franklin & State of Massachusetts aged Eighty three years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth, on her oath, in open court make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4th 1836. That she was the widow of John Ball, who died February the 8th 1814, that she remained the widow of the said John Ball for about seven years after his death, when she married Asa Conant, who died February 21th 1832 and that she has remained the widow of the said Asa Conant ever since. That her first husband the said John Ball, was a soldier of the Revolution that the said John Ball enlisted into the Continental army in the year 1776 in the month of January, according to her recollection, for one year, and served one year in the Company under the command of Capt. Thomas Alexander of Northfield in the then County of Hampshire Massachusetts, in Col. Williams Regt. as she thinks, but will not be positive that he served in Col. Williams Regt. My [illegible] belief according to my best recollection, at my advanced age is that, this was the Colonel's name-his Christian name I do not recollect. My said husband marched in the army that [illegible] expedition to Canada in 1776, as I have often heard him say. I well recollect his leaving home for the army. He left home
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with a drum, and was a good drummer, but, as he always told me, did not do duty as such, joining the army, but as an orderly sergeant, he has often hold me of the hard [illegible] & sufferings he endured in the Canada Campaign till they got to the plains of Abraham near [illegible]. The army being compelled to retreat marched through Montreal & St. John, & proceeded to Ticonderoga. My said husband (Ball) staid some considerable time at "Ti." & then marched down to the Jerseys (New Jersey) where he staid till his term of enlistment expired. I do not [illegible] that my husband was in any real battle. My husband's Colonel, whoever he was, died of the smallpox in the army & I think at "Ti". My husband said he nursed him in sickness. he was at Ti in September 1776 I received several letters from him dated at that place, but have lost them all. My said husband returned the 29th of January 1777. I [illegible] my birth day was the 4th day of March & my husband left me for the army the day after I was 22 years old which was the 5th of March 1776. I remember too I had a child that was 3 months old the day my husband left. I had then Four children.
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That her said husband, John Ball, resided in Warwick in the then county of Hampshire, Massachusetts where he enlisted that she has no documentary evidence in support of her claim. She refers the Department to the Massachusetts Rolls of 1776 for evidence of her said husband's service. The day of the month when her husband enlisted she can not state. 
She further declares that she was married to the said John Ball on the twenty seventh day of August in the year seventeen hundred and sixty nine; that her husband, the aforesaid John Ball died on the Eight day of February A.D. 1814; and that she remained his widow, as before stated, and that she has remained a widow ever since the death of her last husband as aforesaid, as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed.
Sworn to, and subscribed on the day & year above written before. Lydia Conant
R.E. Newcomb Judge of Probate.
And the said court doth hereby declare the opinion, after the investigation of the matter above named John Ball was a revolutionary soldier and served as stated in the foregoing declaration and that he died at the time therein set forth; that the above applicant was married to the said John at the time stated in her said declaration and that she is now a widow. 
R.E. Newcomb Judge of Probate
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Franklin SS
I Elijah Alvord Register of Probate for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that the within contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Lydia Conant widow of John Ball declared her first husband for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Greenfield this twenty second day of September A.D. 1837 
E. Alvord Reg. Prob
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Extract from the town Records of the Town of Worcester in the County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts.
"Marriages"
"August Twenty Seventh, Seventeen hundred and sixty nine. John Ball & Lydia Ward. The foregoing persons [were] joined in marriage by the Rev. Mr. Thadeus Maccarty Minister of Worcester."
"Returned January Seventeen hundred & Seventy one."
I certify that the above is a true copy of the record, with the exception of the dates which are expressed on the record in fair, legible figures, as follows, to wit, "Aug 27, 1769" "Returned Jan 7 1771"
C.A. Hamilton, Clerk of the town of Worcester

C.A. Hamilton above named, depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk in the town of Worcester in the County and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said town of Worcester, with the exception, above named, as certified by me.
Clerk of the town of Worcester
Worcester, SS, Nov. 20, 1837.
Sworn before me, William Jennison, Justice peace.
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Worcester, SS.
I, Joseph G. Kendell, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Worcester, do certify, that William Jennison, Esquire, is a Justice of the peace in and for said county, and that his signature to the certificate of the oath of C.A. Hamilton, on the preceding page, is in his own proper handwriting. 
In testimony whereof, I hereto set my name, and affix the Seal of said Court, at Worcester this twentieth day of November, in the year 1837. 
J.G. Kendell. Cler.
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I James Ball of Deerfield in the County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age depose and say that I was acquainted with John Ball late of Deerfield before his death, and I have always understood that said John Ball died on the Eight day of February 1814 and I know that he left a widow, then Lydia Ball, and that the said widow Lydia Ball afterwards married one Asa Conant who afterwards died on the twenty first day of February 1832. I was present at the death of the said Asa Conant and I attended his funeral & saw him buried. His widow, the present widow Lydia Conant, has ever since the death of the said Asa Conant remained a widow and is now living. 
I further depose and say that the said John Ball was a distant relative of mine, and that it has always been reputed in the neighborhood of the said John Ball, that he was a Revolutionary Soldier, of which I have no doubt. 
James Ball
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
Franklin County 
Aug. 29th 1837 
Then personally appeared James Ball above named, who is a credible witness, and made oath that the foregoing deposition by his subscribed is true. Before me Almon Brainard Just. of the Peace
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I Clarissa Ball, wife of James Ball, of Deerfield in the County of Franklin & Commonwealth of Massachusetts of lawful age depose and say, that John Ball late of Deerfield was my father, and that the said John Ball died on the Eight day of February A.D. 1814. I further depose and say that I have often heard my father the said John Ball, in his life time, say, that he was out and served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, but the particulars of his service I do not know nor do I recollect them, if I have ever heard [illegible] him. 
Clarissa Ball
Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
County of Franklin SS
Aug. 29th 1837 
Then personally appeared the above named Clarissa Ball, also is a credible witness, and made oath that the foregoing deposition by her subscribed is true. Before me Almon Brainard Just. Peace.
I certify that Almon Brainard is a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid and his aforesaid certificates & signatures are in his own hand writing
Geo Grennell M C
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June 10, 1935. 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
W.14526
John Ball 
BA-J/ady
Mrs. Albert L. Ball
Lewiston Heights
Lewiston, New York

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative to John Ball, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. 
The date contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, W.14526, based upon the military service of John Ball in that war. 
The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of John Ball are not stated. 
While a resident of Warwick, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, John Ball enlisted in January 1776, served one year as orderly sergeant in Captain Thomas Alexander's Company, Colonel Porter's Massachusetts Regiment and was in the Canadian campaign. 
Soldier married August 17, 1769 in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, Lydia Ward, who was born March 4, 1754, place, and the names of her parent not shown. 
Soldier died February 8, 1814 in Deerfield, Massachusetts.
About seven years after his death, his widow, Lydia, married Asa Conant, who died February 21, 1832, place not given. 
Lydia Conant was allowed pension, on account of the services of her former husband John Ball, on her application executed August 22, 1837 while a resident of Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts.
Said Lydia stated that she had four children, one child three months old, at the time John Ball entered the service, names of children not designated.
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In 1837 Clarissa Ball a daughter of the soldier, John Ball, was a resident of Deerfield, Massachusetts, her age not stated. She was then the wife of James Ball. 
In 1837 James Ball, a distant relative of the soldier, John Ball, was a resident of Deerfield, Massachusetts, his age and degree of relationship not stated. 
In 1837 one John Ball was a resident of Warwick, and was living there in 1776, his age or relationship to soldier not shown.
In 1837 Mehetabel Ball referred to her brother Joseph Latham who died in October 1776 in service. Said Mehetabel made affidavit in Franklin County, Massachusetts, but did not state her age or relationship to the soldier John Ball. There are no further family data. 
Very truly yours 
A.D. Hiller 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Date of widow's death not on A.B.
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Mass
Rev WIDOW, &c. 
File No. 14526 
Lydia Conant 
Widow of John Ball
Pri Rev War
Act: July 4th 36
Index:-Vol. A, Page 148 
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1935 June 10. Hist. to Mrs. Albert L. Ball. N.Y.
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John Ball served in 1776 one year under Capt Tho. Alexander of Northfield in Col. Williams Regt. as stated in the declaration of Mrs. Conant, But it is supposed that there is a mistake as to the Colonel should be Col. Porter's Regt
John Ball served with Ephraim Town 
Asa Buston 
Samuel More (Mr More Now private in the same company Examine the rolls of these men at Washington
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I certify that I am acquainted with Johnathan Blake Esq within named & that he is a Justice of the Peace & his signatures aforesaid to the certificates and [illegible]
Geo Grennell
M.C.