Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
OLD WHITE CHAPEL.
4 VISIT TO THIS ANCIENT LANCAS-
TER COUNTY CHURCH..
its Interesting Monumental Inscrip-
tiOns-NcmorinisO Of the Ball Fam
lily During Two Centurics-The
Soldier,
Soldier.

Having been called recently TO Monas-
kon. On the Rappahannock river TO meet
a friend who was coming by steamer,
and finding that l had an hour or so to
wait before the boats arrival, l took &C.
caslon TO Ioiter awhile in the yard CT
White-Chapel church. an interesting
Colonial relic of Lancaster county,
situated about two miles from the river.
The building here dates from The year
1910, and though at FIRST Of larger d.
mansions than at present, 1t is still in a
good state of preservation. Its covering
OF shingles has recently given place 10
one OF tin. The old shingles lay in
heaps on one side OF the church. and the
new roof shone freshly in The autumn
sun with the black coating that had been
given to it by the painters brush.
Opposite to one OF the front corners
Of the church, and only a few feet dis
tant from ii, there lay heavy time
worn slab with its broken surface even
with the grass, covering the grave Of one
OF the early English settlers in Lancaster,
and OF whose existence scarcely another
trace remains. The inscription on the
stone is not now easily legible, Lut ap-
pear, to be as follows:
Here Lieth inferred the body OF John
Stretchey Gent, who departed this life
the 9Th Day Of December. 1898. in the
10Th year OF his Age"
Opposite to one OF the rear corners OF
the building. under the shadows OF the
pines. which press closely upon the rail-
ing that encloses the churchyard, stardS
somewhat remarkable group OF monu-
mental stones, commemorative of men,
bers OF the well-known family of Ban,
and that through many generations.
These monuments are for the most par:
massive slabs. laid horizontally on SINH
lary massive supports on the sides and
at the ends. and are generally in a good
state OF preservation. In three instances
the slabs are much smaller, and are set
vertically at the ends of the graves, the
head-pieces having on them in each case
the figures OF two monumental shafts
with a weeping willow between them, and
over these in circular form. the words:
IN memory Of" and beneath the names
and epitaphs OF the parties whose dust
has long slumbered there.
one OF the heaviest slabs has on its this
record:
Here lieth the Body of Mary, the wife
Of James Ball. Daughter of Edwin Con-
way, Gent. deceased, who departed this
life the 18Th Day Of September, 1880, in the
44th year Of her Age, leaving three sons
and five Daughters. She was a owing
wife, tender Mother. a peaceablc. good
neghbor. and lived and died pattern .of
Piety and Virtue. Here also, lieth in
TERED the Body OF ye aforementioned
James Ball, Gent, son OF William Bali.
Gent, decd, who departed this life the
18th Day OF Oct. 1l54. In ye 10Th year OF
his Age, having lived in the constant
Practice OF Temperance and Sobriety ana
other moral Virtues, and died in a stead
fast Faith In Christ and full hope OF a
glorious Resurrection"
CAPTAIN WILLIAM BALL.
The father OF the above James Ball.
who Is named on his tomb. is distinguish
ed In the Lancaster records az Captain
William Ball. and was the eldest OF the
two sons OF Colonel William Ball. the
progenitor Of the family in Virginia, who
emigrated to the Colony In 1850, and set
tied at the mouth of Corotoman river.
Captain Balls brother--named Joeeph--was
twice married, but had no son to survive
him. his only son, Charles. having died
early. He had. however. five daughters,
who greatly enriched Virginia with dis
tinguished progeny. Mary. the issue Of
his last marriage with Mrs. Hannah