About 1655-6, Elizabeth became violently insane, which fact doubtless accounts for the apprenticing of her children as follows: John Jr and Mary or Marie (aged 5 years) on Jan 3, 1658 to John Pierce Sr; Sarah (aged 2 years) on Dec 9, 1656, to Richard Gale; on Aug 3, 1658, two other children were apprenticed (aged 3 years and 6 months respectively).380

Elizabeth Pierce was born April 11 1624, daughter of John Pierce and Elizabeth Trulle.[citation needed] The following have been associated with her, without source:
Christening:Date: 21 APR 1624
Place: Ogbourne St. Geo,Wiltshire,England


Baptism:Date:
Place: Saint Edmund, Norwich, Norfolk, England


She was the first wife of John Ball by whom she had four children. [1]
1 John Ball b. 1644.
2 Mary Ball b. ____.
3 Esther Ball b. ____.
4 Abigail Ball b. at Watertown April 20, 1658 and died soon.

Bond (1860) claims that she was insane in 1660 "and probably had been thus for some time. She gave much annoyance to her family and neighbors. (See [Watertown] Reg. of Deeds, vol. iii, p. 81)." She died.
She became violently insane and her children were apprenticed out.
1. Elizabeth's marriage to John Ball was very difficult because of his extended trips to Lancaster as that town was developed. She was convicted in 1657 and 1658 in the Middlesex County, MA County Court of "disorderly cariages" toward her neighbors and husband, and for a fist fight with her elderly father. The judges warned her that her "distempered mind" posed dangers to the community which must be vigilant to thwart "Sathan's temptaccion." Elizabeth countered that the problem was caused by her husband's neglect and admitted beatings - beatings which went unpunished. mefamilytree39 originally shared this on 10 Aug 202113