Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-05
wAsHuyGTON'S MOTHER.
The Old virginia Family to which
Mary Rail- Belonged.

A TALK WITH ONE OF THE THREE PERSONS
WHO CLAIM TO BE NEAREST OF KIN OF
WASHINGTON COL. WILLIAM BALL, OF
"MILLENBECK," AND HIS LINE.
Mr.. Ebepexer Burgess Ball, who resides in this
city, is q member of the Ball family Of Virginia,
which gave to the world Mary Ball, the mother
of George Washington. II 1t were matter OF
controversy whether Washington was most
like his mother or his father in appearance Mr..
Ball would offer In his own person evidence in
behalf of the mother. This testimony would,
however be rendered little doubtful, because
through intermarriage Mr.. Bali has IN his veins
some of the blood of the Washington family as
well as that of the Balls. Though over seventy
years of age Mr.. Bali Is tall. erect and large
iimbed. His face bears striking resemblance
mouth and nose and the general contour of the
face are the same rs those seen In every por.
trait OF Washington.
THE NEAREST OF KIN.
"The impression that those who bear his
name are OF nearest kin of Washington is not
correct" said Mr.. Ball to a STAR reporter. when
asked for some facts in relation to his family
"By intermarriage the Balls became nearer
related than any one else to Washington. Col.
served with distinction in the Revolution, was
related to Washington, not only through his
(Washington's) mother. Mary Ball. but married
There are now only three OF the direct descend
ants of Col. Burgess Ball and Frances Washing
ton liyingand they are the nearest kim ofGen.
Washington Ball, of Fauquier county, Va. and
Mrs. Catherine LittletOn, OF Loudoun, and my
self. My grandfather was very near to Wash
military family, and then he married Wash
ingtOn's kinswoman. He was colonel. and
wears ago." continued Mr. Bali, IA society was
formed for the purpose of erecting monument
to Mary Bali, the mother of Washington. This
object was never accomplished but my cousin,
George Washington Ball, who was interested In
the project, commenced at that time to investi-
gate the genealogy OF the Ball family, and traced
1t back to the year 1882
THE GENEALoGY OF THE BALL FAMILY.
The results of George Washington Balls re-
searches into the family history are set forth in
O monograph which he has recently written on
1.-THE Maternal Ancestry and Nearest of Kin of
Washington" The family tree begins with
Berks, England, who died 1850. The line has
been traced in England, without interruption,
down to Col: VIM. Bail, who married Hannah
1857, settled "Millenbeck' plantation, on the
Rappahannock. and died 1850. One of his
sons was joseph Ball OF .Epping Forrest the
Ball, OF "MiIienheck,' who was the great grand.
Maer James Bs married Mary bas soR
daughter OF Anne. haf-Si,ter OF Mary Ball.
Major James Balls son Jeduthon in turn mar
of BAN the enS of ahe se
nal Col. VIM. Ball, who settled "Milenbcck.'
Col Burgess Ball was a son of Jeduthon and
his grandmother; Mary Conway. and his
mother. Elizabeth Burgess, a treble reIa-
tionShip to Mary Ball and her illustrious son.
Washington, daughter of Charles Washington,
brother of George, and the descendants from
this marriage claim iOurfold relationship to
IF uui for ind Cn1
Burgess Ball left six children, Mildred T. Ball.
Fayette Ball. who was godson, of Washington
Washington Bali, and Martha cambridge Ball
The lines of the latter two and Of Capt. G. w.
Ball are extinct. Mildred married William NJ.
heronly surviving descendant Is Mrs Catherine
hittleton; of Loudoun, a halt sister Of Hon.
R + n, W. THOMPSON, Of Indiana; Fayette
Bali, who is now living. DR.. Charles B. Ball
had two sons, Mr.. Ebenezer Burgess Ball and
Judge Charles B. Ball. The latter died in 1882.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BALLS.
Mr.. EbeneZer Burgess Ball stated to THE STAR
reporter that strangers who knew nothing of
his family connections had frequently spoken
to him of his resemblance to Washington. The
family characteristics of the Balls, he said,
were manifested in Washington. The men of
the family were tall and large.
MIR. &. w. Ball, in tracing out the family his
tory. discovered Il probable connection of the
Virginia Balls with Sir Alexander John Ball,
admiral of the blue, who distinguished himself
at the siege of Malta; with Major Ball. who half
century before took his life in his hand and
went into the forest of LadyswOOd to barley:
with the Highland deserters and with other
Balls who have figured in English history. The
family had as coat of arms a lion rampant
with globe in his paws, with helmet, shield
Tueri."
THE MOTHER OF WASHINGTON.
Mary Ball was descended from good English
stock not only on the Ball side but on the side
OF her mother, who appears to have been Miss
Montague, member Of the English family of
that name descended from the extinct earls of
Ball exists. Only few trinkets remain as
| relics. AS 9 girl she was known as the "Rose
of Epping Forest and the Belle of the North
ern Neck. When twenty-six years old she
married Augustine Washington, a gentleman
| ter. years her senior. Thirteen years after
Wafds she was left widow with the care of
destined to become the Father of His Country.
She appears to have discharged her maternal
training and precepts Washington himself &C
knowiedged to have been the foundation of his
fortune and fame. George Washington Parke
mother has not lived better fitted than
she was to give the tone and charac-
Of srs to her
words recorded by her contemporaries.
The late Lawrence Washington says, ':who-
ner, so characteristic of the Father of His Coun-
try, will remember the matron as she appeared
when the presiding genius of her Well-Ordered
household commanding and being obeyed."
Elkanah Watson, who saw her in her old
age, referred to her as "a majestic and veneer
able woman" Mrs. Washington when eighty
years old attended the Dall given at Frederfcks-
burg in honor of the French and continental
officers returning from the capture of Corn
wallis. She is described as entering the hall
leaning on the arm of her son. She was '.sim-
pie in garb, majestic and serene"
A year later, in the autumn of 1884, Lafay-
cite made a journey from Philadelphia to Fred
ericksburg for the especial purpose of taking
leave of her before he returned to France He
found her in her garden, clad in homespun.
with hat OF straw, engaged in working her
flowers, with her own hands On bidding her
farewell, he asked and received her blessing.
AN ANECDOTE OF THE REMARKABLE WOMAN.
Mr.. George Washington Ball relates an anec.
dote illustrative of her supreme selfcontrol.
During the war a courier arrived at Fredericks-
burg with a packet for Mrs. Washington An,
ticipating tidings OF victory or defeat. the
loungers about the tavern, eager for news &C.
companied the courier to Mrs. Washingtons
house. There they found that the lady was i'm
to pilot the messenger to the place. When
found, the matrOn, gloves on and pruning knife
in hand, was engaged with the aid of her factO-
tum, "Old Stephen, in tying up the branches
OF favOrlte grapevine, which had been
broken down by a storm. Taking the packet
she instead OF reading It, placed it in one Of the
fathomiess pockets worn by ladies OF the period
when about their household duties and calmly
resumed her task, bidding the courier tn 90 II
the house and tell the cook to give him some
refreshment. The man who had pilOted the
courier ventured, before withdrawing to sro.
| gest that there might to have been q battle.
| "lf there has been," she responded. dali fs
m uoll osSu rod Of I.at 80