There is still a good deal of debate about the father of William Ball. Joseph Ball Jr., (son of Joseph, grandson of William) apparently did some research on his family while living in England and tracked down a line through available material to a Ball of Barkham and Wokingham in Berkshire, England. The Records that he was using were compromised by the Great Fire of London in 1666 that burned almost 2/3 of the city and many many earlier records. We still have problems filling in the gaps due to this loss. This is line is being challenged by several researchers who say that the correct ancestor of William of Mellenbeck should be a Dr. Richard Ball of London. See the article of Peter Walne under Richard Ball.

Col. William Ball (1615) is one of the 'founding fathers" of Jamestowne, VA (1607-1670)
[ "Genealogies of Va. Families, Vol 1" : "William & Mary Quarterly] I find this particular statement to be in conflict with his dates of birth. he certainly was not in Jamestown in 1607 and probably didn't arrive here until after 1650. He certainly was an early settler of Virginia on the Rappahandock River in St Mary's Parish.

" The following biography of Col. William Ball comes from the books: "COLONEL WILLIAM BALL of VIRGINA, the Great Grandfather of George Washington", by Earl L. W. Beck, published and sold by Sydney Wm. Dutton. Also, "Colonial Virginians and Their Maryland Relatives", by Norma Tucker.
Colonel William Ball (1615) was born in England and educated in or about London. Evidence shows that he was married July 2, 1638 to Miss Hannah Atherold, the daughter of Thomas Atherold. He probably left England soon after the death of King Charles I, about 1650. He had studied law in England, and later interpreted the principles of Comon Law for fellow Virginia Colonists.

He was a soldier "under Fairfax" and served in the Royal Army and took part in the (English) Civil Wars, remaining true to the Royal standards and serving faithfully under the banners of the ill-fated King Charles. He was probably present at the battles of Naseby and Marston Moor. When the Royal Army was defeated, Colonel Ball lost the greater part of his considerable estates. In company with other Royalists, he fled to Virginia, the most loyal of the king's possessions, and last to surrender to Cromwell's authority.

Colonel William Ball probably had a brother in Virginia. Col. Ball did not apply for a land grant until at least 8 years after arriving in 1650. It is thought that he was waiting out the bad times at home and planned to return with the Stuarts when they were returned to the Throne. He seems, however, to have operated a vessel between England and Virginia during this time. He first appears in the Colonial records as a Merchant, probably a tobacco merchant.

After 1660, Col. William Ball took an active part in the religious, political and social life of Virginia. In 1660, he was a member of a court to make a treaty with the Indians and to establish a boundary for the occupation of land by the white men. He first received the title of Colonel in 1672, the year he was the County Lieutenant of Lancaster. If you held such a rank, you may have earned it as a member of the General Court of Virginia.

This august and aristocratic body was always composed of the class known at that time as 'gentlemen,' men of wealth, family and influence, and whose official station added much to their influence. They, with the Governor, formed the executive council, who dispensed the entire patronage of the colony in the way of official appointment, at the same time that each individual himself was himself commissioned 'Colonel' by Royal authority...The Governor was Lieutenant-General, the Councilors, Lieutenants of Counties with the title of Colonel, and in counties where a Concillor resided, some other person was appointed wih rank of Major.

From 1670 until his death in 1680 he was a member of the Burgesses of Lancaster County. He eventually became a planter and on January 18, 1663, received a grant of land on Narrow Neck Creek in Lancaster County. Four years later, he received a joint grant of 1600 acres in the County of Rappahannock on the north side of the river of the same name together with Thomas Chetwood. A few months later he acquired 300 acres of rich bottom land adjoining the estate of Daniel Fox. who later became the Colonel's son-in-law.

He built a beautiful Georgian mansion on his Lancaster County estate, which he named Millenbeck, probably after some place in Warwickshire or Northamptionshire in England. The estate was held for four successive generations by the William Balls and played a prominent part in Virginia's history. "

1657 - William Ball came to the colonies with his family in 1657. He settled on the Rappahandock River in St Mary's Parish. The "Millenbeck Plantation" was located near the mouth of the Corotoman River in what is now Lancaster County, VA.[Diane Curko, VANY - http://www.vanygenealogy.com/ball.htm]

1650 - There is a rather long and detail history written by Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis Neale about the St. Mary's White Chapel in Lancaster County, Virginia.  Some of the names connected to this church include David Fox, Ralaigh Downman, John Washington of Westmoreland County, as well as a good deal of information on the Ball family. 

"The Old Bible was given by Rawleigh Downman, of Belle Isle, in 1838.  The  beautiful circular Communion railing remains as in olden days, but the brick aisles have been planked and carpeted, as has the chancel, and fitted up with modern furniture.  The old Communion table is still in the vestry room. It once stood in the chancel, and was covered with a green velvet cover with a gilt fringe, and in the center was the Ball coat-of-arms in bas-relief and done in gilt.  This was sold years ago to one of the Downmans, whose maternal ancestor was a Ball. "

"In the churchyard are a number of old tombs of massive marble, bearing dates in the sixteenth and seventeenth  centuries.  Nearly all of the oldes are inscribed with the name of Ball. The first is David Ball, seventh son of William Ball, Mary Ann Ball, daughter of Rev. John Betrand, Jesse Ball, Mary Ball, daughter of Edwin Conway, and James Ball, her husband; Fanny, daughter of Rawleigh Downman, of Lettuce, third wife of James Ball and daughter of Richard Lee, of Ditchley.

These names show that this church counted among her numbers names of old Virginia Aristocrates of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.  Among the Churchmen of the eighteenth century we will mention, Chinn, Downman, Carter, Ball, Mitchell, Lee, Lewis, Ewell, McCarty, Towles, Chowning, Sneads, Pierce, Robinson and Chilton.  ...

In the corner of the churchyard ... Col. William Ball, who came to this county from England in 1650, settled at the mouth of Corrotoman River,  bringing his family. He died in 1669, leaving two sons and one daughter, Hannah, who married Daniel Fox.  William left eight sons.  Joseph left no male issue, but General George Washington is his grandson by his youngest daughter, Mary.  Mary Ball, grandmother of Washington, lies buried at "Epping Forest," five miles from the church, and a handsome oil picture of her adorns the walls of the court-room at Lancaster, county seat.  None of Col. William Ball's children are buried at the church, but his grandchildren and their descendants.  Joseph Ball married a Miss Ravenscroft, of England, and settled in London.  He was brother of Mary Ball, who was the mother of Washington.  He only daughter, Fannie married Raleigh Downman, of Morattico; Fannie, who married Col. James Ball, of Beaudley, and Mr. Raleigh Downman, of Belle Isle.  "   [Lewis pp. 308-312]

1670- 1740 - Various Ball family members served as Burgess of Lancaster County, VA

Williamson Ball, 1670, 1671, 1672, 1673, 1674, 1677.
Capt. Ball 1682-'3 (2 sessions).
William Ball, 1686.
Capt. William Ball, 1688 (32 days), 1690 (43 days), 1692.
Capt. Joseph Ball, 1694 (44 days), 1698.
Col. Jos. Ball, 1701.
Lt. Coll. Joseph Ball, 1702.
Capt. Wm. Ball, 1704.
Capt. Ball, 1705.
Capt. William Ball 1706.
Wm. Ball, 1711.
Major Wm. Ball, 1712, 1713, 1715.
Mr. James Ball, 1715, 1718, 1719.
Capt. James Ball, 1734, 1740.

1680 , Oct 25 - William Ball Sr. writes his last will and testamony.

Will of William Ball

"In the name of God, Amen, I William Ball of ye County of Lancaster in Rapp. being, Praised be God, in good & perfect health both of Body and Minde doe make & Ordaine this my Last will and Testament in Manner and form following (vis) Imp'et I bequeath my Soule to God almighty my maker and Creator in his Assurance of ye pardon and Remission of all my sins through ye death & merits of Jesus Christ my Savior & Redeemer and my body to ye Earth from when it Came to be Decently Intered and for my Worldly Estate my just Debts & final Rights first is Charged I give & Dispose as foll:

Item. I give and Devise my Land & Plantation whereon I Live, Express in two pattens containing five hundred forty acres to my Sone William Ball and his heirs forever never ye less it is my will & Pleasure yt my loving wife Hannah Ball be & Remaine in full possession thereof together with all household goods & Servants both Christians & Negrowes with ye............of Cattle of all Kinda excepting what is pticularly bequeathed out of wch never ye less not to be Delivered till ye....................of her rights for & During her natural life provided she soe long Remaine a Widdow and therefore it is my will and pleasure that what shall remaine in her possession be Inventoryed & Valued by her Selfe & my two sons between them themselves to ge [together?] and if She Should Marry againe She may then Enjoy on her pporionable parts according to Law.
Item, For ye Other part of my Estate Consisting Chiefly in Merchandiseing goods & Debts it is my Will and Pleasure ye same alsoe be Inventoryed & Valued as before and that she my s'd wife Likewise enjoy 1/3 part thereafter and that ye Remainder, together with what shall be Over and above her 3rd part of household goods, servants & Cattle of all Kinds & Not hereby pticularly bequeathed bee soone After ye termination of her Right thereby lymitted Divided into parts, there whereof I give and bequeath to my Son William Ball and his heirs forever & ye other two parts to my son Joseph Ball & his heirs forever their part of Marchantdizeing goods & Depts to be forthwith Delivered. Item, I give and Devise my land in ye freshes of Rappk. Cont'g by patent 1600 acres to my two sons William and Joseph and to each to their heirs forever to be equally Divided between them wihtout any Advantage of Survivorship if either of them should decese before Demission. Item, I give and Bequeath to my son William and his heirs my two negroes Called Tame & Katie and his Wife & to my sone Joseph and his heirs my negro Tony & Dinah his wife, the Negro Girle & her negro boy James to my wife to dispose of between my two sons of their Children & noe other wise when her Rights shall Determine Either by death or Marryage. Item, I give unto my sons William and Joseph Whatsoever Either of them stands indepted to me upon Acco. in my book.
Item, I hereby nominate & Appointe my two sons William and Joseph Executors of this my Last Will and Testament to act together in all things in ye Ordering and disposing of ye Estate according to the true Intent and meaning thereof by a due pformance of ye Several Exceptions pvisoes and Limitations therein contained hereby Renouncing all former Wills & declare this to be my last Will and testament by Witnessing the same wh, my hand Seale this 5th day of Octr. 1680, and in the 2 and thirtieth year of our Sovereigne Lord King Charles ye Second.

ed. note:  It is interesting to me that he is Willing a good number of negroe slaves and "white servants" These are probably indentured servants who still own a debt for passage.   This is the first instance I've seen this kind of inheritance. Inheriting slaves continues until 1865.
white servants  included 6: Luke Dickson, Thomas Alderton, Cox Scotch, Robin +++, James Casady and Sarah
negro slaves included 21:   Robin, Dyner (f), Dadoe(f)Samo, Tom, Mary, Dominy, Kate(f), + another boy and "girlie", Nany(f), Jack, Poll(f), Hannah(f), Betty(f), Tom, Betty(f), mulatto child, Coll(f), Betty2(f), Bess(f).

In the name of God, Amen, I, Hannah Ball, widow and relict of Coll. William Ball late of the County of Lancaster, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament.

2. I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Hannah, one negro or Mulatto girl named ................, being increase of a negro woman named Bess given unto me by husband, Coll. William Ball.

3. I give and bequeath unto my grandson William Ball one negro woman named Bess.

4. My grandson James Ball.

5. My daughter Hannah Fox and Grandson William Ball executors.

I set my seal in the year of our Lord 1695-June 25.

1698 July to Aug - William Ball, as executor of Capt. Wm. Ball, deceased for a debt, files suit against the estate of Henry Bell and the executor Richard Bell(this sometimes spelled Ball).

Lancaster Co. Judgement is granted to Wm Ball of Richard Ball estate of Capt Wm Ball, deceased against ffran ffrerzel for 488 pounds of tobacco unless he shows reason at next court [Lancaster Co., VA probate records OB 4 p 44 as copied by Billie Jones on GenWEB archives ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/lancaster/bios/bell1.txt]

1710- William Ball was Appointed Colonel in the Militia by Governor Spotswood.

Coats-of-Arms in Virgnia, "William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers," Vol. 1, No. 3. (Jan., 1893), pp. 167-171.

COATS-OF-ARMS IN VIRGINIA.
(Additions to the List given in last Quarterly.)
HANNAH BALL: will, Lancaster, June 25th, 1695, and Richard and David Ball, bond, Lancaster, 1712, apparently the same arms. the seals of the two last are perfectly pre- served, and bear a bend between two lions rampant holding a globe in the dexter paw. That on Mrs. Ball's will is somewhat defaced, but shows the bend between what appears to be lions. Her crest, perfectly preserved, is a lion rampant with dexter paw extended (probably holding a globe). This coat differs somewhat from the well known emblazoning of the Ball arms, described by Hayden (Va. Genealogies) and others.

JOSEPH BALL: Will, Lancaster, 1711. Seal bears I.B., and a merchants' mark.

Elizabeth 2d Dauter was Bornd 4h day of Feby 1680 about Sunrise & weighd 11 lbs. Baptzd at St Marys Sunday 15 May Mrs Margaret Ball, Mrs Elizabeth Rogers & Captain Ball standing for her.

Joseph Youngest son born Friday 28 Novr 1690 & Christnd at home on 10th Decr Mr Robt Carter & Mr Joseph Ball Godfathrs & Mrs Judith Carter Godmother.

REGISTER OF ST. JAMES NORTHAN PARISH, GOOCHLAND COUNTY.
John Payne and Anne Chichester, Anne Ball, b. Feb. 16, 1769.

William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol.
1, No. 3. (Jan., 1893), pp. 156-157.
LANCASTER COUNTY RECORDS.

__________

Lancaster County, Virginia Court Records - 1671
     "Att a court helde for ye County of Lancaster Nov. ye 8th
Ano Dni 1671 at ye Cort house there
     Mr Will Ball Sen            Mr Bryan Stott
     Mr George Wale              Mr Robt Beckenham
     Mr Tho. Hayne               Mr Will Ball, Jun.
     Mr Robt Griggs              Mr Tho. Marshall
                  Mr Dan: Harrison
Itt manifestly appearinge to yis Cort severale of its members

Capt. William Ball and his wife Margaret Williamson had a daughter, Margaret Ball who married Rawleigh Downman. When Rawleigh Downman died Margaret became involved with Rawleigh Chinn. Its hard to tell from the timing but this may have been one of several affairs that Rawleigh Chinn had. Rawleigh's first marriage to Joseph Ball's daughter Esther collapsed and Rawleigh has three illegitimite children with Margaret Ball Downman, Esther's first cousin according to the researchers of the Ball Library. [Ball Library. 12/1/02}

1740- 1743 List of Vestrymen in St. Mary's Parish, before the union of the parishes, from 1739 to 1756, and of both parishes after the union. by David Ball. (minister)

William Bertrand, William Ball, Jr., Joseph Ball, Joseph Heale, Jos. Chinn, Martin Shearman, Raleigh Chinn, Richard Chichester, Jesse Ball, Robert Mitchell, Colonel Ball, Major Ball, (making five Balls in one vestry,) Joseph Carter, Thomas Chinn. In the year 1743, the following vestrymen from Christ Church met with the vestry of St. Mary's White Chapel,--viz.: Henry Carter, Henry Lawson, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Steptoe, Mr. Martin, Captain Tayloe, Colonel Conway, Thomas Lawson, John Steptoe, Mr. Pinkard. At this time six of each vestry are appointed to form a general vestry, and it is sometimes difficult to determine to which parish each one belongs. Hugh Bent, from Christ Church, James Ball, Jr., Dale Carter, Stephen Towles, George Payne, Merryman Payne, Richard Selden, Thomas Chinn, Solomon Ewell, John Fleet, William Dymer, Charles Carter, John Chinn, James Kiok, Thaddeus McCarty, Thomas Griffin, Thomas Lawson, Edwin Conway, William Montague, in place of Charles Carter, in 1776, Henry Towles, James Newby, William Sydnor, John Berryman, Colonel John Tayloe, James Brent, William Chewning, James Ball, Jr..

In 1786, Cyrus Griffin is appointed to attend the Episcopal Convention in Richmond, and James Ball to attend the examination of the Rev. Edward Jones at the court-house. For what purpose and of what character that examination was, is not certainly known, but it is believed to have been a kind of trial under a canon of Virginia. Thus ends the vestry-book. [Mead. "Old Church Records of Virginia." Vol. 1 -2. Vol 2 online by Walker, Ruth. "Old Church Records of Virginia." part 2. http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?ball::va::13769.html]

Ball Library coorespondence. Dorothy Helmut 12/01/02, email - mbwlibrary.rivnet.net.
Cukro, Diane, Virginia Surnames website. http://www.vanygenealogy.com/
Hayden, Rev. Horace Edwin. M. A. Virginia Genealogies - A Genealogy of the Glassell Familis of Scotland and Virginia, also the Families of Ball, Brown, Bryan, Conway, Daniel, Ewell, Lewis, Littlepage, Moncure, Peyton, Robinson, Scott, Taylor, Wallace, and others, of Virginia and Maryland. copyrighted 1885, Wilks-Barre, Penn'a, 1891
Jones, Audrey records of and coorespondence on Genforum. Sep. 22. 2001, #4598
Mc Coy, Claudius T. "Genealogical History of the Sturgeons of North America." 1926 F# 442833, P#153, )#00956 Source LDS-IGI
Meade, William. Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia, Volume II. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, 1857
Lewis, Mrs. Elizabeth. Colonial Churches in the Original Colony of Virginia - A Series of Sketches by Especially Qualified Writers.  Richmond Southern Churchman Co., 1908
Walker, Ruth. Old Church Records of Virginia as listed on Genforum http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?ball::va::13769.html , coorespondence of 11/27/02 email - rwalker@hawkpci.net
Wright, William Ball. Ball family records : genealogical memoirs of some Ball families of Great Britain, Ireland, and America. York: Printed for the author by the Yorkshire Print. Co., 1908, 315 pgs.

 Cheryls Ancestor Chart #9 | More Ball family Information

Cheryl's Family Index | email to Cheryl Grubb

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