Colonel William Ball (1615) and Hannah Atherall (Atherold)

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 with 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, 16777, 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 Heck's book)1108

Colonel Ball was the younger son of Reverand Richard Ball, Vicar of St. Helen's Bishipsgate, London, and is of the Northamptonshire branch of the widely-scattered English family.

Colonel Ball came from England with his family about the year 1650 and settled at the mouth of the Corotoman River in Lancaster County, Virginia.

Educated in or about London, and possibly studied law, as in later years he showed more than ordinary knowledge in the principles of Common Law.

He married July 2, 1638 in London to Miss Hannah Atherold, the daughter of Thomas Atherold, a barrister-at-law, who was living at Gray's Inn during 1610/11.

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 of 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.

If Ball first came to Virginia with the intention of remaining only so long as the Protectorate existed in England, he soon decided to cast his lot with the fortunes of the New World. After 1660 he 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. In 1661, his name still appears in the Northumberland County Records as a merchant. Later he became a planter, and on January 18, 1663, received a grant of land on Narrow Neck Creek in Lancaster County. Four years later, he appears in the records as Major Ball, and together with Thomas Chetwood, received a grant of sixteen hundred acres in the County of Rappahannock on the north side of the river of the same name. A few months later he acquired three hundred additional acres of rich bottom land adjoining the estate of Daniel Fox, whose friendship Ball appears to have cultivated, and who later became the Colonel's son-in-law, marrying his only daughter, Hannah.

It was on the Lancaster County estate, however, where Colonel Ball built the beautiful Georgian mansion which was later to become famous. He named it "Millenbeck," probably after a place in Warwickshire or Northamptonshire. The estate was held for four successive generations by William Balls, and with "Epping Forest," the home of Mary Ball (Washington), played a prominent part in the annals of Virginian history.

It seems highly probable, moreover, that Ball remained something of a merchant after he became a Lancaster County planter, and he undoubtedly made frequent trips back to London, for in those days it was a common practice for one planter, skilled in business usages, to see about the marketing of his own as well as the tobacco of two or three of his closest neighbors and best friends.

From 1672, Ball took an active part in the administration work of his adopted county and colony. He first received the title of "Colonel" in that year. It is the opinion that he was the County Lieutenant of Lancaster of that year, inasmuch as we find that Robert Jones had to pay him on March 19th of that year over fifteen hundred pounds of tobacco. In Introduction to Vol. I, Calendar Papers, the author, Plamer, has given us the following description of the General Court of Virginia, and with it the origin of the Virginian title of Colonel:

"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 Councillors, Lieutenants of Counties with the title of Colonel, and in counties where a Councillor resided, some other person was appointed with rank of Major."

In light of this information, it has been concluded that Colonel Ball may have been a Colonel of Foot or Horse and not County Lieutenant. If not County Lieutenant, he was doubtless Presiding Magistrate and Colonel Commandant of the County.

From 1675/77, Colonel Ball served on various committees in Lancaster County. March 28, 1675/76, he and Lieutenant-Colonel John Carter were empowered by the General Assembly of Virginia to mobilize men and horsese in defense of the colony against Indian depredations, to be lead by Nathaniel Bacon. He was presiding member of various courts held in Lancaster County, and received this honor for being the only resident Colonel in that county.

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. From 1670 on until hs death, he was a member of the Burgesses of Lancaster County.

Colonel Ball was an earnest and devout churchman, and was a zealous supporter of the Virginia branch of the Church of England; he was at various times a member of committees appointed for arranging the government for its support. He and John Washington were wardens of Christ Church, Lancaster County.

At the time of his death, Colonel Ball owned nearly two thousand acres of land in Lancaster and Rappahannock Counties. Of this, "Millenbeck" comprised five hundred and forty acres. He died at "Millenbeck" November 1680. Colonel Ball willed his favorite estate to his eldest son, William, after making ample provision for his wife, his other son, Joseph, and daughter Hannah, both of whom he saw successfully married. Mrs. Hannah Atherold Ball, his widow, continued to live at Millenbeck with her elder son until her death in 1695. Her will is on record in Lancaster County and dated June 25, 1695.


More About William BALL:
Occupation: Colonel
     
Children of William BALL and Hannah (ATHERALL) are:
 
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i. Richard BALL, died in infancy10.
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ii. William BALL, born 02 Jan 1640/41; died 30 Sep 1694.
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iii. Joseph BALL, born 24 May 1649 in England; died 11 Jul 1711 in Epping Forest, Lancaster Co., VA.
 
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iv. Hannah BALL, born 12 Mar 1649/5010. She married David FOX 22 Jul 167010.
 
More About David FOX:
Occupation: Captain

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