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.

1641 -

1667, Sep 30 - "Major William Ball rec'd 240 a. land on the N. side Rapp'k, adjoining the land of David Fox, formerly granted to Edward grimes, 1653, and by him deserted. Head rights- Wm. Jeffres, Abram Jackson, Time White, Bernard Moore and mary Feild.  It thus appears that William Ball's family did not leave England until his voyage from there in 1667.  There may have been some connexion between Col. Ball and Captain Joseph Fall of the ship Hope, which was plying between England and VA. 1650-1680.  In 1672 he was probably appointed County Lieutenant of Lancaster, as the records of North'd Co. show that mar. 19, 1772, and order of court was made for Mr. Robert jones to pay over to Colonel William Ball 1524 pounds of Tobacco.  On the same page Captain Wim. Ball is named, reerring probably to his son William, then 30 years of age.  In 1676 Mr. William Ball got judgment against the estate of Robert Jones. In march, 1675-6 "Coll. William Ball and lieut.  coll. john Carter, or either of then, in the count of lancaster, " were empowered by the Va. Assembly to impress emn and horses, &c., for the defence of the county against the Indians."  [Hadley 51]

Hadley goes on to state that "Military titles were never assumed in those days; they were conferred by the authority of the Governor, who, under the Royal Charter, was Commander-in-Chief of the Colony, and who appointed his aids in the various counties. "[51]

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 writes his last will and testamony.

Will of William Ball

In the name of God, Amen, I William Ball of ye County of Lancastr in Rapp being, Praised be God, in good & pfect 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 only 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 Lived, Express in two pattents containing 540 acres to my Sone William Ball and his heirs forever never ye les 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 kinds Excepting What is pticularly bequeathed out of it wch never ye less not to be Delivered till ye....................of her rights for & During her natural Life pvided she soe long Remained A Widdow and therefore it is my Will and pleasure that what shall remain 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, theree whereof I give and bequeath to my Sone 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 without 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. [Hayden 50]

before 1687 - (Capt) William Ball marries to Hannah Heale.  Earlier researcher including Hayden indicated that she was a Beale.  This is an incorrect transcription on the name.  There is ample evidence that Hannah was indeed a Heale based on the Will of George Heale on Dec 30, 1687. In this will he states that William Ball is his son-in-law and becomes one of the executors of the will which is also witnesses by Joseph Ball.

In The Name of God, Amen, I, George Heale of Lancaster in Rappahannock,  being sick ... ordain this to me my last will:  #1 I give my lands and plantation where I now live bounding upon SE side of Maine Road which leads from Mr. Ball's to a Mill which was formerly Josiah Drapers - all ye land between said Road & Thomas Davis containing 1,300 acres more or less to my son George Heale (Jr) and his heirs begotten of his body.  #2: I give reminder part of yt divident of land bounding upon the NW side of Main Road up along ye White Marsh  to Timothy Swamp thence to ye said Maine Road to be the dividing line between son George Heale (Jr) & his heirs - said Maine Road to be the dividing line between son George Heale (Jr) & my son John Heale.  It is also my will that if either of my 2 sons George & John die without heirs ye longest liver to hae the whole dividend of land containing 1,800 acres.  #3 - I give my land in ye forest at head of Corotoman, ye West side of Maine Swamp beginning on Swamp bounding on land formerly Nathaniel Browns which divides this land from land of Giles Robinson and ye land of Randolph Mill so far along line - direct course down to Maine Swamp shall include 400 acres to son Joseph Heale & his heirs & if Joseph dies then to son John Heale. #4 - I give my land in Cherry point bounding upon land of Mr. Keen and Mr. Crawleys containing 100 acres more or less to my daughter Ellin Heale and her heirs forever, but if she should die without heirs then it is my will and pleasure  that 100 acres come to daughter Elizabeth Heale and her heirs forever, but if she should die without heirs then to daughter Sarah Heale and her heirs forever,.  #5 - I give my land  at Corotoman containing 350 acres adjoining William Clark, Matthew White, Mr. Armes, Mr. Harrison and ye Maine Road to my daughters Elizabeth and Sarah Heale and to each of their heirs forever to be equally divided between them in quantity and quality buy if either of them should die without heirs of their body, then ye whole 350 acres to Longest survivor.  #6- I leave my quarter plantation to ye Forrest at head of Corrotoman with all land between there Except (what is already bequeathed to my son Joseph out of tract where my said Quarter now is ) to son George Heale for proper use of my son Nicholas Heale & his heirs forever ... but if he should die without heirs plantation and if child should die without heirs then to my son George Heale. #7 My son George to Executor and my loving friend Robert Carter and my Son in Law Mr William Ball ye overseers of this my will written 30 December 1697   .. /s/ George Heale      Wit Joseph Ball, James Innes, William Ball.   
                                    [Lancaster Will Bk (1690-1709), pp.74-75. written 30 Dec 1687; Recorded: Jan 1698]

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]

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, records on Virginia Surnames, link unworkable 2011
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
Lancaster County Will Book. (1690-1709), Virginia
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
Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, ed. Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography. Vol. 1- II NewYork, NY, Lewis Historical Pub. Co., 1915.
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.

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