Colonel William A. Ball**

Colonel William A. Ball

Born:  1615 in Berkshire, England

Died: Oct. 15, 1680 in Lancaster, Virginia

Burried in St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lancaster, VA

(along with others in George Washington's maternal line)

Married to: Hannah Atherold (1619-1665)

Children:

John  1599-1655

Francis  1601-

Richard  1602-1666

Ailing  1603-

Samuel  1605- 

Richard  1638-1639

Captain William V. Ball  1641-1694

Edward  1642-1724

Richard  1645-1677

Colonel Joseph Ball 1649-1711

Hannah  1651-1695



Colonel William Ball

  

Col. William Ball was the Ball immigrant. He was the great
grandfather of George Washington. Almost all of these Virginia
ancestors were members of the House of Burgesses. William was a
member of the House of Burgesses, 1669-73

The majority of the earliest ancestors came to VA in the 1630-1650
era. The Balls were from Lancaster Co., VA. There are a great deal
of hand written land grants at Virginia Land Office Patents &
Grants/Northern Neck Grants & Surveys. Much can be found at the Mary
Ball Washington Library and St. Mary's White Chapel Church. They
consider Ball descendents to be royality.
(Source: Ted Kaufman, Dallas, TX 2002)

 

Colonel William Ball (1615) 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 when 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, 1677, 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 article by Anne Moeller (amoeller@cap.gwu.edu)
appearing in RootsWeb, quoting from book by Earl L.W. Heck,
": COLONEL WILLIAM BALL of VIRGINIA The Great-Grandfather
of Washington " as provided by "Larry Chesebro, lana-stl@inlink.com"

 

Buried at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Lancaster, VA

  Cemetery The cemetery surrounding the church is three centuries old.  The earliest grave that is marked is that of "John Stretchley, Gentleman, 1698."  Within these grounds also rest the remains of many of the Ball family, George Washington's maternal kin.  The monuments record the names of many of Lancaster County and Virginia's prominent citizens. Due to the generosity of interested parties, the historical section of St. Mary's Whitechapel Cemetery is maintained with great care.  Provisions have been made to maintain it with perpetual care. Additional information concerning the cemetery will be posted soon

Line to George Washington

Colonel William Ball

Colonel Joseph Ball

Mary Ball (mother of George Washington)