Horace Charles Ball

Horace Charles was the son of Henry and Mary Ball (née Taylor). The surname was previously 'Balls' and appears to have changed to 'Ball' when the couple moved from Bedfordshire to Nottinghamshire. Henry Balls was born in Shefford, Bedfordshire, on 21 June 1864 (J/A/S Biggleswade Beds.) the son of Edwin and Fanny Balls. He was baptised on 25 September 1864 in a Wesleyan Chapel on the Biggleswade Circuit. Mary Taylor, known as Polly, was born on 29 August 1864 (J/A/S Biggleswade) also in Shefford, the daughter of Joseph Taylor. Henry and Mary were married in Shefford on 19 February 1885 (Balls-Taylor, J/F/M Biggleswade) and according to the 1911 Census had had six children of whom five were still living. Their children were: Frances Ellen (k/a Ellen/Nellie) birth registered 1886 (Balls, J/F/M Biggleswade), Annie b. 1888 (Balls, O/N/D Biggleswade), John birth registered 1891 (Balls, J/F/M Biggleswade) bap. (John Willie) 23 April 1893 Stapleford St Helen, Herbert Henry b. 25 February 1893 (A/M/J Shardlow Derbys) bap. 23 April 1893 St Helen, Horace Charles b. 1899 (A/M/J Shardlow) and Florence Annie b. 1907 (O/N/D Shardlow). Ellen, Annie and John were born in either Meppershall or Shefford (census details differ) and Herbert, Horace and Florence in Stapleford. Annie has not been traced after the 1891 Census and it is likely that she was the child who died in infancy. In 1891 Henry Balls (26), a railway goods porter, and Mary (26) were living on Smarts Lane, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, with their three children Nellie (5), Annie (2) and John (3 months). The family was living on Bessel Lane, Stapleford, when John and Herbert were baptised at the parish church of St Helen in 1893. Henry, a drayman for the Midland Railway, and Mary were still living on Bessel Lane in 1901. Only three of their children were in the home on the night of the census: John (10), Herbert (8) and Horace (2). The eldest child, Ellen, was a domestic servant in the household of Augustus, a railway engine driver, and Catherine Hall who lived on Derby Road, Sandiacre, Derbyshire. The youngest child, Florence, was born six years later. By 1911 Henry and his wife were living at 53 Birley Street, Stapleford, with three of their five survving children: Herbert (18) a collier, Horace (12) and Florence (3). Henry and Mary were still living at the same address in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled. Henry was a retired railway carter. Mary probably died in 1941 (O/N/D Basford) and Henry in 1943 (A/M/J Mansfield). Only Herbert Henry of the surviving four children has been traced after 1911. He married Grace Hewitt (b. 4 April 1892) in 1922 (J/A/S Shardlow) and in 1939 they were living at 15 Cow Lane, Beeston & Stapleford. Herbert was an iron moulder. Also in the household were Herbert H Ball (b. 19 June 1923) an iron foundry labourer and Emma E Harrison (b. 19 June 1856) a widow.

No Photos