Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-01-29
AGAIN SEEK BALL HEIRS.
Fabulous Estate Now Awaiting
a Division.
WASHINGTON P0st.)

Washington POst.)
The expiration of the ninety-nine-
year lease on the famous "Hope"
farm, near Philadelphia, has again
caused an endeavor to locate all the
heirs of Joseph Ball, the wealthy
Pennsylvania, who died in 1921
without children or will, and whose
estate has never been settled. AL
though it has for years been known
that heirs laid claim to ten squares
in Washington, no heir mad been
found in Washington until within
the last few days. She is Mrs.
Charles E. Brayton, of 412 Rhode
Island avenue, northwest.
Before the death of Ball he leased
the "Hope" farm for ninety-nine
years. Within the last year this has
expired, and it cannot be released.
A descendant Of the Ball family liv-
ing on the land is said to hold the
lease, and will continue to live there
on unless the estate is settled, or he
dies. There seems to be little pros
pect of settlement. 1t is estimated
that there are nearly 1000 heirs to
the immense estate, and all must be
found before the property can be
divided. Attorneys and associations
of heirs have endeavored to find
these, but how futile have been their
efforts is shown by the fact that DUR
ing all these years one heir, Mrs.
Brayton, able to trace her rights to
claim, has resided in Washington
and until visit to relatives in Van
Vert, Ohio, within the last month
had never heard of the Joseph Ball
estate.
Mrs. Brayton is now endeavoring
to learn what she can of the estate
and the progress the other heirs have
made in securing a division of the
countless millions. She is in COM
munication with various officers of
an association formed about six
years ago to employ attorneys to in
vestigate the matter, and until she
hears from them is basing her state
ments on facts, which are known to
have gathered fiction as they have
beer handed down from generation
to generation.
One Of the delusions is the con-
tinued report that 100000 was
awarded to the estate by virtue of
the French spoliation claims bv the
Court of Claims, and that this
money, with accrued interest, is now
stored in the vaults of the Treasury.
Research at the Court of Claims re-
vealed the fact yesterday that in
1885 claims for losses on insurance
policies had been made. In all, the
losses were estimated at $6,29l.75,
and the evidence to sustain these
had never been sufficient to induce
the attorneys to press the case for a
hearing. The Joseph Ball estate is
we'll known to officials at the court,
for over 175 powers of attorney have
been fled there. The basis for these
special claims lies in the assumption
of the United States, in the treaty
whereby Louisiana was acquired, OF
the payment of all claims against
France of citizens of this coun-
try. Joseph Ball is supposed to
have suffered loss from French pri-
vateers while an underwater In Phil.
adelphia insurance Offices.
The estate of Joseph Ball is known
to be large, but how large cannot be
said. The ten squares in Washing.
ton which heirs have said belonged
to Ball, and the titles to which are
today clouded, are in southwest
Washington with the exception OF
one north of Lincoln Park. The,
are Nos. 325, 32S, 412, 467, All
472, 543, 383, 9S8 and 400.
EXTENSIVE LAND CLAIMS.
Besides this, claim is made to 4
large tract in Prince George county
Maryland, along the Eastern Branch
Other claims are to two three-story
brick houses in Philadelphia, $4,000
acres of land In. Greene county, 96A
in Wayne county, 2,11O in North
ampton county, 1890 in Miffiin
county, 6,240 in Franklin county
82,10S in Huntington county. $3.50
in Luzerne county and 5000 in
Pike county, all in Pennsylvania
7,700 acres IN Camden county
Georgia; 25S.O00 in Virginia, so, O,O0C
In Kentucky, 100000 in South Car
olins, $500 in Tigress Valley, South
Carolina, and $4,000 in New Jersey
Joseph Ball was a cousin of Georg,
Washington. He is supposed t.
/ have received title to all these land,
when its worth was not known. Dy
ing intestate and without children
ball was soon followed to the grav,
by his wife. There were left as theil
heirs on the psternal side his uncle
William Ball, and his aunts, Mrs
Abigail Gilbert, Mrs. George Smith
Mrs. Paul Custer, Mrs. John Camp
4 hal u n n