James Ballou (1652 - 1741)

Born 16 Nov 1652 in Providence, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

Ancestors

Husband of Susanna (Whitman) Ballou — married 23 Jul 1683 in Providence, Rhode Island

Descendants

Died 18 Apr 1741 at age 88 in Smithfield, Providence, Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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Biography

James Ballou, son of Maturin and Hannah (Pike) Ballou, was born in Providence in 1652. Soon after his marriage in 1683 he settled in Loquasquissuck, originally a part of Providence, now Lincoln. It is supposed that he began his preparations to settle there some time before, and his original log house was erected before 1685. His second home, a frame house, stood near the same site, and the well still remains. On October 22, 1707, his mother and sister deeded to him all the property which had come to them through the will of Maturin Ballou, and this with his own inheritance of lands made him owner of several hundred acres, together with his homestead. To this he added other tracts by purchase until he became owner of about one thousand acres.

His most important acquisitions were in what was then Dedham and Wrentham, most of which became the north section of Cumberland, R. I. His first purchase in this locality was made early in 1690, the grantor being William Avery, of Dedham. In 1706 he added to this enough to make several farms which he afterward conveyed to his sons — James, Nathaniel and Obadiah, on April 11, 1712. In July, 1726, he made a gift deed to his youngest son, Nehemiah, of lands situated in Gloucester, R. I., and at the same time gave to Samuel his home farm. His will was made April 20, 1734, and in 1741 he appears to have made another arrangement of his affairs in relation to his personal estate, which he distributed among his children.

The exact date of his death is not known, but it is supposed to have been soon after the settlement of his affairs. James Ballou was a man of superior ability, enterprise and judgment. He married, July 23, 1683, Susanna Whitman, daughter of Valentine and Mary Whitman; she was born February 28, 1658, and died probably in 1725.

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20965970/james-ballou
• Roberts, Gary Boyd; Ancestors of American Presidents. Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2009.
• Bicknell, Thomas Williams. 1920. The History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. New York: The American Historical Society.
• Ballou, Adin. 1888. An Elaborate History and Genealogy of the Ballous in America.