Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-04-08
LAY CLAIM TO BALL ESTATE.
Lfne-Up of the Washingtons fol-
Joseph Balls Lands

VocFa DatA 1huuS
The Baltimore correspondent o.
the New York San says of the claim
ants for the Ball estate:
Several women prominent il
society in Baltimore are interested in
lawsuits involving interests estimated
at several hundred millions of dol
lars, which grew out of a ninety,
nine-year lease made by Joseph Bal
of Virginia, a half. brother of Gene.
raj George Washington's mother.
"Mrs. IL. Irvine Keyser, Mrs. T.
Glenn Perine and Mrs. Andrew Reed
all prominent in Baltimore, are in
the direct line of the Washing ton
succession. If the suit to reclaim
this wealth in successful they will
have large share of the inheritance.
The Maupins, CAROLS and Clarks
also are Baltimore families whose
descent from the Washingtons leaves
them in the line of inheritance under
the law.
"The Baltimore heirs and heiresses
have not yet taken any steps toward
making q legal test Of their claims,
but there is no doubt that suits in
Philadelphia, Washington and the
States of Georgia and Kentucky will
be instituted, based on the original
claims of Joseph Bail.
Ball owned immense tracts of land
on sections Of which are now valus-
bic buildings in the hearts of the
cities OF Washington and Philadel-
phia. He also owned rural tracts in
Kentucky aud Georgia, which he
leased to the present tenants or those
whose titles are based an this origi-
nal lease.
"Mr. Ball died bachelor and bis
estates went to his four sisters and
to his half-sister, President George
Washington's mother, Mary Ball.
She became the mother of FIVE sons
and one daughter. These were
George, John, Augustine, Richard,
Laurence and Charles Washington
and Betty Washington, who married
Mr.. Lewis. Mrs. Andrew Reed, of
Baltimore, is descended from Betty
Washington Lewis. Bird Washing
ton, of Alexandria, one of the social
led Mount Vernon Washingtons, is
descended from Charles Washington.
"Bushrod Washington, of Charles
town, w. Va, 10 descended in direct
male line from John Augustine
Washington. OF all the prospective
heirs, however. Mrs. II. Irvine Keyser,
of los West Monument street, Balti-
more, has probably the best CLAIM.
Mrs. Keyser belongs to what is
known as the conservative set, which
includes old Maryland families like
the keysers, Wsrfelds, Latrobes and
McLanes. She is doubly Wash
ington, for her mother, Miss Lewis,
who was descended from Betty
Washington Lewis, married her
cousin, who was descendant of
John Augustine Washington.
"The principal estate involved 10
in Philadelphia. This alone aggre-
gates many millions of dollars. Next
in Importance is a similar claim upon
land In the city of Washington. The
estates in Kentucky and Georgia are
not as valuable as these, but in area
they are much larger.
"While the. fact that land was
leased by Mr.. Ball is said to be un.
disputed, attempts to take possession
of 1t will be fought on other grounds,
and on this account some of the
principal heirs hope for nothing
better than compromise. Others
are more sanguine in their expecta-
tions, and believe their chances good
for coming into possession of ali the
land involved.
awhile there is much doubt as TO
the extent and exact location of a
large part of the land, equally great
uncertainty exists in regards to the
heirs- 1t ID believed by those direct
ly concerned that when it becomes
known that the descendants of the
Ball family have inherited SO vast q
claim heirs will spring up in all parts
of the country. Beyond the fact
that Mr.. Ball died q bachelor and |
left his estate to his sisters and one |
Mary Washington, little
. known regarding the different
branches of the family tree. 1t is
llso known that both of Mrs. Wash
ngton's sons. George and Laurence,
had no descendsnts, the former hsy-
ng no issue, while the only child of |
'he latter died in infancy.
"a great deal Of correspondence is
between the heirs just now,
md it is probable that a meeting of |
III those concerned will be held in
Washington in the near future"