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Mathews-Williams Family Genealogy
Notes
Edwin Conway was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was a leading man in Lancaster Co., VA for many years. He was Lieut.-Col. of Militia and Burgess from 1710 to 1742, except the year 1720. He was also a vestryman for many years of Christ Church, and St. Mary's Whitechapel, in Lancaster.
In the records of Lancaster Co., VA there is the following deed:
"I, Edwin Conway, of the County of Lancaster, in consideration of my love to my granddaughter Sarah Ann McAdam, have given and delivered unto Dr. Joseph McAdam, her husband, of the county of Northumberland, three negro slaves, vizt: Jesse, Sarah and her child Daniel, to have and to hold unto the said Joseph, his heirs and assigns. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale, the 16th day of January, Anno Domini, 1761.EDWIN CONWAY
"Sealed and Delivered in Presence of John Porter, James Kirk, John Degge. Recorded at a court held for Lancaster, 20 February 1761."
"She was a most loving and excellent wife, and very much lamented." (Source: Hayden, p. 248).
He owned "Morattico" which he bequeated to his grandson, Joseph Ball Downman. He was a vestryman at St. Mary's White Chapel, Lancaster Co., VA.
According to Douglas Southall Freeman, in "George Washington: A Biography", Volume One, p. 534: "If Anne, Elizabeth, Hannah and even Esther Ball Ball are shadowy figures, scarcely more than names, their brother Joseph is a known and understandable person. The reason is the fortunate survival of his "Letter Book" in which he wrote and then corrected the first draft of his communications during a long period of residence in England. There are several such Virginia records of equal or greater length but none that more clearly and candidly discloses the personality of the writer. His characteristics, already sketched in part, included an interest in his family stock and a pride in those of his kinsmen who attained distinction. He was generous, too, on occasion, but was careful in choosing the occasion. Joseph had an absolute confidence in his own judgement and full assurance of his rectitude. He was most exact in money matters and as careful to pay what he owed as he was to collect his due, but he was litigious, domineering and disinclined to ask advice even on matters of which he had no knowledge. This cost him late in life much of what he had accumulated by saving and sueing. He decided, about 1758 or 1759, that he could make money by erecting houses in London and he began the enterprise without seeking the counsel of those who kneww the values and the building methods of the city. The venture put him heavily in debt and perhaps contributed to his death, January 10, 1760".
John Mitchell Chinn served as a Private in the 9th Kentucky Infantry, (Orphan Brigade), during the Civil War.
John Mitchell Chinn served as a Private in the 9th Kentucky Infantry, (Orphan Brigade), during the Civil War.
Joseph Chinn possibly went out west.
Colonel William Ball (1615) and Hannah Atherold (Atherall). He was born in England and educated in London. Evidence shows that he was married July 2, 1638, to Miss Hannah Atherold (Atherall), the daughter of Thomas Atherold and Mary Harvey. 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 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 first appears in Colonial records as a Merchant, probably a tobacco merchant.
According to Douglas Southall Freeman in "George Washington: A Biography", Vol. One, p. 530: "When William Ball reached Virginia in 1657*, he was different from most immigrants in that he was a mature man who then or thereafter "transported" at his own expense his wife, two children and a number of servants, free or indentured. It was not often that so large a household was brought over by a man past his youth. Equally unusual was it for so many to enter the colony otherwise than at the cost of some resident planter or trader". (*Hayden, p. 49, gave the date as 1651, but in the back cover of the Letter Book of Joseph Ball second was found, "a history of the Ball family from a Downman MS." This may have been prepared by Joseph Ball, who interested himself in genealogy during his long residence in England. The date of immigration of William Ball is given in this document as 1657. No reference to him is found in Virginia records prior to 1659 when he is listed among the Justices of Lancaster County).
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 it 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 offical appointments, at the same time that each individual himself was 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 Councilor resided, some other person was appointed with rank of "Major". It is probable that Colonel Ball 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 Commander of the County. He served on various committees in Lancaster County from 1675-77. He was presiding member of various courts held in Lancaster County.
On March 28, 1675-6 Colonel Ball 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 Narrow 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, VA. (Source: from July, 1994, The Ball Family Sources: Colonel William Ball of Virginia The Great Grandfather of Washington by Earl L. W. Heck, published and sold by Sydney Wm. Dutton, 103 Newgate Street, London, England, C.1. MCMXXVIII, (on file at National Genealogical Society Library, 4527 17th Street North, Arlington, VA)
It has been a long accepted tradition of the various lines of this family that Colonel William Ball came to Virginia with his wife and three children about 1650. It appears that he did not immediately obtain land. He is named in the Northumberland County, VA, records as "William Ball, Merchant". He was engaged in merchandising when he died, in 1680, as his will shows. No grant of land appears in his name until January 18, 1663, when he received 300 acres on Narrow Neck Creek, Lancaster Co., VA, formerly granted in 1653 to David Fox, sold by him to Thomas Hobkins, and bought by William Ball (B. v. 270). This land, by William Ball's will, was given to his son William, who devised it to his daughter Margaret Downman, who sold it to Richard Ball October 11, 1709, 50 acres being previously sold to Lancaster County for a town. The original deed is sealed with the arms of James Tayloe, Clerk of Lancaster County. In his will he conveys to his children 1940 acres of land, 540 of which was probably his estate of "Millenbeck", on the Rappahannock River. In 1667 he appears in the land books as "Major William Ball." April 17, 1667, Major William Ball and Thomas Chetwood received a grant of 1600 acres of land in the County of Rappahannock on the north side of the Rappahannock River. The list of head rights at the bottom of the patent begins: "Will Ball, His sonn, Hannah Ball, Her Daughters, Mary Jones, Martha Jones, Ran Grevill, Jos. Haseldwonie, " &c., &c., &c.September 30, 1667, Major William Ball received 240 acres of land on the north side of the Rappahannock River adjoining the land of David Fox, formerly granted to to Edward Grimes, 1653, and by him deserted. Head rights -- Wm Jeffres, Abram Jackson, Tim White, Bernard Moore and mary Field. It thus appears that William Ball's family did not leave England until his voyage from there in 1667. They may have been some connexion between Col. Ball and Captain Joseph Ball of the ship Hope, which was plying between England and Virginia 1650-1680. In 1672 he was probably appointed County Lieutenant of Lancaster, as teh records of Northumberland show that Mar. 19, 1672, an order of the court was made for Robert Jones to pay over to Colonel William Ball 1524 pounds of tobacco. On the same page Captain William Ball is named, referring 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. Col. John Carter, or either of them, in the county of Lancaster," were empowered by the Virginia Assembly to impress men and horses, &c., for the defence of the county against the Indians (Hen. II. 239).
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. Such was the danger to the colonists from the incursions of the neighboring Indians that some show of military organization was necessary for the defence. By royal authority certain counties were placed under the lieutenants, as was the rule also in Maryland and Pennsylvania, whose duty it was to provide the people with arms and ammunition, and to organize them into companies and command them in time of danger. These County Lieutenants were often clothed with a judicial character, and made members of the General Court, and thus of the Executive Council. (Source: "Virginia Genealogies", Hayden, p. 52).
During the Cromwellian Period there was an increase of population on the Virginia side of the Potomac. Among other settlers at that time were Colonel William Ball, Richard Lee, John Carter, Isaac Allerton, and John and Lawrence Washington, who settled in the part of Virginia now know as the "Northern Neck", and became intimately associated, and, by marriage, closely connected.
Colonel William Ball, the founder of the Ball family in Virginia, settled in Lancaster County, on the Corotoman, a branch of the Rappahannock River, in 1650, and called his place "Millenbeck", (a beautiful Gerogian mansion), probably from a place in the Midland Counties of England ("Ball Family Records", 1908, William Ball Wright, p. 173).
The "Northern Neck" is a narrow peninsula lying between the waters of the Potomac and Rappahannock, and is composed of five counties: King George, Westmoreland, Richmond, Lancaster, and Northumberland.
WILL OF COL. WILLIAM BALL: Dated 5 Oct 1680, Lancster Co., VA. He died between 5 Oct - 11 Nov 1680.In the name of God, Amen - I WILLIAM BALL of ye county of Lancaster in Rapp. being, paraised the Lord, in good and perfect health both in body and mind do make etc. etc.
Item I give and devise my land and plantation whereon I now live, express in two pattents containing 540 acres to my son WILLIAM BALL and his heirs forever. Never ye less it is my will and pleasure that my loving wife HANNAH BALL be and remain in full possession thereof together with all my household goods, servants, etc. during her natural life provided she so long remain a widow etc. inventoried by my 2 sons.
Item For ye other part of my estate consisting chiefly in merchandising goods and debts etc. divided in five parts - my wife's share - my son WILLIAM and other two parts to my son JOSEPH BALL and his heirs forever etc.
Item I give and devise my land in ye freshes of Rapp. by patent 1600 acres to my two sons WILLIAM and JOSEPH equally divided etc.
Item I give and devise unto my daughter HANNAH now wife of CAPT. DAVID FOX only 5 shillings sterling which is an over plus both of her portion and desserts.
Item I hereby nominate my two sons WILLIAM and JOSEPH executors of this my last will and testament etc.
Witnessing my hand this 5th day of October 1680 and in 2nd and thirtieth year of our Soveriegne Lord King Charles ye second.
WILLIAM BALL
He was a colonel of the militia, a Chief Justice of the County Court (Lancaster Co., VA), and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses, 1670-1680. Early Virginia records refer to him as a "Merchant", and subsequently as a "Planter". His title of "Colonel" did not exist until 1672.William Ball was in Virginia by 1653, when he witnessed a deed between Henry Fleet and John Sharpe (Lancaster Co., VA, Deeds, etc., 1652-1657, 1:132). In 1663, he patented 300 acres in Narrow Neck (now called Ball Point) on the west side of Corrotoman River, (Patent Book 5:300). (Source: "Ball Families..", Hill, 1990).
It has been a long accepted tradition of the various lines of this family that Colonel William Ball came to Virginia with his wife and three children about 1650. It appears that he did not immediately obtain land. He is named in the Northumberland County records in 1661 as "William Ball, merchant". He was engaged in merchandising when he died in 1680, as his will shows. No grant of land appears in his name until January 18, 1663, when he received 300 acres on Narrow Neck Creek, Lancaster County, formerly granted in 1653 to David Fox, sold by him to Thomas Hobkins, and bought by William Ball (B. v. 270). This land, by William Ball's will, was given to his son William, who devised it to his daughter Margaret Downman, who sold it to Richard Ball October 11, 1709, 50 acres being previously sold to Lancaster County for a town. The original deed is sealed with the arms of James Tayloe, Clerk of Lancaster County. In his will he conveys to his children 1940 acres of land, 540 of which was probably his estate, "Millenbeck", on the Rappahannock River. In 1667 he appears in the land books as "major William Ball." April 17, 1667, Major William Ball and Thomas Chetwood received a grant of 1600 acres of land in the County of Rappahannock on the north side of the Rappahannock River. The list of head rights at the bottom of the patent begins: "Will Ball, His sonn, Hannah Ball, Her Daughters, Mary Jones, Martha Jones, Ran Grevill, Jos. Haseldownie, " &c., &c., &c.
September 30, 1667, Major William Ball received 240 acres of land on the north side of the Rappahannock River adjoining the land of David Fox formerly granted to Edward Grimes (Grymes?), 1653, and by him deserted. head rights -- William Jeffries, Abram Jackson, Tim White, Bernard Moore and Mary Field. It thus appears that William Ball's family did not leave England until his voyage from there in 1667. There may have been some connection between Colonel Ball and Captain Joseph Ball of the ship Hope, which was plying between England and Virginia 1650-1680. In 1672 he was probably appointed County Lieutenant of Lancaster, as the records of Northumberland County show that March 19, 1672, an order of the Court was made for Mr. Robert Jones to pay over to Colonel William Ball 1524 pounds of tobacco. On the same page Captain William Ball is named, referring probably to his son William, then thirty years of age. In 1676 Mr. William Ball got judgement against the estate of Robert Jones. 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 impress men and horses, &c., for the defense of the county against the Indians (Hen. II. 239).
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 various counties. Such was the danger to the colonists from the incursions of the neighboring Indians that some show of military organization was necessary for defence. By royal authority certain counties were place under Lieutenants, as was the rule also in Maryland and Pennsylvania, whose duty it was to provide the people with arms and ammunition, and to organize them into companies and command them in time of danger. These County Lieutenants were often clothed in judicial character, and made members of the General Court, and thus of the Executive Council.
Dr. Palmer, in his Introduction to Vol. I., Va. Calender Papers, in speaking of the General Court, says: "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 still more to their importance. 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 member was himself commissioned "Colonel" by royal authority." (p. xvi.) Campbell says: "The Governor was Lieutenant General, the Councillors Lieutenants of Counties, with the title of Colonel, and in counties where no Councillor resided some other person was appointed with the rank of Major, " (p. 354). It is, however, equally probable that Col. William Ball may have been a colonel of Foot or Horse, and not a County Lieutenant. Mr. Stanard says: "In a list of civil and military officers, 1680, Col. William Ball appears first in each list, so whether he was County Lieutenant or not, he was doubtless Presiding Magistrate and Colonel Commandant of the county. He was the only Colonel given in the list, John Carter being Lieutenant Colonel. I do not think he was County Lieutenant; his name does not occur as a member of the General Court." Mr. Stanard's experience in these matters is such that I willingly yield to his decision.
Of Col. Ball's estates, that of "Millenbeck" passed out of the possession of the family by the death of Dr. William Ball (134).
Mrs. Hannah Ball was probably of the family of Atherold, in Burgh, Suffolk, England. Her name appears in the various Ball charts as Atherall. Joseph Ball, her grandson, wrote from London, 1745, to his cousin, Mrs. Ellen (Ball) Chichester, of Lancaster County, inquiring if his grandmother's name was not Hannah Athereth, instead of Atherall. Neither of these names appears in Burke's Armory. I have given it Atherold, supra, from having found among the Ball-Downman papers an ancient document spelling it Atherold, with this note by Joseph Ball, of London:
"Party per pale Vert and Gules, a Lion passant, by the name of Atherold of Burgh in Suffolk. Thomas Atherold of Burgh in Suffolk by Mary, daughter of Vessy, had Thomas Atherold of Burgh, Barrister at Law, who by Mary, daughter of John harvey, had Nathaniel Atherold of burgh, living in 1660".
I find also in Foster's Collectanea this record of the family:
"Atherold, Thomas of Burgh in suffolk, at Grey's Inn 1610-11 (? called to the bar) Ancient 8 May 1632. Son of Thomas bapt at Burgh, 16 Aug 1590. died 6 May 1659. Buried there, will dat: 10 may 1656, m Mary dau of Thomas Vessy of Oldham, Gent; (widow of William Herbert) buried at Burgh, May 1665. left issue a son Thomas, barrister at Law who m Mary dau of John Harvey of Eye Suffolk and had a son Nathaniel."
Mrs. Ball was living in 1691, as the Assembly of Virginia held at James City, April 16, 1691, passed an act establishing a port in Lancaster County, "on the land where Mrs. Hannah Ball now liveth scituate on the Westerne side of the mouth of Corotoman River." (Hen. III. 60). (Source: "Virginia Genealogies", Hayden, pp. 50-53).
Variations of spelling: Atherall, Atherwold & Atherold.
WILL OF HANNAH BALL - 1695:
In the name of God - Amen, I HANNAH BALL widow and relict of COL. WILLIAM BALL, late of the county of Lancaster (VA), do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament.
I give and bequeath to my loving daughter HANNAH on negro or mulatto girl named _________ being the increase of a negro woman named Bess given to me by my husband COL. WILLIAM BALL.
I give and bequeath unto my grandson WILLIAM BALL one negro woman named Bess.
My grandson JAMES BALL ...
My daughter HAANNAH FOX and grandson WILLIAM BALL executors.
I set my seal in the year of our Lord 1695 - June 25,
HANNAH BALL
Ref: Lancaster Co., VA Will Book 8, p. 102.
William Ball was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a land proprietor of Lancaster Co. Virginia. He was a Captain of militia, and a Chief Justice.
WILL OF CAPT. WILLIAM BALL - 1694:
In the name of God, Amen - I CAPT. WILLIAM BALL of the Parish of St. Mary's White Chapel in the County of Lancaster, Va. being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory etc. etc.
I give unto my dear wife all and every part of this 270 acres of land whereon I now live with all the housing and appurtances thereunto belonging and also my mill hereon standing during her natural life and also full power to plant, make and manure for her own use a plantation if she pleases, on every other parcel of land hereafter by me hereby given and my will is that she bring up my dear children until they be 16 years of age in writing, reading, etc. and that they be under the tuition of my sons WILLIAM and RICHARD and that when ever the said mill be out of repair my will is that my said sons WILLIAM BALL and RICHARD BALL give their assistance to mend, repair or new build her and that they be paid for their paines as the mill earns it. I give unto my said sons WILLIAM and RICHARD all my tract lying in this neck next to Richard Cundiffs being about 950 acres to be equally divided between them provided they acquiet all their right which they or either of them may possibly have of any and to that divident of land in Richmond County next above Perpetua Creek being about 1,000 acres on which my quarter plantation now is, unto their two brothers JOSEPH BALL and GEORGE BALL then I do give unto my said sons WILLIAM and RICHARD to them and their heirs forever all and every part of the above said 950 acres of land lying in this neck next to Richard Cunfiff's as aforesaid but if my said two sons WILLIAM and RICHARD molest their two brothers JOSEPH and GEORGE in their qeiet possession at any time or times hereafter either of them or their heirs in the said 1,000 acres etc. etc.
I give unto my four sons - JAMES BALL, DAVID BALL, STRETCHLEY BALL and SAMUEL BALL to them and their heirs forever all and every part of my upper Divident of land being 1600 acres more or less lying in Richmond Co. above Mr. James Harrison's to be equally divided between them.
I give unto my dear daughter MARGARET BALL and to her and her heirs forever all that and every part and parcel of the Divident wheron my mother lives at the mouth of Corratomen being about 350 acres more or less to be laid out of my adjoinging Divident next to the plantation that James Wood lives on only reserving to my dear mother one third part of all the cider made thereon clear of all charge making and cask.
I give to my son WILLIAM - servant, negro man, etc. etc.
I give to my son RICHARD - " " "
I give to my dear wife - " " "
I give to my son JAMES two slaves etc.
I give to my son DAVID girl slave etc.
I give to my dau. Margaret 2 girl slaves etc.
I give to my son STRETCHLEY 2 girl slaves etc.
I give to my son SAMUEL 2 girl slaves etc.
I give all other slaves etc. to my three eldest sons WILLIAM, RICHARD, and JAMES etc. etc.
I do make and ordain my son WILLIAM BALL and my son RICHARD BALL the executors of this my last will and testament and my loving brother CAPT. DAVID FOX and my loving friends, MR. GEORGE HEALE and MR. EDWIN CONWAY the overseers of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this 28th day of September 1694.
WILLIAM BALL
Signed, sealed and published
Presence of Abraham Taylor, George Hinch and Edwin Conway.
David and his brother Samuel Ball were twins.
Ellen Heale was the second wife of David Ball.
In the graveyard of White Chapel, in Lancaster Co., VA, still stands the tomb of Captain Ball with this inscription: "Here lies Interred the Body of Mr. David Ball, a twin and seventh son of Capt. William Ball, Gent., Dec'd, was born ye 26th of Sept. 1686, and departed this life ye 14th day of December, 1732, in the 47 Year of his Age."
Robert Ball, like his father William, was Commissioner of Berkshire County.
Edward, the son of Robert Ball, inherited his father's landed estate.