Edward Ball

Edward Ball was born in about 1642. Though he is a prominent figure and one of the early settlers of northeastern America, his parents still remain in question. There are many claims, including SAR applications and published works that say he was the son of Alling and Dorothy Fogel Ball. However, In a comment by David G. Ball of the New England Ball Project [ http://www.newenglandballproject.com/g1/p1425.htm#i35624 ]
Some have claimed that Edward Ball, who was at Branford, Connecticut in 1666 and removed to Newark, N.J., was a son of Alling Ball, the immigrant to New Haven CT. Since there was no probation of Alling's estate, Edward's name would have figured in conveyances of Ball property if he had been Alling's son. The name of Edward does not occur in any New Haven record, and although that is not conclusive, the presumption is that he was not a son son of Alling. Births of the three known sons of Alling were all recorded; and of these, only John and Alling left issue. Only John and Alling were mentioned in deeds of their first cousin, Hannah (Russell) Kimberly.
Further weight against such a direct relationship comes from Edward marrying the daughter of Alling Ball, Sr.'s sister Susannah (Ball) Blatchely. If Edward were a son of Alling Ball, Sr., he would have married his first cousin, a practice that was certainly frowned upon. End of comment. Edward Ball was at Branford CT 30 October 1666 on which day the heads of families designing to remove to Newark NJ signed an agreement, the most noticeable article of which was not to admit as freemen, etc., any but church members. In 1667 he was at Newark NJ and was assessed in the first list of taxables.

In 1664 at Branford, New Haven, Connecticut, Edward married Abigail Blatchley, daughter of Thomas and Susannah Ball Blatchley. Edward and Abigail had six children; Caleb, Abigail, Joseph, Lydia, Moses and Thomas.

From Genealogies of Connecticut Families from The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, by Gary Boyd Roberts:
Edward Ball was at Branford, CT October 30, 1666 on which day the heads of families designing to remove to Newark, NJ signed an agreement, the most noticeable article of which was not to admit as freemen, etc., any but church members. In 1667 he was at Newark NJ and was assessed in the first list of taxables. Jan 1, 1767, he first appears in public life, as messenger of the town Courts. In Mar 1678, he was one of the Surveyors appointed to run a boundary line of an Indian purchase. In 1683, he was appointed on a Committee to settle certain differences between the settlers and the Lords Proprietors; and was continued on this very important committee, from year to year, for several years, while all his associates were changed. About this time he was appointed Attorney to prosecute offenders against the town ordinances; and in 1693, he received the appointment of High Sheriff of the County. The date of his birth and death is not certainly known, the most reliable information places the former at 1642, and the latter at 1722.

Edward Ball died in about 1724 at Essex County, NJ; he was living in June, 1724, being then at an advanced age.