Referenced in the family
Alvin Billings Ball
b. 1832
Life
Records & Research
Alvin Billings Ball was born 29 January 1832 in New York, the son of Stephen Munn Ball (1804–1892) and Abigail S. Throop (1809–1843). He died 29 October 1865 at age 33 and is buried at Balltown Cemetery in Balltown (town of Hanover), Chautauqua County, New York. His parents, a full sibling, and two half-siblings are confirmed on his Find a Grave memorial. A reported August 1858 marriage in Michigan to Martha Adelaide Divinney could not be corroborated: it rests on a single citation — The New England Ball Project (via the Internet Archive) — and the Find a Grave memorial lists no spouse.
-
Alvin Billings Ball was born 29 January 1832 in New York, son of Stephen Munn Ball and Abigail S. Throop — matching the family report's birth date and both parents.
-
He died 29 October 1865 at age 33.
-
He is buried at Balltown Cemetery, Balltown (a hamlet in the town of Hanover), Chautauqua County, New York.
-
His full sibling was Mary Jane Ball Bills (1835–1862); his half-siblings (children of his father Stephen by a later marriage) were Stephen Ball (1845–1860) and Alfred Henry Ball (1847–1932).
Differs from the report
burial place wording: report says “Balltown Cemetery, Hanover, NY (per New England Ball Project)”, records indicate “Balltown Cemetery, Balltown, Chautauqua County, New York (per Find a Grave, verified live)”. Not a true discrepancy: Balltown is a hamlet within the town of Hanover in Chautauqua County, NY. The two descriptions refer to the same cemetery. grave ↗
father death year: report says “Stephen Munn Ball (1804) — death year not given in report”, records indicate “Stephen Munn Ball 1804–1892 (Find a Grave, verified live)”. Find a Grave adds a death year of 1892 for the father; this supplements rather than contradicts the report. grave ↗
Not yet confirmed — probable matches and family lore, shown for research. Treat with caution.
-
He may have married Martha Adelaide Divinney, daughter of John Divinney, in August 1858 in Michigan — but this is UNCORROBORATED. likely
likely spouse: report “Married Martha Adelaide Divinney, Aug 1858, Michigan (per New England Ball Project)” vs. found “Find a Grave memorial 6634200 lists NO spouse; The New England Ball Project (via the Internet Archive) is the only source for the marriage.”. The primary cemetery source shows no spouse, while The New England Ball Project records a marriage to Martha Adelaide Divinney (August 1858); held at "likely" pending a Michigan marriage record or census linking the couple.
Open questions (4)
- The marriage to Martha Adelaide Divinney (Aug 1858, Michigan) rests on a single source — The New England Ball Project (via the Internet Archive) — and the Find a Grave memorial lists no spouse. A Michigan marriage record, census, or other independent record linking Alvin and Martha would confirm it.
- Alvin's specific birthplace within New York is not stated (sources give only 'NY'); the family's location (Hanover, Chautauqua County / Onondaga County area) suggests western or central New York but is unconfirmed for Alvin himself.
- Whether Alvin had any children is not recorded in the sources consulted; none are listed on his Find a Grave memorial.
- Cause and place of death (he died at 33 in 1865) are unknown; no obituary or death record was located.
Sources consulted (4)
- Alvin Billings Ball, Find a Grave Memorial ID 6634200 (Balltown Cemetery, Chautauqua County, NY) — verified live during audit · grave
- Find a Grave memorial search — Alvin Ball, b.1832 d.1865, New York (1 matching record) · grave
- Balltown Cemetery, Balltown, New York — Find a Grave Cemetery #963755 · grave
- Alvin Billings Ball (via Internet Archive) · Internet Archive
Ancestry
Four generations back. Tap any name to recenter the chart, or open the full family tree.