NameBallDescriptionRichard Padlar Ball was born in Devonshire, c. 1822, to Richard and Agnes Ball (nee Harvie)
He arrived in Australia aboard the 'Talavera'. in 1853, with his wife Maria (nee Morcombe) and daughters. Ann Maria aged three, and Mary Jane who died on the voyage, just months old.
According to Immigration Records, Richard was a farmer and had a sister living in Sydney.
Richard Padlar Ball worked as manager on the Weston’s Meadows Estate, Albion Park. He and his wife Marie took up farming at their property ‘Wattle Grove’ in Terry Street, Albion Park, on one of the lots from the Samuel Terry Hughes land sale (Albion Park) of 1860.
Richard and Maria had eight children.
Ann Maria bn.1850 England (married William Mc Donald, died 1914, Bulli)
Mary Jane bn. 1853 (died 1853 on board the ‘Talverna’)
Richard bn.1856 Albion Park (married Alice Adelaide Pearson, died 1928 Wollongong Private Hospital)
George b.1857 (died 1925 Dapto)
Mary bn. 1859 (married Christopher Fraser, died 1918 Qld)
Agnes b.1859 (married Robert Cochrane, died 1933, Wollongong)
Nicholas b.1862 (married Amy Thomas, died 1935)
Emma Jane b.1870 (married Donald Raison, died 1964, Ryde)
Maria died 29 March 1890 aged 66 years and was buried in what is now the Albion Park Pioneer Cemetery. Richard died 10 years later on 16 August 1900.
Richard Padlar was an Alderman on the Shellharbour Municipal Council from 1881 to 1880 becoming mayor in 1870.
When the farm homestead 'Wattle Grove' burnt down, the area became part of the Centenary Estate. The four original fig trees planted by Richard Padlar Ball survived and now beautify ‘Fred Ball Park’ named after Richard and Marie’s grandson.
Richard Padlar Ball is buried in the Presbyterian Pioneer Cemetery, Russell Street Albion Park.
Sources:
Shipping Records.
Birth death and Marriage Records.
Green Meadows A.E.Bayley.