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Mathews-Williams Family Genealogy
Notes
Capt. George Ball of New kent Co., VA. Capt. of Militia, 1789.
James Ball, and his wife Mary Conway, are buried together in the St. Mary's Whitechapel Churchyard in Lancaster Co., Va. The inscription on their gravestone reads as follows:
"Here lieth the Body of Mary, the wife of James Ball, Daughter of Edwin Conway, Gent., deceased, who departed this life the 15th Day of September, 1730, in the 44th year of her Age, leaving three sons and five Daughters. She was a loving wife, a tender Mother, a peaceable, good neighbor, and live and died a pattern of Piety and Virtue. Here, also, lieth interred the Body of ye above-mentioned James Ball, Gent., son of William Ball, Gent., dec'd. who departed this life the 13th Day of Oct., 1754, in ye 76th year of his Age, having lived in the constant Practice of Temperance and Sobriety and other moral Virtues, and died in a steadfast Faith in Christ and full hope of glorious Resurrection."
WILL OF MAJ. JAMES BALL, OF BEWDLEY, 1754:
In the name of God Amen I JAMES BALL being in perfect health and memory thanks be to God do make this my last Will in Manner following viz. I do first and most principly give and bequeath my Soul to God who gave it me in certain hopes not withstanding my unwortyness to receive pardon of all my sins through the blessed merits and mediation of my deer redeemer Jesus Christ. Item I give to my Grand Son BURGESS BALL all my lands in King George, Spotsilvania and Stafford Counties during his Natural life & at his decease I give it to his child or children as he shall think fit and to their heirs. I give to my Said grand son Twenty one Slaves viz. Dick, Bristor, Adam, Rawleigh, & Alice yt I Bought of my son James, Lucy & her four children and her three grand children, Letty and her Seven grand children and all their future increase when he shall arrive to the age of twenty one or have lawful issue and that my exe'r keep a true account of the profits of the slaves out of which profits it is my desire my aforesaid grandson be well educated & when he shall arrive to the aforesaid age or have lawful issue, that he be possessed and entitled to ye the said slaves and their increase as also what shall arrive from the profits of the said slaves, but in case my said Grand Son die before he come of the age of twenty one and without lawful issue then I give the Said Slaves and profits to be equally divided among my Son and five Daughters and their heirs. Item I give to my Said Grand Son my clock and my two mares Blase and Fancy & what stock I shall have on the land before given him and all their increase when he sall come to the age aforesaid or have lawfull issue. Item I give to my Daughter Sinah and my four grand Sons viz. JESSE BALL son of my Daughter FRANCES, JAMES EWELL and JAMES EWELL son of EVE EWELL and JOHN SELDEN and their heirs five thousand acres of land in Prince Wm County to be laid off at the upper end of my mountain tract to them and their heirs equally amongst them. I give to my Daughter EVE one Slave named Sarah and all her Encrease which she has now only the use of. Item I give to my daughter SELDEN and her heirs ye land I bought of Benjamin Taylor. I give to my grand son JOHN TAYLOR Fifty pounds Sterling to be paid him when he shall come to the age of twenty one but if he should die before that age then I give it to his Mother it being part of her portion. I give to my five Daughters all my household goods except my plate. The best bed and furniture which I give to my Son JAMES. Item I give to my Grand Son TOBEY DOWNMAN Thirty pounds to be laid out in land or a Slave and no otherways. Item I give to my grandson JAMES DOWNMAN my watch and Silver Buckles. Item I give to my son JAMES the use of all the remainder of my estate including my Slaves in his possession which he has now the use of all during his natural life and at his death to dispose of as he shall think fit. Item I do appoint my Son Exr of this my last will and testament and guardian to my grand son BURGESS BALL and my will is that my estate not be appraised. In witness my hand and seal this 15th day of July 1754. JAMES BALL (Seal).
At a Court held for Lancaster County on the 15th day of November 1754 This will was presented in Court by JAMES BALL Gent Excr therein named who made Oath thereto the same was ordered to be recorded. Teste, Thos Edwards, jr. C.L.C. A copy Attest Benj'n M. Walker C. C. 1830. Dec 3d.Major Ball was a vestryman of Christ Church, Lancaster County, Virginia, and Church Warden, 1743. In 1740 he and Mr. Joseph Ball were allowed to build a gallery in Whitechapel Church and furnished in the same style with the west gallery. (Vestry Book). In 1743 the vestry directed him to build a 20x16 vestry house.
He was a Burgess from Lancaster County, VA, in the asemblies of 1715, 1718, 1720-22, in the session of May 18, 1732, and in the assembly of 1736-1740.
The following inscription is on the tombstone for Mary (Conway) Ball, in the St. Mary's Whitechapel Parish Chruchyard, Lancaster Co., VA: "Here lyeth the Body of Mary the wife of James Ball, Gent., and daughter of Edwin Conway Gent., deceased, who departed this life the 15th day of September 1730 in the 44th year of her age leaving three sons and five daughters. She was a loving wife, tender mother, a peaceable good neighbour and lived and died a pattern of Piety and Virtue."
Note: This Sarah Ball may be the same who married Benjamin Grayson, whose other wife was Susannah Monroe.
Edwin Ball died in early childhood. -source Beale, Notebook, & Hayden:47.
Edwyn Conway came to Virginia from England abt. 1640. He appears in the Northampton Co. records, June, 1642 as "Mr. Edwyn Conway, clarke of this com." In the first grant of land in his name, Oct. 1644, he is recorded as "Edwyn Conway, of Northampton, Clarke." He was probably born in Worchestershire, England, cir. 1610; His wife probably came to Virginia in 1652, as she is named with her husband in a patent of that date as "headright". Edwyn Conway was the third clerk of Northampton Co., VA, Henry Bagnell being the first, and Thomas Cooke the second. ("Genelaogies of Virginia Families", Vol. II, pp. 89-90).
Benjamin Ball and his wife Nancy (Cooke) lived in Mason County, KY.
"Coll Spencer Ball departed this life the 11th of February, it being of a Wednesday in ye year 1767". (Bible records).
He was a Justice and member of the Northumberland County (VA) Court, 1735-57; Inspector of Tobacco, 1737; Vestryman of St. Stephens' Parish, 1738; qualified as Lt. Col., 1753; Burgess 1755-58; Member of the Westmoreland Association, 27 Feb 1766; and one of the signers of the Association.
He was a Burgess from Northumberland County in 1748-1749, 1752-1755, 1756-1758, 1758-1761, 1761-1765, and 1766-1768. He was a Captain, justice and member Northumberland county court, 1735; inspector of tobacco, 1737; vestryman of St. Stephen's Parish, Northumberland County, 1738; qualified as lieutenant-colonel, 1753; was executor of Tunstall Hack, November, 1757; member of the Westmoreland Association, Feb. 27, 1766, and signed the resolutions passed that day expressing the unmistakable language the purpose to resist the Stamp Act. He also signed the association of 1770.
There is some question as to whether Miss Ball's first name was Judith. It may have been Betty.
Jesse Ball never married.
He inherited 400 acres at Black Point.
William Ball, of "Millenbeck". He signed the Westmoreland Address, 1766 (Va. Hist. Reg. II, 15). He was Burgess for Lancaster Co., VA, 1757-58, and a delegate, 1780.