Lewis Ball (1779 - 1856)

Born 1 May 1779 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Ancestors

Died 6 Apr 1856 at age 76 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi

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Biography

Lewis Ball was born on May 1, 1779 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Lewis was the son of William Ball and Sarah (Martin) Ball. The family lived for a time in Halifax County, Virginia before moving to Laurens County, South Carolina, while he was a young child.

His first marriage was to Sarah Anne Hitt. He was married at least 2 times and outlived both wives. Lewis had at least two sons and two daughters Martin Ball (1808–1859), Sarah Ball Ball (1815–1874), Lewis Ball (1820–1896) and Joanna H. Ball Goodman (1825–1905).

He moved from Laurens County, South Carolina to Pontotoc County, Mississippi in about 1849 to be near his sons. Lewis was a Baptist minister and became a noted evangelist. He died on April 6, 1856 in Pontotoc County Mississippi.

Burial: Cherry Creek Cemetery, Pontotoc, Pontotoc County, Mississippi

Census

1810 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[1]
Lewis Ball 20010 -- 00100; 1 slave
male female
2 <10
10-15
16-25 1
1 26-44
>45

He is in the sequence Curtis Cearnal, Larkin Hitt, x, Benja Hitt Sen'r, 5x, David Hitt, Henry Hitt, x, Lewis Ball.

1820 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[2]
Lewis Ball 030010 --- 30010; 4 in agriculture; 2 slaves
male female
<10 3
3 10-16
16-18
16-26
1 26-45 1
>45

He is next to his father-in-law Lazerus Hitt.

1830 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[3]
Lewis Ball 11000001 -- 1112001; 4 slaves
male female
1 < 5 1
1 5-10 1
10-15 1
15-20 2
20-30
30-40
40-50 1
1 50-60
60-70
70-80

He is in the sequence Henry Hitt Revd., x, Drury Sims, x, Lewis Ball, Elizabeth Hitt.

1840 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[4]
Lewis Ball 010100001 -- 00100101; 4 in agriculture; 5 slaves
male female
< 5
1 5-10
10-15 1
1 15-20
20-30
30-40 1
40-50
50-60 1
1 60-70

He is in the sequence William Hitt Rev., 4x, Jesse Hitt, Lewis Ball, Joseph Ball, Benj. Hitt, 2x, Henry Ball, 2x, Elizabeth S. Hitt. William, Jesse, and Benjamin are brothers. Elizabeth is their mother and Lewis Ball is their uncle.

1850 Laurens Co., South Carolina ^[5]
59/59
Lewis Ball 70 M Va $3500 Farmer
Benjamin J. Ball 14 M SC
Emily Ball 12 F SC

In the Slave Schedule he is the owner of 9 slaves (July 27). A William Hitt lives at 56/56. His nephews Benjamin and Martin Hitt live at 62/62 and 63/63 respectively.

Bethabara Baptist Church

On page 3 of the Minutes of the Bethabara Baptist Church in Laurens Co., SC (LDS microfilm 22728) Louis Ball Sen'r is the 9th entry in the list of male members. This list was probably created in 1805. To the right of his name: "Dismissed 23d Oct'r 1850".

On July 8, 1820 Lewis Ball was ordained a deacon. He was on several occasions a messenger to the association.

October 9, 1824: "Nominated Benj Hitt Lewis Ball William Tensley and Drewry Sims as helps to Cross Roads church"

June 13, 1829: "In conference delegated Lewis Ball and Jesse Hitt to call on Sister Susan Leek and ascertain the truth of a report that she has joined the methodist church and make it known to our next meeting"

July 11, 1829: "In conference Brother Lewis Ball reported to the church that he called on Sister Leek and that she told him she had joined the methodist for the satisfaction of her husband alone. The case was laid over until the next meeting"

August 8, 1829: "Took up Sister Leek's case which was refered last meeting, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the church that she had joined the methodist a nonfellowship was declared"

August 27, 1837: Lewis Ball has made a journey to Alabama.

From May 1841 to October 1844 when his son Lewis Ball Jun. was a member of the church, he is referred to as Lewis Ball Sen'r. Before and after he is referred to simply as Lewis Ball. From about 1838 onward he is referred to frequently in the minutes.

October 26, 1850: Lewis Ball and Clarrisy, his servent, applied for letters of dismission, which were granted.

Earl J. Hitt

The following was copied from the database of Earl J. Hitt in WorldConnect (no longer existent):

Capt. (Rev) Lewis Ball moved with his parents to South Carolina when he was about three years old. He moved to Cherry Creek, Pontotoc County, Mississippi as a widower with his two youngest children. Two of his sons, Martin and Lewis, had already moved to Mississippi. Capt. Lewis settled near sons Martin and Lewis.
Capt. Lewis Ball was a soldier in the War of 1812 for which he recieved $48.66 for his services at Camp Alston in 1814 (U.S. War Department, War 1812, Regimental Roll of Captains and Sub Alterns, Tuckers Regiment, South Carolina Militia).

Birth: MAY 1779 in Virginia
Death: 05 APR 1856 in Pontotoc County, Mississippi Note: Obituary: Laurensville Herald, Laurens, S.C., 1856: "Died at his residence in Pontotoc County, Mississippi on the 5th April, 1856, Lewis Ball, Sr., in his 77th year. About 70 years of his life were spent in Laurens District, S.C., five years in Mississippi and two in Virginia." (Copy in the Public Library, Laurens, South Carolina)
Burial: Cherry Creek Cemetery, Pontotoc County, Mississippi

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1810", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2Y-9FX : Sat Mar 09 18:31:25 UTC 2024), Entry for Lewis Ball, 1810.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1820", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHG6-ZTQ : Fri Mar 08 21:24:47 UTC 2024), Entry for Lewis Ball, 1820.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1830", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5S-813 : Fri Mar 08 05:05:11 UTC 2024), Entry for Lewis Ball, 1830.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1840", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRY-W19 : Fri Mar 08 00:04:26 UTC 2024), Entry for Lewis Ball, 1840.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8QJ-WWZ : Sat Mar 09 10:49:49 UTC 2024), Entry for Lewis Ball and Benjamin T Ball, 1850.

• The Descendents of Peter Hitt - Lucile Wilmoth Hollingsworth Hitt - January 14, 2003
• Find A Grave: Memorial #119256129
• "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M8QJ-WWZ : accessed 17 February 2015), Lewis Ball, Laurens county, Laurens, South Carolina, United States; citing family 59, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
• Lewis Ball in the Mississippi, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1805-1890
• Obituary: Laurensville Herald, Laurens, S.C., 1856: "Died at his residence in Pontotoc County, Mississippi on the 5th April, 1856, Lewis Ball, Sr., in his 77th year. About 70 years of his life were spent in Laurens District, S.C., five years in Mississippi and two in Virginia."

• Family records