Maj. James Ball

  Notes and Events:

• of: Bewdley.

• Will, 15 Jul 1754, Lancaster Co., VA. To Gr. son Burgess Ball, land in King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford; son James Ball; Daus. Sinah and four grandsons: Jesse Ball son fo my
dau. Frances, James Ewell son fo Eve Ewell, and John Seldon, land in Prince William County. Daughter Eve. Dau. Seldon. Grandson John
Taylor; Gr. son Jabez Downman; Gr. son James Downman. Extr. son James Ball. W.B. 15, p. 191.

(W.B. 15, p. 195---in division of negroes of James Ball, shows that Burges Ball was son of Jeduthan Ball.)

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 principally give and bequeath my Soul to God who gave it me in certain hopes notwithstanding my unworthyness 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. Item 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 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 to 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 shall 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. Item 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 be not 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 and 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.

• Religion. Major Ball was a vestryman of Christ Ch., Lanc'r Co., and Ch. Warden, 1743. In 1740 he and Mr. Joseph Ball were allowed to build a gallery in White Chapel Ch. for their families, provided that it be completed at the same time with the 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.

• Headstone: Lancaster Co., VA. "Here also lyeth interred the Body of ye above mentioned James Ball gent: son of William Ball dec'd who departed this Life the 13th Day of October 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 & full hopes of a glorious Resurrection."

James married Mary Conway, daughter of Edwin Conway, Jr. and Sarah (Walker) Fleet, on 16 Apr 1707. (Mary Conway was born on 16 Feb 1686 and died on 15 Sep 1730.)

James next married Mary Ann Bertrand, daughter of Rev. John Bertrand and Unknown. (Mary Ann Bertrand was born about 1689 and died on 12 Feb 1749 in Lancaster Co., VA.)