Person Page - 372

     There is much uncertainty about the English ancestry of Joseph Matthaus Ball. According to two of his researchers "There have been few Colonial American pedigrees more difficult to trace in England than that of Colonel William Ball, the great-grandfather of Washington on his mother's side. And there are few other instances where such a long and persistent effort has been made to determine the English branch without much success." (Heck, 'Colonel William Ball of Virginia, the Great-Grandfather of Washington', 1928) and "On few families can so much ink have been spilt to so inconclusive a result as is the case with the Ball family." (Walne, 'The English Ancestry of Colonel William Ball of Millenbeck', 1959). There is much conflicting information in published Ball family trees. The information on Joseph Matthaus Ball and his ancesters given herein is taken primarily from http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-168#_note-1 which includes many historical records togetherwith an analysis of Ball genealogies from several authors.

Joseph was born on 25 May 1649 in England.^3,4,5,6

According to an entry in the Lancaster County, Virginia, Order Book in January 1660/61, Joseph was apparently sent from England to join his father in Virginia. The US and Canada Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1599s-1900s say he arrived in Virginia in 1667.⁷

Joseph married Elizabeth Julia Romney in 1675 at England. There is some uncertainty about this marriage. According to an extensive search by Elizabeth Combs Pierce (see Virginia Genealogies), there is no record of Col. Ball’s marriages among the marriage bonds of Lancaster County nor is the name of his first wife mentioned in the county or church books. Although some sources give the name of his first wife as “Rogers,” the tradition among his descendants is that she was named Elizabeth Romney or Rumney and the name Romney occurs frequently among his descendants. Thus, it seems most likely that her name was Elizabeth Romney. US & International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 has 1672 as the marriage date.^3,8,6,9

Joseph was named as an heir in the will of his father, Colonel William Ball, on 5 October 1680 in Lancaster County, Virginia. He was given an equal share of 1600 acres in Rappahannock County with his brother, William and both were named executors of the will.¹⁰

Joseph was named as an heir in a will of his mother, Hannah Ball, on 5 Dec 1694. He was not included in her second will dated 25 June 1695.¹¹

Joseph married Mary Montague in 1700 in Lancaster County, Virginia.^12,13

It is said that Joseph's second wife was "Mary Montague Johnson, a descendant of the ancient and honorable house of Montague, which was founded by Drogo de Montacuto, in the eleventh century". Her daughter, Mary Ball, is said to have married Augustine, son of John Washington, and became the mother of George Washington. Hiowever, this relationship is very controversial and may have been ruled out by recent DNA evidence.^14,15

Joseph served as a justice of the county court, a vestryman for his church parish, and as a Member of the Virginia House of Burgess in 1698, 1700, and 1702. A Joseph Ball is listed as a Capt. with 103 men in the Lancaster Co., Virginia militia in 1698. Later in the same year he is listed as a Lt. Col. He is also listed as a Lt. Col in the same militia on 5 March 1701/2 when he took an oath to his Majesty. He is also listed as a Lt. Col. in the Lancaster Co. militia on 17 June 1703.¹⁶

In 1703, Col. Joseph Ball made a gift deed tohis son-in-law Rawleigh Chinn, Gent. of 190 A. "To the westward of the landof the sd Col. Joseph Ball" which afterward bore the name "Oakley" and which has never been out of the possession of descendants of Rawleigh and Esther Ball Chinn. This deed was witnessed by "Mary Johnson, her mark."⁹

Joseph married Mary Johnson Ball Hewes circa 1706 Before her marriage to Joseph Ball, Mary had married a man named Johnson and had two children, Elizabeth Johnson Bonham and John Johnson. After Joseph Ball's death, Mary was married for the third time in 1712 to Captain Richard Hewes, a vestryman of St Stephen's Parish. Richard died in 1713, leaving Mary a widow for the third time. Note that Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, Virginia says that Joseph Ball of "Epping Forest" had a child, Mary, by his marriage with Mrs. Johnson who Married Augustine Washington and was the mother of George Washington..^17,18,6

Joseph made a will on 25 June 1711 in St Mary's White Chapel Parish, Lancaster County, Virginia. In the will he indicated that he was sick and weak. He left his wife Mary Ball some specific furniture and livestock, two negro slaves, and an indentured Irish servant. To his daughter Mary he left 400 (out of 1200) acres in Richmond County with the balance of 1200 acries to go to his son Jos Ball who was appointed Executor of the will. To Eliza Johnson, the daughter of his wife Mary, he left a purchased 100 acres. The negro slaves now on his plantation were to be equally divided between his son Jos Ball, his daughters Ann Conway and Esther Chinn. His daughter Hannah Travers was also mentioned in the will.¹⁹

Joseph died on 11 July 1711 in Epping Forest Plantation, Lancaster County, Virginia, at age 62.^3,20,21,6 He was buried in the Saint Mary's Whitechapel Episcopal Churchyard at Lancaster, Lancaster County, Virginia.^3,22

     Elizabeth Julia Romney was born in 1653 in England.^2,3

Elizabeth married Joseph Matthaus Ball in 1675 in England. There is some uncertainty about this marriage. According to an extensive search by Elizabeth Combs Pierce (see Virginia Genealogies), there is no record of Col. Ball’s marriages among the marriage bonds of Lancaster County nor is the name of his first wife mentioned in the county or church books. Although some sources give the name of his first wife as “Rogers,” the tradition among his descendants is that she was named Elizabeth Romney or Rumney and the name Romney occurs frequently among his descendants. Thus, it seems most likely that her name was Elizabeth Romney. US & International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 has 1672 as the marriage date..^2,4,5,6

Elizabeth died on 6 February 1703 in Lancaster County, Virginia. Apparently she was not buried in a cemetery..³

     Mary Johnson Ball Hewes was born circa 1650. Mary's ancestry is very uncertain. Some genealogies indicate that she was the daughter of one of the sons of Peter Montague. Other genealogies indicate that she may have been a Bennett. Data herein is taken from a comparison of the records of Westmoreland, Lancaster, and Middle sex Counties by Miss Lucy Beale..^2,3

In 1703, Col. Joseph Ball made a gift deed tohis son-in-law Rawleigh Chinn, Gent. of 190 A. "To the westward of the landof the sd Col. Joseph Ball" which afterward bore the name "Oakley" and which has never been out of the possession of descendants of Rawleigh and Esther Ball Chinn. This deed was witnessed by "Mary Johnson, her mark."³

Mary married Joseph Matthaus Ball circa 1706 Before her marriage to Joseph Ball, Mary had married a man named Johnson and had two children, Elizabeth Johnson Bonham and John Johnson. After Joseph Ball's death, Mary was married for the third time in 1712 to Captain Richard Hewes, a vestryman of St Stephen's Parish. Richard died in 1713, leaving Mary a widow for the third time. Note that Genealogical and Historical Notes on Culpeper County, Virginia says that Joseph Ball of "Epping Forest" had a child, Mary, by his marriage with Mrs. Johnson who Married Augustine Washington and was the mother of George Washington..^4,5,6

Mary was named as an heir in the will of her husband, Joseph Matthaus Ball, on 25 June 1711 in St Mary's White Chapel Parish, Lancaster County, Virginia. She was left some specific furniture and livestock, two negro slaves, and an indentured Irish servant. She was also giver a tract of land defined by leaps and bounds to enjoy for the rest of her natural life.⁷

Mary died in 1721 in Cherry Point Farm, Northumberland County, Virginia. Her will, dated December 17, 1721, was made at St Stephen's Parish and mentions Mary Ball, John Johnson, and her daughter, Elizabeth Bonim (Mrs. Samuel Bonim). John Johnson and George Eskridge are named as executors..¹

     Mary Montague was born in 1665 in Christ Church, King George, Virginia. Her parents were Peter Montague (1634-1695) and Mary Maria Doodes (1642-1686)..^1,2,3

Mary married Joseph Matthaus Ball in 1700 in Lancaster County, Virginia.^4,5

Mary died on 12 April 1743 in Ferry Far, King George, Virginia.³

     Miss Harris was born say 1643 in Bay View, Northumberland County, Virginia.²

Miss married Captain William Ball say 11 November 1672 in Lancaster County, Virginia.^1,3,4 She died before 26 March 1673.⁵

     Margaret Downman was born circa 1645 in Morattico, Lancaster County, Virginia. She was the daughter of Rawleigh Downman..²

Margaret married Captain William Ball in 1664 in Lancaster County, Virginia.^3,4 From the will of Margaret (Williamson) Ball dated 1697, William and Margaret had the following children:
- Richard Ball, born 1675; died 1726; married Sarah Young;
- James Ball, born ca. 1678; died 13 Oct 1754; married Elizabeth Howson on 15 June 1699; married Mary (Conway) Dangerfield on 16 April 1707; and married Mary Ann (Bertrand) Ballendine on 25 April 1742. He was a JP and a burgess in the Virginia Assembly and was also buried in the Old White Chapel Church yard;;
- Margaret Ball, born 1670; died in 1758; married first Raleigh Downman and later Rawleigh Chinnn;
- Joseph Ball, born 1680; died in September 1721; married Mary Mottron;
- George Ball, born about 1683; died 1749; married Grace Haynie;
- Samual Ball, born 26 September 1686; died 1751; married Mary Spencer;
- David Ball, born 26 September 1686; died 14 December 1732; married first Mary ? and second Ellen Heale;
- Strechley Ball, born about 1687; died young between 1694 and 1697.^5,4 Margaret Downman died circa 1720 at Lancaster County, Virginia.⁶

     Captain William Ball was born on 2 June 1641 in London, England.^1,2,3,4

There is considerable uncertainty about the marriages of Captain William Ball, the order of his marriages, and who was the mother of each of his children. The order used here is taken from the Wikitree source. William is said to have left eight sons and one daughter, five of whom had male heirs in 1779. All of the children, except William III, are assigned herein to his third and last wife, Margaret Williamson, as stated in her will.⁵

William married Margaret Downman in 1664 in Lancaster County, Virginia.^6,3

On 08 Nov 1665 the Lancaster County Court granted a certificate for William, his mother and his sister for transportation to the royal colony of Virginia.⁷

William married Miss Harris say 11 November 1672 in Lancaster County, Virginia.^1,8,3

The eldest son of Captain William Ball and Miss Harris, Colonel William (3) Ball, was born in Lancaster Co. in 1676, died in March 1744 and was buried in the Old White Chapel Church yard, Lancaster Co. He was a JP and a member of the Virginia Assembly from Lancaster. He was a captain, major, colonel and county lieutenant and surveyor of Northumberland Co. He was a first couson of Mary (Ball) Washington, mother of George Washington.¹

William married Margaret Williamson on an unknown date..^1,8,9 From the will of Margaret (Williamson) Ball dated 1697, William and Margaret had the following children:
- Richard Ball, born 1675; died 1726; married Sarah Young;
- James Ball, born ca. 1678; died 13 Oct 1754; married Elizabeth Howson on 15 June 1699; married Mary (Conway) Dangerfield on 16 April 1707; and married Mary Ann (Bertrand) Ballendine on 25 April 1742. He was a JP and a burgess in the Virginia Assembly and was also buried in the Old White Chapel Church yard;;
- Margaret Ball, born 1670; died in 1758; married first Raleigh Downman and later Rawleigh Chinnn;
- Joseph Ball, born 1680; died in September 1721; married Mary Mottron;
- George Ball, born about 1683; died 1749; married Grace Haynie;
- Samual Ball, born 26 September 1686; died 1751; married Mary Spencer;
- David Ball, born 26 September 1686; died 14 December 1732; married first Mary ? and second Ellen Heale;
- Strechley Ball, born about 1687; died young between 1694 and 1697.^8,3

William was named as an heir in the will of his father, Colonel William Ball, on 5 October 1680 in Lancaster County, Virginia. He was given the 540 acre plantation in Lancaster County and an equal share with his brother Joseph of 1600 acres in Rappahannoch County. He was named Executor of the will together with his brother.¹⁰

William was a justice of the Lancaster County Court from 1676 to 1680 and a burgess in the Virginia Assembly in 1682, 1683, 1685, 1688, and 1692. In 1687 he was appointed to lay off the boundary between Lancaster and Northumberland Counties. He held the rank of Captain from 1682 to 1692.^1,8

William died on 30 September 1694 in St Mary's Whitechapel Parish, Lancaster County, Virginia, at age 53.^11,1,3 He was buried in the Ball Cemetery at "Bay View"..⁸