BALLAM, Thomas (Grimwade p.429)

[MCB]

There is a christening record in 1783 at St Leonard, Shoreditch for Thomas Baalam son of James and Joan Baalam which seems relevant.
Indentures signed in 1797 refer to Thomas Ballam as the son of Joan Wood the wife of Thomas Wood of Spitalgate to be the apprentice of John Troby (Grimwade p,684), silversmith and plater of Ship Court, Old Bailey.
He married Mary Bradshaw at St Dunstan and All Saints, Stepney in 1804; both were recorded from Mile End New Town.
The christening record for John Robert Ballam at St Mary, Rotherhithe, Southwark in 1804 shows his parents as Thomas and Mary and seems to confirm Grimwade’s presumption that the Thomas Ballam of East Street, Walworth referred to in John Robert’s Indentures is the person who entered the maker’s mark at Goldsmiths Hall from 18 Gough Lane in 1820.
The christening record of a son at St Sepulchre, Holborn in 1810 shows his parents’ address as Warwick Lane.
The christening records of sons in 1813 and 1815 at St Mary, Newington show their parents’ address as East Lane or East Street, Walworth and their father as a goldsmith.
The christening of a son in 1821 at St Dunstan in the West shows his parents’ address as Gough Square and his father as a silversmith.
The christenings of daughters at St Martin in the Fields in 1822 show their parents address as 25 Panton Street and their father continuing as a silversmith.
The burial of Thomas Ballam in 1828 aged 45 years is recorded at St Andrew, Holborn; his last address is shown as Plough Lane.
Thomas Ballam’s son, also Thomas (born 1808), was also a silversmith. Christening records for his children 1830-2 show him in that trade.

[silverly]

On April 2, 1817, Thomas Ballam silversmith of No. 14 East Street Walworth was admitted and sworn a freeman in the worshipful company of farriers by servitude.