UPDATE:
Proof that Wm Ball-173 married Margaret Downman:
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Downman bible (see French p 134 for a transcript). Note that this bible's records were not recorded at the time of the event. French determined they could not have been entered prior to 1769 almost 100 years after such a marriage.
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Anything else?
Proof that Wm Ball-173 married "Mrs. Harris"
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A letter written to Hayden 19 May 1890 by Thomas Ball Esq (direct descendant of William) said: "William Ball, son of Col. William of 1650, m.(I) Miss Harris, and not Miss Williamson. She was an orphan, an only child, and very wealthy for that day. By this marriage a large quantity of land came into the Ball family. The old homestead of the Harris family, known as 'Bay View,' became the residnce of Captain William Ball. It has passed from sire to son by inheritance or devised from then to now in our family, and belongs to us now. My mother lives there with her two daughtesr. The place where the Harris residence was has been pointed out through succeeding generations, and a fig bush stands there to mark the spot. You will observe in the will of Mrs. Grace Ball (10) the mention of her daughter, Harris Downman. Of all this there is no doubt. My grandmother, wife of Dr. Thomas Ball, b 1787, d 1870, told me she got these facts from Capt. David Ball and members of the family. She was in full possession of her facultires up to her death, and knew the entire history of the family... The clerk's office of this county was burned 1710 and many of the records were lost then..." A Capt. William Harris was Burgess of Herico Co. 1652, 53, 57, 58; one Harris was shot to death, a valiant loyalist prisoner for ye late Rebellion, 1676-7.
Proof that Wm Ball-173 married Margaret Williamson
Current conclusion: Capt. William Ball m 26 Mar 1673 Margaret Williamson, dau of James Williamson. There appears to be no contemporaneous proof that he was ever married to a Margaret Downman OR a Mrs. Harris.
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As we work on the mess of profiles that have been William Ball-189 Sr of Millenbeck, Virginia, we are slowly working our way through his children, including his second son, William Ball-173 Jr. There appears to be conflicting information about his spouses and the mother(s) of his children. Hayne in Virginia Genealogies (1885/1891, pp 53-54) says:
"It is not certainly known that Capt. [William] Ball was thrice married; but it is impossible to ignore traditions that have any shadow of support. His marriage with Margaret Downman is beyond doubt. [But he doesn't say why.] The other marriages have the authority of long tradition. The letter of Col. James Ball (p. 31) and a number of the Ball charts give the name of the first [not third] wife as "Williamson." This Col. James was the great-grandson of Capt. William, and is entitled to some credit in the matter. However, I find no proof of the marriage of capt. Ball with Miss Williamson, but the name Williamson is continued in the family of his sons... The tradition receives further coloring form an original deed still in the possession of the Downman family [as of 1890], descendants of William. The deed, dated Nov. 2, 1675, recites that Major William Underwood, of Rapp'k Co., Va., dec'd, gave to Margaret and Mary Williamson, dughtesr of Mr. James Williamson, of same county, dec'd, a tract of land in the freshes of Rapp'k River... The widow of Major William Underwood, being in 1675 Elizabeth Combe, wife of Archdale Combe, of Rapp'k claimed her ... third part of said tract. This third part... conveyed to Capt. William Ball, of Lanc'r Co..."
Haynes goes on to say that the Williamson marriage "is not in harmony with the traditions of another line of descent from Capt. William Ball." Hayne had a letter (1890) from Thomas Ball who wrote:
"William Ball, son of Col. William of 1650, m. (I.) Miss Harris, and not Miss Williamson. She was an orphan, an only child, and very wealthy for that day. By this marriage a large quantity of land came into the Ball family..." (and more evidence that Harris over Williamson should be true including that the county records burned in 1710...)
The listing of marriages currently on Ball-173 is confusing. What will it take to get really clear on this and assign his children the correct mother? Thanks!