July, 1994 The Ball Family Sources: COLONEL WILLIAM BALL of VIRGINIA The Great-Grandfather of Washington by Earl L. W. Heck, published and sold by Sydney Wm. Dutton, 103, Newgate Street, London, E. C.1. MCMXXVIII, (on file at National Genealogical Society Library, 4527 17th Street North, Arlington, VA) Colonial Virginians and Their Maryland Relatives, by Norma Tucker (located at Montgomery County Historical Society, Rockville, MD) This line is of interest because of its famous son, George Washington. He had no children of his own, but there were cousins in the Ball line. His great-grandfather, Captain William Ball, was Eve Ball Taylor's grandfather. "The surname Ball, according to the best authorities dated from Norman times and is a shortened form of Baldwin, which family were for many generations Counts of Flanders. In fact, William the Conqueror married Matilda, the daughter of Baldwin VIII, and many of his immediate family came to England. After the Conquest the name apppears to have been shortened and was spelt various ways as Balle, Bale, Baell. Bradley points out that Baell corresponds to the Anglo-Saxon Bael, meaning funeral pile; while Ball is only a partial equivalent of the Saxon Bald, meaning bold." (Heck) There seems to be agreement that the name means one who is bold enough in battle to win, not bald, as in no hair. (Heck) -1.1 John Harvey and ? Of London See Thomas Atherold (1590) -1.1.1 Thomas Atherold and Mary Vessey Of Burgh, Suffolk. -1.1 Thomas Atherold (1590) and Hannah Harvey A barrister-at-law, who was living at Gray's Inn during 1610-1611. He apppears to have been the son of Thomas Atherold, of Burgh, Suffolk and Mary Vessey. Hannah Harvey's father was John Harvey (Heck) See Colonel William Ball, below. -1.1 Reverend Richard Ball Educated at Magdalen College, Oxford, where he took the degree of Batchellor of Arts in 1590 and Master in 1594. He was the second Professor of Rhetoric at Oxford. In 1603 he became vicar of St. Helen's Church. Dr. Ball left St. Helen's the year he received his coat of arms. (Heck) 1. Colonel William Ball (1615) and Hannah Atherall (Atherold) Born in England and educated in or about London. Evidence shows that he was married July 2, 1638, to Miss Hannah Atherall or Atherold, the daugher 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 Common 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. He 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 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, 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 is 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 Councillor resided, some other person was appointed with rank of Major." (Introduction to Vo. I. Calendar Papers, by Palmer) It is probable that Colonel was not a member of the General Court, since his name does not appear as a member of the General Court, but, was a Colonel of Foot or Horse and not County Lieutenant. He was doubtless Presiding Magistrate and Colonel Commander of the County. He served on various committees in Lancaster County from 1675-7. He was presiding member of various courts held in Lancaster County. On March 28, 1675-6 he and Lieutenant-Colonel John Carter were empowered by the General Assembly of Virginia to mobilize men and horses to defend the colony against Indians. Their leader was Nathaniel Bacon. On August 14, 16777, he was present at a meeting to discuss taxes being imposed by the General Assembly to put down Bacon's rebellion. 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 Narrrow Neck Creek in Lancaster County. Four years (apparently after promotion to Major) 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 Northamptonshire. The estate was held for four successive generations by William Balls and played a prominent part in Virginia history. Colonel Ball was a zealous supporter of the Virginia branch of the Church of England. He and John Washington were wardens of Christ Church, Lancaster County. (Taken from Heck's book) Children of Col. William Ball (1615): 1.1 Captain William Ball (1/2/1641-9/30/1694) and Ms. Williamson, Ms. Harris, Ms. Margaret Downman Born in England, he inherited Millenbeck. Captain Ball took an active part in the public affairs of Virginia. In 1687 he was appointed to lay off the boundary between Lancaster and Northumberland Counties. He was a Justice in 1680 and at various times from 1682-1688 he was a Burgiss from Lancaster County. (Heck) 1.2 Joseph Ball and Mary Spencer 1.3 Hannah Ball and Daniel Fox Children of Captain William Ball (1641) and ________ Harris?: 1.1.1 William Ball (1676) and Hannah Beale 1.1.2 Richard Ball (1676) and Sarah Young 1.1.3 Major James Ball (1678) and Elizabeth Hawson and Mary Dangerfield 1.1.4 Joseph Ball (1680) and Mary Johnston 1.1.5 George Ball (1683) and Grace Waddy 1.1.6 Samuel (1686) and Ann Taylor 1.1.7 David Ball (1686) and Ellen Heale 1.1.8 Stretchley Ball (died young) 1.1.9 Margaret Ball and Rawleigh Downman Children of William Ball (1676) and Hannah Beale 1.1.1.1 William Ball(-1773?) and Mary Ball Married in 1723. They were first cousins. 1.1.1.2 Sarah Ball and Dennis McCarty 1.1.1.3 Ellen Ball and Rawleigh Downman Rawleigh Downman married also Frances Ball, daughter of Major James Ball. Children of William Ball(-1773?) and Mary Ball 1.1.1.1.1 William Ball and Lettice Lee (daughter of Col. Henry Lee) Children of William Ball and Lettice Lee 1.1.1.1.1.1 Dr. William Ball (-1785) Died in Lancaster County naming Col.. Henry Towles as executor. Children of Major James Ball (1678) and Mary Dangerfield: 1.1.3.1 Mary Ball (1707-1708) 1.1.3.2 Frances Ball (1709) and Rawleigh Downman 1.1.3.3 Sarah Ball (1711) and Charles Ewell 1.1.3.4 Eve Ball (12/24/1713) and Thomas Taylor, Jr. (See Taylors) 1.1.3.5 Jesse Ball (1716) and Frances Burgiss 1.1.3.6 Fames Ball (1718) and Lettice Lee 1.1.3.7 ary Ball (1721) and Col. Richard Seldon 1.1.3.8 Edwin Ball (1722) 1.1.3.9 Jeduthum Ball (1725) and Elizabeth Burgiss 1.1.3.10 Sinah Ball (1727) and Col. Daniel McCarty (Major James Ball had children by another wife, not listed here.) Children of Joseph Ball (1649-1711): 1.1.4.1 Mary Ball and Augustine Washington Augustine Washington was the son of Lawrence Washington and Mildred Warner 1.1.4.1.1 George Washington Children of Joseph Ball and Mary Spencer 1.2.1 Spencer Ball (-1769) Children of Spencer Ball (-1769) 1.2.1.1 Col. William Ball (-1807) and Hannah Smith Children of Col. William Ball (-1807) and Hannah Smith 1.2.1.1 Joseph Ball 1.2.1.2 Fauntleroy Ball 1.2.1.3 Thomas Ball 1.2.1.4 Augustine Ball 1.2.1.5 Enoch Ball 1.2.1.6 Margery Ball and _____ Hughlet 1.2.1.7 John B. Ball 1.2.1.8 Benjamin Ball 1.2.1.9 Edward Ball 1.2.1.10 Jean Smith Ball -- Anne Moeller (amoeller@cap.gwu.edu) Computer Science and Business Education Department Colonel Zadok Magruder High School 5939 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville, MD 20855