BALL[i]

Baldwin , Balle, Bale, Baell, Bael, Bald

Information from "Windows Into Our Past A Genealogy of the Cowne, Gough & Associated Families, Volume 2", compiled by Judy Parsons Smith © 1998.

The surname Ball dates back as far as the Norman times.  Most believe that it is a shortened version of Baldwin .  Possibly the family came from the area of Flanders in France .  It is noted that William the Conqueror  m. Matilda , daughter of Baldwin   VIII .  After this union, many of her immediate family followed to England.  It seems to be agreed that the name Ball means, "one who is bold enough to battle to win.

Reverend Richard Ball

Reverend Richard Ball  received his education at Magdalen College, Oxford.  Here he received his Bachelors of Arts in 1590 followed in 1594 by his Masters.  He was the second professor of Rhetoric at Oxford.  He became vicar of the St. Helen's Church in 1603.  He left this position when he received his coat of arms .  Rev. Richard Ball  had:

brother - residing in Virginia[ii]
William , b. 1615

Colonel William Ball

Colonel William Ball , son of Rev. Richard Ball, b. 1615, England; d. 1680, Lancaster Co., VA; m. 2 Jul 1638, London, England to Hannah Atherold , daughter of Thomas & Hannah (Harvey) Atherold, b. 1614/15; d. 1694/95.

William Ball  was educated in England.  He studied law in England and later used his knowledge to interpret the Common Law in the Virginia colonies.  He served as a soldier "under Fairfax", in the Royal Army and participated in the (English) Civil Wars.  After the defeat of the Royal Army, Colonel Ball  lost a considerable part of his estates in England.

Together with other royalists he fled to Virginia shortly after the death of King Charles I , ca. 1650.  Fleeing the rule of Cromwell.  William did not apply for a land grant until ca. 1658.  He operated a vessel between England and Virginia between 1650 and 1658. 

By 1660, he was taking an active roll in the religious, political and social life of Virginia. He was a member of a court which met to make a treaty with the Indians and establish a boundary for land to be occupied by white men.  He received the title of Colonel in 1672.  It was in that year that he was the County Lieutenant of Lancaster, Virginia.

On 18 Jan 1663, he received a grant of land on Narrow Neck Creek in Lancaster County, Virginia.  Three he became a planter.  Four years later he, together with Thomas Chetwood , received a joint grant of 1600 acres in Rappahannock County on the north side of the Rappahannock River.  Shortly afterwards he obtained an additional 300 acres of rich bottom land adjoining the estate of Daniel Fox  (later to be his son-in-law).  An impressive Georgian mansion was built on his Lancaster County estate, named Millenbeck.  The estate was held by the family for four generations.

He was doubtless Presiding Magistrate and Colonel Commander of the County.  He served in 1675/76 in various positions in Lancaster County.  He also presiding member of various courts held in Lancaster County.

On March 28 1675/76, William together with Lieutenant-Colonel John Carter  were empowered by the General Assembly of Virginia to mobilize men and horse to defend the colony against Indians.  They were led by Nathaniel Bacon .  Ironically within two years on August 14, 1677 we find him present at a meeting to discuss the taxes that were being imposed by the General Assembly to put down Bacon's rebellion.

He was a zealous supporter of the Virginia branch of the Church of England.  Both he and John Washington  were wardens of Christ Church, in Lancaster County.  He remained a member of the Burgesses of Lancaster County from 1670 until his death in 1680.

William & Hannah (Atherold) Ball  had three (3) children :

1.   Capt. William, b. 2 Jan 1641 , England; d. 30 Sept 1694; m 1st Ms. Williamson ; m 2nd Ms. Harris ; m 3rd Margaret Downman .
2.   Joseph, m. Mary Spencer .
3.   Hannah, m. Daniel Fox .

Captain William Ball

1.  Captain William Ball , son of William & Hannah (Atherold) Ball, b. 2 Jan 1641, England; d. 30 Sept 1694; m 1st Ms. Williamson ; m 2nd Ms. Harris ; m 3rd Margaret Downman . 

Capt. Ball, inherited Millenbeck from his father.  He was active in the public affairs of Virginia.  In 1687 he was appointed to lay off the boundary between Lancaster and Northumberland Counties.  In 1680 he served as a Justice, and on and off between 1682-1688 he was a Burgess from Lancaster County.

Captain William & Ms. (Williamson) Ball  had nine (9) children :

1.1.       William, b. 1676; m. Hannah Beale .
1.2.       Richard, b. 1676 ; m. Sarah  Young .
1.3.       Major James, b. 1678 ; m 1st Elizabeth Hawson ; m 2nd Mary Dangerfield .
1.4.       Joseph, b. 1680 ; m. Mary Johnston .
1.5.       George, b. 1683 ; m. Grace Waddy .
1.6.       Samuel, b. 1686 ; m. Ann Taylor .
1.7.       David, b. 1686 ; m. Ellen Heale .
1.8.       Stretchley , d. young .
1.9.       Margaret, m. Rawleigh  Downman .

Joseph Ball

2.  Joseph Ball , son of William & Hannah (Atherold) Ball, b. 24 May 1649, England; d. 11 Jul 1711, Epping Forest, Lancaster Co., VA; m 1st Mary Spencer ; m 2nd  1706/07 to Mary Bennett , West Chester, England; d. 1720/21 .

Joseph & Mary (Bennett) Ball  had one child :

2.1.  Mary, m. Augustine Washington , son of Lawrence & Mildred (Warner )  Washington .

 Joseph & Mary (Spencer) Ball  had :

2.2.  Spencer, d. 1769

William Ball

1.1.  William Ball , son of Captain William & Ms. (Williamson) Ball, b. 1676; m. Hannah Beale .  William & Hannah (Beale) Ball had three (3) children :

1.1.1.   William, d. ca. 1773 ; m. 1723 to (his first cousin) Mary Ball .
1.1.2.   Sarah, m. Dennis  McCarty .
1.1.3.    Ellen, m. Rawleigh  Downman .  He m 2nd to Frances Ball , daughter of Major James Ball .

Major James Ball

1.3.  Major James Ball , son of Captain William & Ms. (Williamson) Ball, b. 1678; m 1st Elizabeth Hawson ; m 2nd Mary Dangerfield . 

Major James & Mary (Dangerfield) Ball  had ten (10) children :

1.3.1.    Mary , b. 1707 ; d. 1708.
1.3.2.   Frances, b. 1709 ; m. Rawleigh Downman  [widower of Ellen Ball , daughter of William & Hannah (Beale) Ball. ]
1.3.3.    Sarah, b. 1711 ; m. Charles Ewell
1.3.4.   Eve , b. 24 Dec 1713 ; m. Thomas Taylor , Jr .
1.3.5.    Jesse, b. 1716 ; m. Frances Burgiss .
1.3.6.    James, b. 1718 ; m. Lettice Lee .
1.3.7.   Mary Ball , 1721; m. Col. Richard Seldon .
1.3.8.   Edwin, b. 1722
1.3.9.     Jeduthum, b. 1725; m. Elizabeth Burgiss .
1.3.10.     Sinah, b. 1727 ; m. Col. Daniel McCarty .

Mary Ball

2.1.  Mary Ball , daughter of Joseph & Mary (Bennett) Ball, b. 1708/09, Lancaster Co., VA; d. 25 Aug 1789, Fredericksburg, VA; m. 6 Mar 1730/31 to Augustine Washington .  Augustine & Mary (Ball) Washington  had six (6) children :

2.1.1.      George Washington   b. 11 Feb 1732
2.1.2.      Betty Washington , b. 1732/33
2.1.3.      Samuel Washington , b. 1733/34
2.1.4.      John Augustine Washington , b. 1735/36
2.1.5.      Charles Washington , b. 1737/38
2.1.6.      Mildred Washington , b. 1738/39

Spencer Ball

2.2.  Spencer Ball, son of Joseph & Mary (Spencer) Ball , d. 1769.  Spencer Ball had :

2.2.2.  Col. William Ball , d. 1807.

William Ball

1.1.1.  William Ball , son of William & Hannah (Beale) Ball, d. ca. 1773; m. 1723 to (his first cousin) Mary Ball .  William & Mary (Ball) Ball  had:

1.1.1.1.    William Ball , m. Lettice Lee , daughter of Col. Henry Lee .  For Further Information See Lee.

Col. William Ball

2.2.2.  Col. William Ball , son of Spencer Ball, d. 1807; m. Hannah Smith .  Col. William & Hannah (Smith) Ball  had ten (10) children:

2.2.2.1.      Joseph Ball
2.2.2.2.    Fauntleroy Ball
2.2.2.3.     Thomas Ball
2.2.2.4.    Augustine Ball
2.2.2.5.    Enoch  Ball
2.2.2.6.      Margery Ball ; m. _____ Hughlet
2.2.2.7.      John B. Ball
2.2.2.8.      Benjamin Ball
2.2.2.9.       Edward Ball
2.2.2.10.    Jean Smith Ball

William Ball

1.1.1.1.  William Ball , son of William & Mary (Ball) Ball, m. Lettice Lee , daughter of Colonel Henry Lee  (For Further Information See Lee).  William & Lettice (Lee) Ball  had:

1.1.1.1.1.  Dr. William Ball , d. 1785, Lancaster County, Virginia.  In his will he named Colonel Henry Towles  as executo r.

[i] "Colonel William Ball  of Virginia the Great-Grandfather of Washington", by Earl L. W. Heck, published by Sydney Wm. Dutton; "Colonial Virginians and their Maryland Relatives" by Norma Tucker; "The Ball Famiy", compiled by Anne Moeller, 5939 Muncaster Mill Road, Rockville, MD 20855.
[ii] This is based on the fact that he did not apply for a land grant until eight years after arriving in the colonies.