Notes for Moses Ball

Notes for Moses Ball

!Information found at Web Site: http://www.silverchat.com/BallGenealogy/lancaster/wills5.htm also in book by Charles Brashear on page 70:
!Will of Moses Ball, b. 1717 m. Ann Nancy Brashear; Will Book F, No. 1, p. 176; Dated 15 Dec 1786; Proved 15 Oct 1792 Fairfax Co. VA:
In the Name of God, Amen, the fifteenth day of December, in the Year of Our Lord God, One Thousand seven hundred and eighty six, I Moses Ball being in perfect memory, Thanks be to the Almighty God, and calling to remembrance the uncertainty of this transitory life and that it is appointed once for all men to die, do make, constitute and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, revoking and disannuling by these presents all and every other Will or wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and this only is to be taken for my last Will and no other.

And first: I reccomend my soul into the hands of God in whom and through the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe assuredly to be saved and to have full remission of all my sins and that my soul with my body at the general day of ressurection shall rise again with joy. Secondly, I recommend my body to the grave to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named, and as for the settling of my temporal Estate and such Goods, Chattels and Debts which it hath pleased God to bestow upon me. I do order, give and dispose in manner and form following.

That is to say, First, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son, John Ball, twenty five acres of land, beginning on the South side of Four Mile Run at the White Oak corner of General Washington's, thence with Washington's line to Alexander's line and the meanders of Long Branch Westwardly until the quantity of twenty- five acres is made then with a Southerly line from the Long Branch to said line of Alexander.

Secondly, I desire that the remaining part of my land may be in possession of my dearly beloved wife, Ann Ball during her natural life to be at her discretion during her widowhood, but in case she marries then the said land is to be disposed of at the discretion of my Executors, and the profits arising therefrom to be equally divided between my surviving children after my just debts is paid (my son John excepted).

Thirdly, I desire that my Executors as soon as possible pay to his Excellancy, General Washington, the sum of ten pounds with interest, a sum I borrowed from him and William Carlin, security for which to secure Mr. Carlin I have given him an Instrument of writing memtioning two Cows and Earlings, the only intending the said sum of ten pounds to be made out of the aforesaid cattle in case he (Mr. Carlin) should be obliged to pay General Washington the above mentioned sum of ten pounds.

Fourthly, I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter, Sibilia Ball one bed and furniture as it stands at the decease of her mother agreeable to the conditions of the land.

Fifthly, I desire that my stock of horses, cattle and hogs and household furniture should be equally divided among my wife, and Bazil, Ann, and Sibilia.

Sixthly, and lastly I desire that my son, John Ball and Mr. Joseph Birch to be the only and sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, and I do by these presents revoke and disannul all and every other will or Wills, Legacy or Legacies heretofore by me made or done, acknowledging this and no other to be my last Will and Testament; as Witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

MOSES BALL (seal) Signed , sealed, and acknowledged in the presence of: Elijah Wood, William Culbertson, Chloe X Culbertson

At a Court held for Fairfax county 17th September 1792. This will was presented in Court and proved by the Oath of Elijah Wood. And at a Court held for the said county 15th October 1792, it was further proved by the Oath of William Culbertson and ordered to be recorded.
Test P. Wagner Cr. Ct.

!A Brashear(s) Family History, Descendants of Robert and Benois Brasseur; Vol. 2; Robert C. Brashear of North Carolina and Some Descendants in TN, KY, MO, TX, etc., by Charles Brashear; page 69: In 1748, Moses Ball patented 91 acres between the line of John Ball on the north, Simon Pearson on the south, George Washington, and others. The patent was issued to Moses Ball by Lord Fairfax (Northern Neck Land Grants, Bk F, p. 288, State Land Office, Richmond, VA). (See map on page 69).
Occasionally, Moses Ball helped George Washington with some of his surveying and had some business dealings with him. In Washington's Diary, 22 Apr 1785: "Took an early breakfast at Moses Ball at Abbington and accompanied by Dr. Stewart and Lund Washington ... and having sent for Mr. Moses Ball, who attended, I went to a corner of the above land .... After having run one course and part of another, my servant William [one of the chain carriers] fell and broke the pan of his knee, which put a stop to my surveying..."