THE BALLARD SINGLE SHOT RIFLE

Ballard Rifle Patent Drawing

C.H. Ballard Patent No. 33,631 November 5, 1861
The Ballard single shot rifle was invented by Charles Henry Ballard of Worcester, MA and patented in 1861. Only 100 rifles were made by Ball & Williams in Worchester. In 1866 the company was purchased by Merwin & Bray under the name of Merrimack Arms Co. The company was sold again in 1869 to Brown Manufacturing Co of NYC. In 1873 the company went into foreclosure and was purchased by Schoverling & Daly of NYC. Schoverling & Daly contracted with John M. Marlin to produce the Ballard rifle. The single shot rifle of Charles Henry Ballard became one of the best of the time and the rifle's popularity continued under the Marlin Firearms Company until around 1891 as it was replaced by the repeating rifle. Various models and calibers were
made over the years of production. About Charles Henry Ballard: Charles Henry(7) [Henry(6), John(5), Josiah(4), Josiah(3), Joseph(2), William(1)] born at Brattleboro, Vt. June 24 1822; married at Worcester, April 2, 1845, Mrs. Eliza J. (Drury) Bliss; she died June 14, 1902. He was a machinist, residing at Worcester; he died August 9, 1901. Children: i. Carrie A., b. at Harwich; d. at Worcester, Mar. 26, 1857. ii. Fannie L. m. Apr. 18, 1877 (23 yrs. of age) Albert Post Hopson, of Branford, Conn. iii. Clara S., m. in Mar. 1882 (20 yrs. old) Willis H. Stoddard, of Worcester.