The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-02-22

feAy - A0NS 40 o. ANC 60ot Nc - 0Sp AN y
can be no more interesting woman to
read about under these circumstances
than Mary Ball-the mother Of George
Washington. Fredericksburg. Va, her
birthplace, is one OF the most historic
towns In America. Founded long before
the revolution, upon the R~appahan-
mock river, 1t has been for generations
the center OF social life in that rich
region known as the northern neck of
Virginia. where were born end%scec
80 many OF the great fathers Of AM
erican liberty. Within a radius of 80
miles were born John Marshall. George
Washington, George Mason, Thomas
Jefferson, James Madison, James Mon
roe, Matthew Fontaine Maury and Rob-
ert &c. Lee.
It was also In this little town of
fredericksburg that a convention OF
delegates of IL companies of horse as
sembled and proclaimed their purpose
to defend he colony Of Virginia or any
other colony against the king of Eng
land, and marched under the command
OF Patrick Henry against Lord Dun
more. This occurred II days before
and was therefore the first N most
emphatic declaration OF our indepen-
dence.
1t Is also worthy OF note that in 1882,
when that independence had been ac-
complished, 1t was q citizen OF Fred
u SASodiB II lttIIOuuSGo allkO III olSS-
islature, which had then beer replaced
by the house OF burgesses. the first
resolution for the emancipation OF the
negroestand for the prohibition of the
lave trade ever offered in America
General John Minor, of Fredericksburg,
was the author and advocate of the
measure, aid here in this same town
was born, lived and died Mary Ball.
the mother of Washington.
The place teens with interesting
relics and traditions of this remarkable
ADMINISTRATIONS which have been
handed down from mother to daughter
and when told you by a silver haired
old lady who prefaces her story by
my dear, l remember as though 1t
were but yesterday. my mother telling
me she remembered her grandmother
telling her of Mary Ball. whom she
traditions must be. as the children say,
for true.
The Ball family came early in the
10th century to Virginia The home of
Joseph Ball, the father of Mary. was
known as "Epping Forest" near the
Rappahannock river, in Virginia. Mary
Ball, as a young girl. was ~strikingly
handsome n was known as THE Rose
of Epping Forest" and was the belle
of that part of the country. During our
civil war a letter was picked up in an
old Virginia home. The letter was
Pal lidliy ueSlIoySuj puI II gives us just
a glimpse of Mary Ball at the most at
tractive age, 16. 1t is dated Williams
burg, Va. the 7th day Of October, 1922.
Madame Ball n her sweet Molly
have gone home. Mother kinks Molly
the comeliest maiden she knows. She
is about 16, is tall and very sensible
and loving. Her hair is Tx fax, her
eyes are the color of yours and her
cheeks like The May blossoms. I wish
you could see her" The signature is
lost and the writer unknown.
Had Mary Ball lived in this goth
century, she would have been termed
an athletic girl. All outdoor sports APP
pealed to her. She was a superb horse
woman as a young girl and continued
the practice until late In life. as was
the practice Of Virginians in those
days. She again visited England short
met, at her uncle's home. Lord Fair
fax, whom tradition says at once fell a
victim to the charms of the Virginia
belle. Lord Fairfax was the type OF
lover to find an answering chord in the
hearts of most young girls. He was
handsome, wealthy, of noble birth: he
was a conspicuous figure at the courts
OF Europe, and had, if we may Judge
of court life in those days, led a gay
course. His love for the fair Mary
Ball was the grand passion of his life.
He came to Virginia shortly after her
] SNebt W 49, 'ASihiN' oAt "lllS III
in Louder county told his love. One
of the old historians gives US just one
glimpse of this woman before the cur
tain is rung down, By telling us of a
minuette which "The Rose Of Epping
Forest" danced with Lord Fairfax
while On this visit. We can picture
this stately dance led by this couple.
She was said to have had a most state
ly, graceful carriage; he with the court
ly manner of the cavaliers of that day,
make picture we would love to dwell
upon. Youth and romance in the life
of a woman are SO beautiful and so
fleeing. Soon care and responsibilities
sweep all this way, as was the case of
Mary Ball, and it Is only the sterner
side, and in the latter years of her life,
known. This u~nrequited passion for
Mary Ball would seem to have affected
the life Of Lord Fairfax and to have
remained with him always. After
Mary Balls marriage to Augustine
Washington, and while a widow living
at her home in Fredericksburg, he
called upon her and asked that he
might appoint her son, George, vino was
then 16 as a surveyor, This she con-
sented TO, and Lord Fairfax's old love
for the mother made a strong feeling
Of friendship for the son.
The Washington and Ball families
We're related and coming as they did
to Virginia o the same time, there
was a strong friendship and intimacy
between them. ~Propinquity, said to be
q very potent factor in all love affairs,
played a very important part in the
marriage of Mary Ball and Augustine
Washington. While in England he was
thrown from his horse at the gate OF
her uncle's estate. He was badly in
jured and remained their guest for
some time. Mary Ball assisted In nurs-
ing him and when convalescent the ro-
nance began which ended In their mar
riage shortly after in England. Here
they spent some time visiting relatives
before their return to Virginia.
So much Of her time having been
spent IL England, 1t was natural her
allegiance to the crown should be very
strong, and It's said she was at heart
q tory always. On one occasion, upon
the return of her son fresh from some
of his victories with the English, she
exclaimed, as he entered, We'll
George, have not the British beaten
you yet?' In this same connection,
when her old lover, Lord Fairfax, lay
dying, news was brought Of the sur
render of Corvallis. Holding out his