Colonel William Ball1,2
M, b. circa 1615, d. 15 October 1680
| Father | William Ball1 b. 1573, d. 1648 |
| Mother | Alice Waltham1 b. 1573, d. 1622 |
Colonel William Ball was born circa 1615 possibly in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Other sources place his birthplace as Beckham Manor, Berkshire, England or at Lincoln's Inn in Wiltshire. Kinnears book says William's parents were John Ball (d. 1628) and Elizabeth Webb but it seems less likely that William was born only 13 years before his father's death..3,4,5,6,7,8 William was baptized on 3 April 1618 at Darley, Derby shire, England.9
It appears that he studied law in England as later he showed more than ordinary knowledge in the principles of Common Law, which he interpreted for his fellow colonists in Virginia.
William married Hannah Atherold on 2 July 1638 in London, England.2,1,4,10,11
William was a soldier "under Fairfax", 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 may have been present at the battles of Naseby (14 June 1645) and Marston Moor (2 July 1644). 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.12
An ancient document is said to describe the Coat of arms of the family of Ball, brought to this country about the year 1650 by the first of that name who came to Virginia. The coat of arms has much that is bold about it, as a lion rampant, with a globe in his paw, and there is helmet and shield and visor, and coat of mail, and other things, betokening strength and courage. On the scroll that belongs to it are the words "Coelumque tueri" taken from the lines of Ovid "Pronaque cum spectant animalia caetera terram, Os homini sublime dedit, coulumque tueri", a momento to all his posterity to look upward and "seek the things which are above". On the back of the original copy are the following words in a bold hand: "The coat of arms of Colonel William Ball, who came from England with his family about the year 1650, and settled at the mouth of the Corotoman River."13
In 1653 a Certificate was granted to Capt. Henry Fleet to import 21 people to America, including William Ball. On 10 December 1653, William is said to have witnessed a deed in Lancaster County. On 16 November 1655, he witnessed the will of Arthur Dunn; on 15 April 1656 he appeared before the Lancaster County Court to affirm the due execution of the will.
On December 7, 1658, William was made executor to the estate of John Edwards, which gave Ball the power to sell the Edwards' estate, his horses, cattle, and Negroes; and it made provision that Colonel Ball should receive a share in the ship "Susan" and to make returns to Spencer Pigott, of Duke's Place, London.
The culture of tobacco had by 1655 become an important industry of Virginia, and was the chief, if not the only source of income to the colonists. By 1650 Augustine Herrman, of New Amsterdam, and George Hack, of Virginia, had built up a large trade in tobacco between the Colony and London. It is, therefore, quite probable that William Ball became a tobacco merchant, carrying the produce to England and disposing of it there.
William apparently made four trips between England and Virginia around 1656. In 1657, he was granted a certificate according to Act for transportation of himself four times ans also for the transport of Hugh Danys and Richard Ball.
In 1658 William appears in the Virginia tithable lists and, in 1659, he was sworn as a Justice for Lancaster County.6
William may have had a brother in Virginia and 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.
The records of the Land Office in Annapolis, Maryland, show that on 16 July, 1659, a warrant for 500 acres was granted to William Ball and his son Richard, together with a group of men from Lancaster County, on the condition that he enter his rights and seat his his land between this date and the 25th of March next.6 Here he built a home, which he named "Millenbeck" on the south side of the Currotoman River near its entry into the Rappahannock River. The site of this home is near the present town of Weems.14 Here he was a friend and neighbor of John Washington, grandfather of George Washington. It is said the "From time to time he visited his brothers in New England".15
According to an entry in the Lancaster County, Virginia, Order Book in January 1660/61, William's son Joseph was apparently sent from England to join him in Virginia.16
William was a member of the committee appointed to arrange for the government and support of the Church in Virginia. In 1660, he was the member of a court to make a treaty with the Indians and to establish a boundary for the occupation of the land by white men.
On Jnuary 18, 1663, William received a grant of land on Narrow Neck Creek in Lancaster County.17,6
On 8 November 1665 the Lancaster County Court made an order for the grant of a certificate to William Ball for the transportation to the royal colony of himself, his son, William, his wife, 'Hannah Ball Sr., and their daughter, 'Hannah Ball Jr.18
About 1667 (apparently after promotion to Major) William 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. Some say he built a beautiful Georgian mansion on his Lancaster County estate, which he named Millenbeck while others say it was his grandson. The estate was held for four successive generations by William Balls and played a prominent part in Virginia history.
On 28 March, 1675-6, William was empowered by the General Assembly of Virginia to mobilize men and horses to defend the colony against a rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon against the Colonial Governor William Berkeley and the Native Americans.
On 14 August 1677, William attended a meeting to discuss taxes being imposed by the General Assembly to put down Bacon's rebellion.6
William received the title of Colonel in 1672, possibly as a member of the General Court of Virginia. In the same year, he was the County Lieutenant of Lancaster County. He was made Warden of Christ Church, Lancaster County, in company with his friend and neighbor, John Washington, grandfather of General George Washington.19
William was also a burgess in the Virginia Assembly, 17 September 1668, 3 October 1670, 20 September 1671, 24 September 1672, 20 October 1673, 21 September 1674, and 20 October 1677.
In March 1675/6, "Coll William Ball and Lieut-Coll John Carter, or either of them, in the County of Lancaster" were empowered by the Virginia Assembly to raise soldiers for the defense of the county against the Indians. His title of Colonel at that time would indicate that he was county lieutenant or commander of the forces in active operation. For the transportation of his wife, children and other persons, Colonel Ball received sixteen hundred acres of land.2
On August 14, 1677, Colonel Ball and his neighbor, John Washington, were present at a meeting to impress upon the citizens the necessity of making immediate payment of a tax imposed upon the people by the General Assembly to put down Bacon's rebellion which had lately arisen.20 He also became the Presiding Magistrate of Lancaster County.6
William made a will on 5 October 1680 in Lancaster County, Virginia. The will was proven on 10 Nov 1680 after his death. In the will he left his land and plantation containing 540 acres to his son, William Ball, with the provision that his wife, Hannah, remain in full possession as long as she remained a widow. His two sons, William and Joseph, also received equal shares of 1600 acres in Rappahannock County and certain Negro slaves. To his daughter Hannah he left only 5 shillings "an overplus both of her portion and Deserts" The two sons, William and Joseph, were named as Executors of the will.21
William died on 15 October 1680 at his plantation "Millenbeck", on the Corotoman River, Lancaster County, Virginia.2,4,22,10,23 He was buried in the St. Mary's White Chapel Episcopal Cemetery at Lancaster, Lancaster County, Virginia.24,10,25
In 1698 Millenbeck was made a Port of Entry, Colonel Ball having sold 54 acres of the estate as a town site. The Millenback estate remained in the Ball family for nearly 200 years. Six generations of William Balls lived there. Millenbeck plantation is believed to have burnt prior to 1828. The high bluff on which it stood overlooking the Corotoman River was gradually worn away by rising tides and the force of the river. A pile of bricks and mortar and a number of bottle necks, the remains of the old wine cellar, some of which show the initials W.B. with the three estoiles of the Ball Coat of Arms may be seen at low tide where the old house stood. The lands became part of the Oakley estate, the seat of the Chinn family of Lancaster who were descendants of William's son Joseph.17,6
It appears that he studied law in England as later he showed more than ordinary knowledge in the principles of Common Law, which he interpreted for his fellow colonists in Virginia.
William married Hannah Atherold on 2 July 1638 in London, England.2,1,4,10,11
William was a soldier "under Fairfax", 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 may have been present at the battles of Naseby (14 June 1645) and Marston Moor (2 July 1644). 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.12
An ancient document is said to describe the Coat of arms of the family of Ball, brought to this country about the year 1650 by the first of that name who came to Virginia. The coat of arms has much that is bold about it, as a lion rampant, with a globe in his paw, and there is helmet and shield and visor, and coat of mail, and other things, betokening strength and courage. On the scroll that belongs to it are the words "Coelumque tueri" taken from the lines of Ovid "Pronaque cum spectant animalia caetera terram, Os homini sublime dedit, coulumque tueri", a momento to all his posterity to look upward and "seek the things which are above". On the back of the original copy are the following words in a bold hand: "The coat of arms of Colonel William Ball, who came from England with his family about the year 1650, and settled at the mouth of the Corotoman River."13
In 1653 a Certificate was granted to Capt. Henry Fleet to import 21 people to America, including William Ball. On 10 December 1653, William is said to have witnessed a deed in Lancaster County. On 16 November 1655, he witnessed the will of Arthur Dunn; on 15 April 1656 he appeared before the Lancaster County Court to affirm the due execution of the will.
On December 7, 1658, William was made executor to the estate of John Edwards, which gave Ball the power to sell the Edwards' estate, his horses, cattle, and Negroes; and it made provision that Colonel Ball should receive a share in the ship "Susan" and to make returns to Spencer Pigott, of Duke's Place, London.
The culture of tobacco had by 1655 become an important industry of Virginia, and was the chief, if not the only source of income to the colonists. By 1650 Augustine Herrman, of New Amsterdam, and George Hack, of Virginia, had built up a large trade in tobacco between the Colony and London. It is, therefore, quite probable that William Ball became a tobacco merchant, carrying the produce to England and disposing of it there.
William apparently made four trips between England and Virginia around 1656. In 1657, he was granted a certificate according to Act for transportation of himself four times ans also for the transport of Hugh Danys and Richard Ball.
In 1658 William appears in the Virginia tithable lists and, in 1659, he was sworn as a Justice for Lancaster County.6
William may have had a brother in Virginia and 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.
The records of the Land Office in Annapolis, Maryland, show that on 16 July, 1659, a warrant for 500 acres was granted to William Ball and his son Richard, together with a group of men from Lancaster County, on the condition that he enter his rights and seat his his land between this date and the 25th of March next.6 Here he built a home, which he named "Millenbeck" on the south side of the Currotoman River near its entry into the Rappahannock River. The site of this home is near the present town of Weems.14 Here he was a friend and neighbor of John Washington, grandfather of George Washington. It is said the "From time to time he visited his brothers in New England".15
According to an entry in the Lancaster County, Virginia, Order Book in January 1660/61, William's son Joseph was apparently sent from England to join him in Virginia.16
William was a member of the committee appointed to arrange for the government and support of the Church in Virginia. In 1660, he was the member of a court to make a treaty with the Indians and to establish a boundary for the occupation of the land by white men.
On Jnuary 18, 1663, William received a grant of land on Narrow Neck Creek in Lancaster County.17,6
On 8 November 1665 the Lancaster County Court made an order for the grant of a certificate to William Ball for the transportation to the royal colony of himself, his son, William, his wife, 'Hannah Ball Sr., and their daughter, 'Hannah Ball Jr.18
About 1667 (apparently after promotion to Major) William 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. Some say he built a beautiful Georgian mansion on his Lancaster County estate, which he named Millenbeck while others say it was his grandson. The estate was held for four successive generations by William Balls and played a prominent part in Virginia history.
On 28 March, 1675-6, William was empowered by the General Assembly of Virginia to mobilize men and horses to defend the colony against a rebellion led by Nathaniel Bacon against the Colonial Governor William Berkeley and the Native Americans.
On 14 August 1677, William attended a meeting to discuss taxes being imposed by the General Assembly to put down Bacon's rebellion.6
William received the title of Colonel in 1672, possibly as a member of the General Court of Virginia. In the same year, he was the County Lieutenant of Lancaster County. He was made Warden of Christ Church, Lancaster County, in company with his friend and neighbor, John Washington, grandfather of General George Washington.19
William was also a burgess in the Virginia Assembly, 17 September 1668, 3 October 1670, 20 September 1671, 24 September 1672, 20 October 1673, 21 September 1674, and 20 October 1677.
In March 1675/6, "Coll William Ball and Lieut-Coll John Carter, or either of them, in the County of Lancaster" were empowered by the Virginia Assembly to raise soldiers for the defense of the county against the Indians. His title of Colonel at that time would indicate that he was county lieutenant or commander of the forces in active operation. For the transportation of his wife, children and other persons, Colonel Ball received sixteen hundred acres of land.2
On August 14, 1677, Colonel Ball and his neighbor, John Washington, were present at a meeting to impress upon the citizens the necessity of making immediate payment of a tax imposed upon the people by the General Assembly to put down Bacon's rebellion which had lately arisen.20 He also became the Presiding Magistrate of Lancaster County.6
William made a will on 5 October 1680 in Lancaster County, Virginia. The will was proven on 10 Nov 1680 after his death. In the will he left his land and plantation containing 540 acres to his son, William Ball, with the provision that his wife, Hannah, remain in full possession as long as she remained a widow. His two sons, William and Joseph, also received equal shares of 1600 acres in Rappahannock County and certain Negro slaves. To his daughter Hannah he left only 5 shillings "an overplus both of her portion and Deserts" The two sons, William and Joseph, were named as Executors of the will.21
William died on 15 October 1680 at his plantation "Millenbeck", on the Corotoman River, Lancaster County, Virginia.2,4,22,10,23 He was buried in the St. Mary's White Chapel Episcopal Cemetery at Lancaster, Lancaster County, Virginia.24,10,25
In 1698 Millenbeck was made a Port of Entry, Colonel Ball having sold 54 acres of the estate as a town site. The Millenback estate remained in the Ball family for nearly 200 years. Six generations of William Balls lived there. Millenbeck plantation is believed to have burnt prior to 1828. The high bluff on which it stood overlooking the Corotoman River was gradually worn away by rising tides and the force of the river. A pile of bricks and mortar and a number of bottle necks, the remains of the old wine cellar, some of which show the initials W.B. with the three estoiles of the Ball Coat of Arms may be seen at low tide where the old house stood. The lands became part of the Oakley estate, the seat of the Chinn family of Lancaster who were descendants of William's son Joseph.17,6
Family | Hannah Atherold b. 21 Jul 1619, d. a 25 Jun 1695 |
| Children |
|
Citations
- [S1263] Larson, George Arthur, Pedigree Resource File DVD #126.
- [S1264] Thomas H. Bateman, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs.
- [S1264] Thomas H. Bateman, Colonial and Revolutionary Families of Pennsylvania, Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, George Larson's Pedigree Resource File #126 give birth date as 1614.
- [S1269] Ball Family Genealogy by Martha Cross Mordecai, maintained by Martha Mordecai NOTE: Web site no longer available on 2/23/16. All data taken from printout of site in 2006.
- [S1270] Doris Glade Vogel, My Ball Lineage in America, Vol. 3. Identifies place of birth as Lincoln's Inn, Wiltshire.
- [S1423] Ball, Colonel William.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-189.
- [S1491] Ball, Colonel William.Colonial Families of the USA, 1607-1775 [database on-line],Vol. II, Ball Family.
- [S1493] Kinnears and their Kin: a memorial volume of history, biography and genealogy, with Revolution (Ancestry.com. North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000 [database on-line].), page 654, Ball Family.
- [S1423] Ball, Colonel William.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-189.
- [S1423] Ball, Colonel William.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-189.
- [S1417] Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003, accessed on 23 May 2018.
- [S1423] Ball, Colonel William.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-169.
- [S1274] Bishop William Meade, Old Churches, Ministers, and Families of Virginia, Vol.2, p.126.
- [S1266] William Lee Ball, Genealogy of William Ball, Born 1812, Loudoun County, Virginia.
- [S1268] Mrs. Mary Ball Coultrap, The Ball-Bruen Genealogy, covering 15 generations, one line going back 43 generations, p. 17.
- [S1423] Ball, Joseph.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/wiki/Ball-168.
- [S1270] Doris Glade Vogel, My Ball Lineage in America.
- [S1423] Fox, Hannah Ball.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-216.
- [S1423] Ball, Joseph.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/wiki/Ball-168.
- [S1423] Ball, Colonel William.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-189.
- [S1423] Ball, Colonel William.Wikitree Genealogy, www.wikitree.com/wiki/Ball-189.
- [S1270] Doris Glade Vogel, My Ball Lineage in America, Same date & place.
- [S1472] Ball, William,Family Data Collection - Deaths [database on-line]. Compiled by Edmund West. Provo. UT. USA. Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2001.
- [S1270] Doris Glade Vogel, My Ball Lineage in America, Vol.3.
- [S1494] Ball, Col. William. Source: Find A Grave Index, New Version. Cemetery: Saint Mary's Whitechapel Episcopal Churchyard, Lancaster, Lancaster County, Virginia.