William Balls

William Balls was born around 1778 In Norfiolk, England.

He first surfaces on 5th Jan 1806 when he married Lydia Pyman at Attleborough, Norfolk on 5th Jan 1806. Both were of the Parish of Attleborough and not previously married. Banns had been published on Dec 15th, 22nd and 29th Dec 1805. The witnesses were George Bedwell and Henry Johnson. William signed his name and Lydia made her mark.

From 1806 to sometime between March 1810 and October 1811 William and Lydia lived in Attleborough. They had three children whilst living in Attleborough -

• Maria Bapt. 19 April 1807
• Mary Bapt. 31 May 1808, born 28 May 1808
• Harriet Bapt. 14 Mar 1810, born 1 Mar 1810.

The family moved from Attleborough to East Bradenham some time between March 1810 and October 1811 with the three young daughters - Maria, Mary and Harriet. Not long after the move 2 daughters, Maria and Mary, died within months of one another in October and December.

Lydia gave birth to a further 8 children between 1813 and 1829.

• Maria 1813
• John 1815 (He died the following year)
• John 1817 (He died when he was less than a year old)
• William 1818
• John 1821
• Mary 1824
• Thomas 1826 (he died less than a year later)
• Sarah Ann April 1829.(She also died less that a year later)

William died in April 1829 and was buried on 30 April, only 3 weeks after his daughter Sarah Ann was born. He was aged 51 when he died, and left Lydia, a widow with 5 children with ages ranging from 18 to 5

The records show that in 1815 he was a Labourer, and that from 1817 onwards he was a Shoemaker or Cordwainer.