Due to problems Adrian is having with Rootsweb which arre probably not his fault I am posting this for him. Until recently I did not know if I had Glou connections, I was Born and Bred in Bristol and have lived in most parts of the City at one time or another, I was born 1964 I am an Electrical Contractor,. married with four children, Charlotte, William, John, and James, who was born Saturday just gone 20th May 2000, (another clone :)). My Father John Frderick Ballard was born in Bristol 1926, he served in WW2 in the Middle East he was a Royal Engineer, and still lives in Bristol and is a Property Speculator. My Grandfather Edwin Thomas Ballard (aka Thomas or Ted)was born 1880, Kingswood Road, Oldland, Bitton, his trade was a French Polisher, Jouneyman, but he worked has a Chimneysweep and Builder, he lived, Staple Hill Road, Mayors Buildings, Mauldlin Street, Tudor Road, I was told his eldest Brother William went to Canada?, he married Beatrice Mary Taylor 1902, and Doris Victoria Dring 1923 in London, both wifes were related, Beatrice commited suicied by drowning in Duchess Pond, and he was dis- inherited for remarrying into the same family, he died 1949 and was buried at St Marys? Downend Road, were he was exumed from his fathers tomd after a lawsuit by Unknown? re:-claim to the Plot? and was reburied in a different plot. My GGrandfather was William Henry Ballard, he was born 1859 at Brick Street, St. Phillip & Jacob and was named the same as his elder Brother who died 18 months and was born 1855 ( I have found a William Ballard born 1855 from Bristol in Berkshire 1881 Census, although no other was recorded in BMD's???). He was a Chimney Sweep and Lived 1 Rabbit Burrous, Pleasent Road, Long Lane, he married Elizabeth Farrant 1875 he died 1898 of TB aged 41and was buried St. Mary, Downend Road. My GGGrandfather was Edwin Ballard, he was born 1833 at St. Phillip & Jacob he married Mary Ablett (the widow of Wright Cummings from Clifton ChimneySweeps). he became a Chimney Sweep and later a Licensed Vitular, he lived in Long Lane, Forest Road, Staple Hill Road, his daughters Caroline married Bert Sheppard and his other Fanny married George Crane, untill recently Bert was still using a property that Edwin had left to his daughter for Hairdressing, it used to be the old Off licence at the end of Forest Road, near Staple Hill Road, he died 1918. My GGGGrandfather was William Henry Ballard born 1805 at St. Phillip & Jacob he was a General Dealer he married Sussana Alexander of Bath at St Micheals Bristol, not to much is documented for this one his wife is recorded in 1881census living at Canterbury Street, in a property that his nephew Joseph Ballard, later leaves in a will with some 80 others in the Barton Hill area, she is later recorded at Wrington Cottage 1991Census, William died 1873. My GGGGGrandfather was William Ballard born abt 1772 (1841 Census) he was a Cordwainer (Cordoven, Leather Hides, Textile? etc trade) and was extensivley recorded as a Boot and Shoe Maker, he lived in Lamb Lane and worked from his shop at 36 Old Market Street ( now redeveloped, with a stone plaque "Hide Market") he married Hester Hyatt, ( Hyatts from Glou City 1600's) from Backwell 1795 at St. Micheals they had several children, who married Sarah Owen from Chipping Sodbury, John Lyddon Pawn Broker from Old Market, James Spilling from London, Tailor, and Sussana Alexander, who I have previously mentioned, he also married Mary Lusty 1825 form/born 1789 Kings Stanley (1851 Census), William died 1848 and so I can not find is birth place from 1851 census, in 1841 Census it say's "Another County". My GGGGGGrandfather was William Ballard he was a Scribbler (Carding used in textile manufacturer). I have no birth or death place for him, and I dont know who his first wife was , my paternal GGGGGGrandmother, he died before 1812 has his second wife Elizabeth Smith remarried John Millard from her death cert it says the wid of William Ballard Soldier. I have found a marriage at King Stanley for William Ballard and Ann Lusty 1771 by Lic. Ann Lusty was born 1751 the daughter of Issac Lusty and Mary Heaven but if this one is mine, I have yet to find out, but I do suspect it could well be?. >From What I have found so far, King Stanley and the textile trade went hand in glove during this period, William Ballard's Trade could well have taken him there, what about his Soldiering? how might this connect with this area, his son continued in what could be described as a Textile related trade and had connections to King Stanley himself he married Mary Lusty, a niece or great niece of Ann Lusty perhaps? some one he had already known through family connection in this area?. and would Ballard's I have found in the Stroud and sorrounding areas at about this period possibly connect to King Stanley or earlier Bristol Ballard's. I found a Vicar of Hawksbury WILLIAM BALLARD died 1711 so I am lurking around in hope! PS, today I received the marraige licence for WILLIAM BALLARD & ANNE LUSTY 1771 @ Kingstanley it describes WILLIAM BALLARD as a Wool Scribler, (so I think this one fits?) Yippeeeeee! on the back of the Licence, handwritten was, " J. B. 12th May 1770 " could this be the details of his father and a death date, would this kind of information be requested from a Licence applicant? can anybody help has anybody come across a burial for ANN BALLARD (nee LUSTY) formally of Kings Stanley, bef 1784 when WILLIAM BALLARD re- married Anyway this is my claim to Gloucestershire fame,?? Very Best Wishes and Good Luck. *Adrian John Ballard Ballard1@Cableinet.co.uk * ******* A COLLECTION OF BALLARD's ***** http://members.tripod.co.uk/AdrianBallard/index.html Geoffro The Pond Dipper