He was christened Richard John at St Mary, Lambeth in 1779, the son of David George and Louisa Ball. His sister Elizabeth Susannah was christened at the same church in 1787 and married his business partner Gideon Macaire in 1810.
No record of apprenticeship or freedom has been found for him.
He married Jane Mary Macaire at St Luke, Finsbury in 1806. She was his business partner’s sister.
Also in 1806 he entered a mark at Goldsmiths Hall in partnership with his brother-in-law as watch case makers from 6 St James Street, Clerkenwell and notified a change of address to 33 Rosoman Street in 1809.
The christenings records of three daughters at St James Clerkenwell from 1808-1812 do not show details of their address or their father’s occupation.
The partnership notified a change of address to 32 Northampton Square in 1814 and christening records at St James in 1817 and 1820 for two more of Richard’s children also show this as their address.
The partnership notified another change of address to 17 Middleton Street in 1821 and christening records at St James from 1821-29 for four more of Richard’s children also show this as their address.
The partnership notified a change of address to 26 Middleton Street in 1833 and back to 17 Middleton Street in 1840.
The 1841 and 1851 UK Census both show him as a watch case maker at Middleton Street. The Macaire family lived next door.
His burial aged 78 years, late of Middleton Street, was recorded at St James, St Pancras in 1857.
Further history of the watch case making business of Ball & Macaire is contained in Volume I, page 24 of The Directory of Gold & Silversmiths Jewellers & Allied Traders 1838-1914 by John Culme.
BALL, Richard (Grimwade p.315, 346)
Moderators: buckler, MCB, silverly
Re: BALL, Richard (Grimwade p.315, 346)
The Will of Richard John Ball, late watch case maker of Clerkenwell, was granted probate on 20th June 1857 (National Archives reference PROB 11/2252/402).