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KNIGHTS OF THE MOST NOBLE GARTER
1. John Savage, KG. had
2. Margaret Savage, who m. Sir John Dutton and had
3. Maud Dutton, who m. Sir William Boothe and had
4. Sir George Bothe who m. Catherine Montfort and had
5. Sir William Bothe who m. and had
6. Jane Bothe, who m. Sir Thomas Holford and had
7. Dorothy Holford who m. John Bruen and had
8. John Bruen who m and had
9. Obadiah Bruen who m. Sarah and had
10. John Bruen who m. Esther Lawrence and had
11. John Bruen who m. Mary Tompkins and had
12. Esther Bruen who m Timothy Ball and had
13. John Ball who m. Sarah Howell Fairchild and had
14. Silas Ball who m. Mary Broadwell and had
15. Andrew Ball who m. Rebecca McFadden and had
16. MARY BALL who m. McKendree W. Coultrap.
Suppositions are the nearest approach that
can be made to the origin or the Ball family. There
have been several theories expressed, but we are
sure only that Balls have lived in England for eight
or nine hundred years, perhaps longer, and that they
were particularly numerous in the Midlandshires of
England. They have been supposed by some to be of
Welsh or Norman extraction; others describe them as
"Teutons, fired with Aryan blood, rough and ready,
eager for conquest; it may be pirates and invaders,
triumphant over natives of our mother island, and as-
suming that might give them right to lands and
flocks of conquered tribes."(1) The most romantic and
interesting explanation, and probably the most
plausible, is that "the name had been handed down
from the Romans and the family had been transplanted
to England through the Roman invasion"(2) When Caesar
conquered Briton, the desperately wounded were left
behind in the hurried return to Rome. Among these,
it is thought, was a certain Johan Bal (Jan Bale),
who was nursed back to health by an Anglic family
and who married their daughter.(3) "After the Roman
legions left the island, society was for a long time
in constant flux. About the tenth century Angles,
Jutes, Lanes, Saxons, and Normans were there, con-
tending, destroying, and causing so much general con-
fusion that accurate history of the period is impos-
sib1e.(4)
1. Rev. Geo. Ball, President's Address at the 2nd Session of
the Ball International Union; p. 98, September 1902 "Union
Record."
2. Chas. F. Ball, The Ball Assembly; p. 1, October 1901 "Our
Journal."
3. Supplied by the author.
4. P.96, September 1902 Union Record.
Miss Frances Andrews, born 1841, died Jan.
21, 1931 at her home in Rorne, Ga., was a daughter of
Garnett Andrews and Annulet Ball Andrews. She was
an internationally known scientist and an outstand-
ing contributor to research in the field of natural
science. She was the only American woman to be
nominated to membership In the International Academy
of Literature-Science by the Italian government.
She was invited to deliver an address to that body,
but declined because of her age. Theodore Roosevelt
and Woodrow Wilson were the other Americans to be
elected to membership.
Miss Andrews was 90 years old, August 10,
1930, and was born at Washington, Ga. She was a
member or the first graduating class at La Grange
College, and later continued her study and taught at
Wesleyan College. During her early life, she wrote
many works of fiction, the best known of which is
"The Wartime Journal or a Georgia Girl." Her other
novels were "A Family Secret," "A Mere Adventure,"
"Prince Hal," "How He Was Tempted," "The
Story of an
Ugly Girl," and "The Mistake of His Life." One
of
her books on botany was adopted by the French govern-
ment as a textbook for its public schools. Many of
her articles of a scientific nature have been pub-
lished in leading scientific journals. Until her
death she pursued her research and writing, although
suffering from physical infirmities. Major Marshall
Andrews, U.S.A., was her brother. He was in charge
at one time of the development of the Coosa River and
was the engineer designing the dams and locks now
functioning.
Taken from her obituary in "Atlanta
Georgian" Jan. 22, 1931.
ANCESTORS OF ESTHER BRUEN, WIFE OF TIMOTHY BALL
Timothy Ball was born at Newark, N.J., Oct
28, 1711, and wed Esther Bruen, also of Newark, in
1734. She was the daughter of John Bruen who was a
descendant of Obadiah Bruen, who was a son or John
Bruen of Stapleford Co., Cheshire, England, who was
born in 1580 and died in 1625. John Bruen had a
most interesting history, being a descendant of
Henry II, king of England. He was raised not only
in plenty but also in luxury and extravagance until
his father's death, after which he devoted his life
entirely to charity.
His son, Obadiah, was baptized in England,
Dec. 25, 1606. He and his wife, Sarah, came to
America in 1640 and landed at Plymouth, Mass. He
spent a busy life in America and, according to ex-
tracts taken from "Calkin's History of New London,
Conn.," he held many local positions in Glouster,
Mass., and New London, Conn., where he lived from
1641 to 1666. He then joined the Branford Colony
which founded Newark, N. J. Further data concerning
the Bruens in latter part of the book.
There were several intermarriages between
the Balls and Bruens, and those in any way connected
with these lines are eligible to become a "daughter
of the Magna Charta" and the "Order of the Knights
of the most noble Garter," and undoubtedly of many
other similar organizations. We are eligible through
five of the twenty-five signers of the Magna Charta,
only sixteen of whom had descendants. These five
are: Bohun, who was chairman of the committee, Saye,
Sir Ralph Bigod, his son Hugh Bigod, and Fitzwalter.
It has been quite easy to trace the Bruen line and
I have traced four. Besides the one going back to
the signers of the Magna Charta, there is one going
back to the time of King Stephen, who reigned from
1135 to 1154, and another to Robert le Bruen, 1230,
who came from Normandy to England, undoubtedly with
William the Conqueror, and of whom record is made
in the Doomsday Book. According to "Biographical
and Genealogical History or Morris Co., N. J."
Obadiah Bruen is a descendant of Robert le Bruen.
From a different source we take the following:
Timothy Ball, a son of Thomas, married
Esther Bruen, who was a great-great granddaughter
of Obadiah Bruen, who came from Cheshire, England in
1640, and was a descendant of Henry II. The Bruens
are connected with five or the twenty-five signers
of the Magna Charta, only sixteen of whom had de-
scendants These five are: Bobun, who was chairman
of the committee, Saye, Sir Ralph Bigod, his son Hugh
Bigod, and Fitzwalter.(1) Four Bruen lines may be
traced: besides the one going back to the signers of
the Magna Charta, there is one going back to the
time of King Stephen, who reigned from 1185 to 1154;
another to Robert le Bruen,(2) 1230, who came from
Normandy to England, undoubtedly with William the
Conqueror, and of whom record is made in the
Doomsday Book.(3)
And a fourth to Carloman, who was born not
later than 560 A.D., the great-great grandfather of
Charles the Hammer. This line is one or the longest,
if not the longest, proved genealogical lines on
record. It comes from Carloman, through Saint Itta,
founder of the Convent at Nivelle; Ansigisus, Mayor
of the Palace; Pepin of Heristal; Carl Martel; Pepin
the Short, first King of the Franks; Charles the
Great; his third son Pepin, King or Italy; Bernard,
King of Italy; The Vermandois Counts and Montforts
to the author, forty-three generations.(4)
1. See Appendix C.PP. 1-6.
2. See History of Cheshire - Bruen of Stapleford, P. 322 &
324.
3. Supplied by Andrews, Chattanooga, Tenn.
4. Supplied by V. D. Allen, Cleveland, Ohio
THE HOME OF TIMOTHY BALL
WRITTEN BY GEO. W. CLARK, OF HEIGHTSTOWN, N. J.
Union Record, Sept. 1904
The Timothy Ball house, New Jersey, a relic
of Revolutionary days, is on the Ridgewood or
Mountain-side road, between Orange and Springfield,
about three miles from either place, and a short
mile from either the South Orange or the Maplewood
railroad station. The large black walnut tree In
front of the house, by the wayside was quite large;
in 1924, it measured over 14 feet in circumference
In the front chimney, above the peak or the roof, is
a stone inscribed "1738," the date of the building.
Timothy Ball, a grandson of Edward Ball of
Newark, and son of Thomas and Sarah Davis Ball, was
born in 1711, and was married to Esther Bruen about
1734. They are said to have lived in a log house
a few rods to the northeast, just over the brook that
divided Orange from Springfield. Wishing to dig a
well, a diviner carne along, and by the use or sticks,
pointed out where water could easily be found on the
northwest side of the brook. This located the more
permanent house, which Mr. Ball was about to build,
on that side of the brook. Four or five daughters
were born in the old house, three of whom died.
The new house was built largely of stone,
and required much time and labor in quarrying and
preparing the stone. It was a commodious and sub-
stantial house for those days. But Mr. Ball enjoyed
it only fourteen years. In the winter of 1757-8 the
smallpox was prevalent In New Jersey, and Mr. Ball
was inoculated, and as a result died early in 1758.
The house and farm were left to be managed by the
wire and two oldest daughters. Five children had
been born in the new house, all then under twelve
years of age, three of them boys, John, Uzal, and
David. The latter was the grandfather of the writer
of this article, and in due time located about fifty
rods away, toward South Orange John settled near
Boonton, and Uzal occupied the homestead. All three
were among the New Jersey troop in the War of the
Revolution. During the war, while Washington had his
troops stationed at Morristown, he frequently carne
to the top of the mountain to witness the movements
of the British near Elizabethtown and Staten Inland,
which could be seen in the distance. On some of
these occasions he visited Uzal Ball, and there he
passed nights, and more than once, as a precaution,
he stabled his horse in the kitchen, which had a
stone floor. At the battle of Springfield, in 1780,
he removed the young wife of David Bail, with her
infant child, Esther, three months old, to a place
of safety on the top or the mountain, he himself
passing nights at this house.
In 1799 Uzal Ball died, and his son Enoch,
the grandfather of Aaron 0. Ball, of Newark, N. J.,
inherited the homestead, and occupied it for forty
years. At his death he left two sons and two
daughters. The house, with part of the term, fell
to his youngest son, who occupied it for a short
time. It then passed out of the family The old
house, although dilapidated, is still sound in its
framework, and its stonework is in good condition,
and it may last for many years, if the ruthless hand
of man will permit it.(1)
Heightstown, N. J., September, 1904.
Geo. W Clark.
I am sure that all the descendants of
Timothy and Esther Bruen Ball will be glad to know
that the old home has been purchased by Mr. Arthur
Ball, of Muncie, Indiana, a descendant of Moses Ball,
Son of Thomas and Sarah Davis Ball.
The house is kept open to the public at all
times. The third floor has been made into one large
room with dormer windows added. A tea room is on
the first floor, visitors can be shown through the
house at any time.
1. Union Record, Sept. 1904, written by Rev. George W. Clark
grandson of Timothy Ball, in "Struggles and Triumphs of a
Long Life."
2. Supplied by the author
Rev. George W. Clark
The Rev. George W. Clark, D.D., of Height-
stown, N.J., who has given such a splendid descrip-
tion of the Timothy Ball house that was built about
1743, has also devoted much of his time In writing
volumes of notes on the New Testament, covering
Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First
and Second Theasalonians, Titus, and Philemon. Pre-
vious books of the New Testament have been hereto-
fore published in volumes suited for use by pastors
and Sunday School teachers. These works of Dr. Clark
were scholarly, evangelical, suggestive, and marked
by high literary merit. They are similar to "Barne's
Notes on the New Testament."
Dr. Clark descends from William Ball of
Wiltshire, England, on the line of Alling Ball, who
came from England to Boston, and then to New Haven,
Conn. He was a highly esteemed minister of the Bap-
tist denomination, a was friend and supporter of
all educational institutions, and an honored officer
of the Ball International Union.
Taken from the Union Record, June 1903,
page 74, "Religious and Literary."
TIMOTHY BALL AND ESTHER BRUEN BALL
HAD NINE OR TEN CHILDREN AS FOLLOWS
Sarah Ball, born Oct. 9, 1735, died May 25, 1770.
Daughter name unknown born Jan. 11, 1738, died
Feb. 8, 1738.
Charity Ball, born Jan. 15, 1739, died Mar. 8, 1770.
Eunice Ball, born Aug 1, 1741, died May 27, 1744.
Mary Ball, born Jan. 3, 1744, died June 2, 1744.
John Ball, born S. Orange, N. J., Feb. 14, 1746, died
near Boonton, Dec. 10, 1838.
Uzal Ball, born Mar. 20, 1748, died April 9, 1799,
wed Abigail Burnet.
Rachel Ball, born Dec 22, 1750, died 1824, wed
Benjamin Crane.
Mary Ball, born April 19 1753, died April 28,
1818, wed Obediah Crane{?}, a founder of Bethel, Ohio.
David Ball, born In Essex County, N.J., Jan. 30,
1756, died July 24, 1805, wed Mary Baldwin, Jan. 12,
1779. If another child, name is unknown.
Of this family, John who was our ancestor
was born at South Orange, but purchased a farm near
Boonton, N.J., where he spent the greater part of
his life.
He married three times, the first wife was
Phebe Crane, whom he married in 1771, second wife
was Martha Howell Fairchild. Widow with 4 children.
They had 4 children, Calvin, Luther, Rachel and May,
third was Sarah Howell Fairchild, wed Feb. 19, 1816
who was a sister to his second wife. No children.
A letter written by Mr. Edward E. Ball of
Bloomingdale, N.J., and a grandson of John Ball
gives much reliable information concerning the life
of his grandfather. This letter was published in
the UNION RECORD Oct. 1901; I will copy it as it was
published.
Your committee has asked me to write some-
thing concerning the life of my great grandfather,
known as Deacon John Ball. I do not know what his
politics were, but think that in view of his numer-
ous marriages and the great number of descendants he
must have been an "expansionist." He was born Feb.
14, 1746, at South Orange near Newark, N. J. At the
age of 25 he married Phebe Crane. A few months after
they were married they moved to a farm near Boonton,
N.J., on lands that were purchased by his father,
Timothy Ball and were later owned by my father Henry
Ball and my uncle Edward H. Ball.
The first child of John Ball was Calvin,
born Oct. 12th, 1772. Then he grew up he went to
Knox County, Ohio.
Luther, born May 13th, 1778; and Rachel, born
Nov. 17th, 1781, also went to Ohio. Rachel married
David Williams.
May, born Feb. 3rd, 1785, died in infancy.
Her headstone still standing in the burying ground
on my father's farm
May 22nd, 1786 his wife died, age 40 years.
Jan. 16, 1787 he married Martha Howell Fairchild, a
widow with four children. From this union nine
children - Phebe, John, Usual, David, Daniel, Silas,
Elias, Mahlan and Stephen were born. Usual, Davis,
Silas and Daniel moved to Ohio. The second wife
died Feb. 14th, 1815. Feb. 19th, 1816 he married
Mrs. Sarah Howell Fairchild, a sister of the second
wife. She had several grown up children who revered
their step-father and always addressed him as "Father
Ball."
While yet young he united with the presby-
terian Church, but later became a Baptist. Someone
asked him how he came to be a Baptist, he replied
that after studying the Bible he could not be any-
thing else. He joined the Baptist Church at Morris-
town and was made a deacon, which office he held for
sixty-four years, and was always addressed as Deacon
John Ball He always attended the Morristown church,
which was eight miles away. He took his family in a
farm wagon, without springs, put in chairs for
seats. Picked up relatives and friends along the
way. They would take a light lunch and stay all day
and have two long sermons. It was thought to be
sacrilegious to have a fire In the church; they took
with them "foot warmers" filled with live embers
which made life just bearable. The church sold an
adjoining piece of property, and it was stipulated
in the deed that the members of the church and con-
gregation should be allowed the privilege of filling
their "foot warmers" in the house.
Of his patriotism much can be said, but space
forbids. He was known as a "Minute Man" and was pro-
moted to be an Ensign. He had a musket that had done
service in the old French war. He called it "Queen
Ann." It had flint lock, and was not quite up to
our modern guns, but all the same it was on the
winning side.
He was called in June to go and fight
Burgoyne, who was then coming from Canada to meet
Cornwallis, who had come up from the south. He was
hoeing corn when called, he laid down his hoe at
once, shouldered his musket, and started to meet the
foe, who was then near Saratoga. As locomotion was
slow in those days, he only reached Sugar Loaf,
Orange County, New York when he learned that Burgoyne
had surrendered. On his return home he found his
wife and children had hoed the corn, so his crop had
not suffered during his absence.
A neighbor woman who was very outspoken in
favor of the Tories, hid her son in the woods and
supplied him with rations, so he could not be pressed
into service on the American side. The act was dis-
covered, and the young man was arrested and fined
$1000. When it was found out that his mother had
hid him away, feeling against her ran high, and it
was proposed that she be made to climb the liberty
pole and wave the American Flag from the top as a
penalty. Deacon John Ball objected, and his coun-
sel prevailed, and converted the woman, for very
soon after she was flying the American Flag from the
top of her house. Thus all the descendants of
Deacon John Ball are eligible to become sons and
daughters of the Revolution.
Deacon John Ball died at his homestead farm
Dec. 10th, 1838, in his 93rd year. His body was in-
terred in the family burying ground on the farm which
he owned.
Thus he closed a long and busy life, filled
with stirring events and noble deeds. Thus each
day of our lives we make history. Let us so live that
when our call comes, it may be said of us, a useful
and profitable life has been completed.
Edward E. Ball
Bloomingdale, New Jersey
Children of John and Phebe Crane Ball
Calvin Ball, born Oct. 12, 1772.
Luther Ball, born May 13, 1778.
Rachel Ball, born Nov. 17, 1781.
May Ball, born Feb. 13, 1785. Died in infancy.
Calvin went to Knox County Ohio when a young
man, later he went to Warren County Ohio and was
ancestor of the Bunnels of Warren County.
Rachel also went to Warren County Ohio,
married David Williams, parents of Lew Williams of
Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio
Children of John By his second wife, Martha
Howell Fairchild Ball.
Phebe Ball. No information.
Uzual Ball, born May 8, 1790, died....Married
Peninah Lyon. Mr. Usual Ball went to Knox County
Ohio in 1814. Mrs. Ball went to Knox County Ohio
from Morris County New Jersey with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Lyon, in 1806.
They had the following children.
Amanda, who died in early years.
Eliza, who also died in early years.
Martha, married Winship Nye. Had 5 daughters
and to sons.
Mahlon, who died in early life.
Susan, married William Grant, two sons and an
adopted daughter.
Albert Judson, married Mary Hinde. One son
George who died in young manhood. All dead now.
David Ball, born _ died _ married Rosanna
McCracken
They had the following children
Adam, born _ died _ wed Fannie Berry
George, " " "
1st Sarah Dalrymple
2nd Emma Sprague
3rd Mrs. Susan Parker
George was a Methodist Minister in central Ohiopg.
An interesting incident occurred in the life
or Fannie Berry Ball, second wife of Schuyler Ball,
grandson of Deacon John Ball, which reveals something
of her real interest in the young people of her corn-
munity. A family by the name of Dill lived near their
home, north of Fredericktown, Ohio. The parents
were very poor and could barely provide the necessi-
ties or life for themselves and their children. They
had a promising boy, Clarence Dill. One evening
Fannie and her husband Schuyler were at a lawn fete
given in the neighborhood and they saw young Dill
there. Mrs. Ball, with her keen interest in young
people, noticed that he kept aloof from the others.
She rightly suspected the cause and, going to the
boy, gave him twenty-five cents with her wishes that
he might enjoy the social occasion, and added in her
charming way "that he need not return the quarter
until he had made his first speech in the U.S. Con-
gress." After his college education, which Mr. and
Mrs. Schuyler Ball provided at Ohio Wesleyan Univer-
sity, young Dill went to Washington State, entered
politics, rose to prominence, and was elected to the
U.S Congress. Soon he made that first speech, and
immediately sent Mrs. Ball the quarter. She had al-
most forgotten the incident but Senator Dill bad not,
and doubtless had great pleasure in returning the
quarter and reminding her of the condition of the
loan.
This thoughtful act of Fannie Berry Ball be-
speaks something of her life-long interest in young
people and devotion to their interest. That kind act
may have greatly shaped Clarence Dill's life. Mr.
Dill being business-like gave Mrs. Ball the following
note.
Fredericktown, Ohio, March 10, 1901
$0.25
For value received I promise to pay Fannie Berry
Ball the sum of 25 cents with compound interest at 6%,
when I shall have made my first speech in the state
legislature, or the United States Congress or shall
have won my first fight in either.
C.C. Dill
Daily Ledger, Dec. 13, 1915.
Silas Ball, farmer, tenth child or Deacon
John Ball and Martha Howell Fairchild Ball, born
at Boonton, N.J., March 12, 1795, died Jan. 18,
1864, buried in family plot on the farm.
Silas came to Ohio with three of his
brothers - Daniel, David, and Uzual about 1814,
and settled on land purchased by his father in 1799.
On Aug. 12, 1819, Silas married Mary Ann
Broadwell, daughter of Stephen and Elizabeth Allen
Broadwell. Mary was born in Morris County New Jersey
Jan. 20, 1801, died June 3, 1873, buried in family
plot on the farm. She came to Knox County with her
parents when a young girl.
Deacon John Ball purchased 1800 acres of
land in Morris Twp., Knox County, Ohio from Lemuel
Cobb in 1799, for his six sons - Calvin, Luther,
Uzal, David, Daniel and Silas who went west when
young men. A portion of that land is now owned by
my brother Fred C. Ball who lives on it. This por-
tion of the land has never changed hands except to
change from one generation to the next
My grandfather, Silas Ball, was a quiet, in-
dustrious and prosperous farmer. While serving as
Justice of the peace for Morris Twp., an event oc-
cured which showed a characteristic of him, and is
recorded in a history or Knox county which I will
quote here.
"An incident in Morris Township worthy of
record, occurred in the time when it was customary
to warn out of townships any newcomer who was likely
to become a township charge. One of these settlers,
by the name or Pope, having located within the
limits - Silas Ball was ordered to warn him out.
He remonstrated against doing so, saying, 'God made
man, and he has a right to a place on earth, and if
Pope is warned out of Morris township he may be or-
dered out of any other township he goes into, and it
is contrary to God's will that he should have no
abiding place!"
The warrant was fixed out and handed to Mr.
Ball to serve, which he took as required, went to
Pope's house, and taking it into his hand was about
to read it when his feelings overcame him and he said,
"Pope I came to warn you off the face of God Al-
mighty's earth," and turned around ad went back with
the writ.
He was asked it he had served it with reading
or by copy; he replied "neither" and gave the words
be employed. The result was that Pope remained and
Ball's better nature triumphed.
He was a staunch Universalist and a kind
hearted gentleman. After he had been in Ohio some
years he wanted to return to New Jersey for a visit;
modes of traveling were very limited in those days,
so be walked from Mt. Vernon, Ohio, to Boonton, N.J.,
made his visit and walked back. I do not know why he
decided to walk, for it is said of him that he al-
ways had a stable of good horses, of which he was
very proud. I am sorry I cannot give the date of
that trip or the length of time it took him to have
made the trip, but as yet I have not found anyone who
remembers those details.
The children of Silas and Mary Broadwall Ball:
I. Elizabeth Ball, born Sept. 30, 1820, married Eli Dice.
II. Sarah Ball, born Nov. 19, 1824, married Dr. F. Griffith.
III. William Ball, born Feb. 16, 1826, died Aug. 1, 1826.
IV. Lydia Ball, born Aug. 25, 1827, died April 30, 1862, married
Mr. Green L. Sloan.
V. Louisa Ball, born Dec. 10, 1829, married Joseph Scott.
VI. Andrew J. Ball, born Feb. 20, 1832, died April 1, 1908.
He married Rebecca McFadden, born 1851 and died 1904.
VII. Harriet N. Ball, born Sept. 9, 1835, died Dec. 2, 1839.
VIII. Alfred Plinney Ball, born Sept. 30, 1844, married McFellon
GLANCING BACKWARD
Miss Mary Broadwell, an attractive young lady
who lived with relatives named Allen, who then owned
(and lived on) the Perry Cover farm on the Columbus
road, perhaps a mile from Fredericktown, went to the
school house one evening to attend a spelling bee.
Thither also went Silas Ball, an upstanding and
straightforward young man who owned and tilled the
farm now owned and farmed by his grandson, Fred Ball,
on the road west from "Ball's Crossing." In the
school house Mr. Ball saw Miss Broadwell, and
at once decided that she was the girl he wanted to
marry. He asked a mutual friend to introduce him to
the lady, but when he saw his opportunity he did not
wait for a formal introduction. Presenting himself
before Miss Broadwell when the spelling contest had
ended, Silas addressed her in this wise: "I am Silas
Ball. I own a farm and have never been in jail. May
I walk home with you?" "But I don't even know you,"
replied Miss Mary. "That's all right," said Silas,
"everybody about here knows me and they'll tell you
I'm all right and own a farm and have never been in
jail."
Miss Mary, who rather liked the appearance
and conduct of the blunt young man, consented to al-
low him to walk home with her. What they conversed
about on the way to her home is not known, but when
they reached the front gate of the Allen place Silas
"popped the question" in straightforward fashion,
"Will you marry me?" Perhaps Miss Mary was ready to
say "Yes," but what she did say was, "I'll have
to
have two weeks to think it over." "A11 right,"
said
Silas. "I own a farm and have never been in jail.
All the folks in this neighborhood know me and will
tell you that I am all right. See you in two weeks."
The two weeks passed without any communica-
tion between the two, but on the appointed evening
Mr. Ball called on Miss Broadwell and asked her if
she had decided to marry him. "Yes," replied the
lady, "I will marry you."
Bruens
A few words should be said here concerning
the ancestors of Esther Bruen Ball.
The first of the ancient Bruen family to
come to America was Hon. Obadiah Bruen, descendant
of Charlemagne, thru King John and 4 of the barons
who signed the Magna Charta, and 15th from Robert
le Bruen of Stapleford, England.
EXTRACTS TAKEN FROM CALKINS HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, CONN.
Obadiah Bruen prominent in Cape Ann affairs
in 1650, had been Recorder and one of the Townsmen
of Glouster for several years; when he transferred
his residence he seemed to have taken his pen and of-
ficial duties with him. His latest registration in
Glouster was made In Dec. and the following February
he was recorder and townsman in Pequot.
The house lot accorded to him was on Meeting House
Hill and covered considerable part of what is now
the town square. He sold in 1653 to William Hough.
Chapter 5, Page 73.
The four townsmen chosen were Messrs.
Winthrop, Stebbins, R. Parke and Bruen.
By general consent Obadiah Bruen was chosen
recorder for the town of Pequot. He continued in
office sixteen years without interruption and was
usually moderator of the town meetings, so that
scarcely any record of deeds, votes, choice of of-
ficials, accounts, bills of lading or copies of
legislative acts, can be found belonging to that
period, in any other hand writing than his.
Page 92.
In 1660 the general courts granted New
London to have an assistant and three commissioners
with full power to grant small causes. For the en-
suing year, Mr. John Tinker was chosen assistant and
Mr. Bruen, James Rogers; and John Smith commissioners.
Page 154
Obadiah Bruen removed to Newark, N.J., 1670.
Date of death uncertain, grave unknown.
Of the sixty-three persons whose names are
given as the first settlers or Newark, N.J., two
were from New London, Obadiah Bruen and his son-in-
law Hugh Roberts *. Two others on the list of
settlers, though not from New London intimately con-
nected with Mr. Bruen, were James Baldwin and his
son John Baldwin, father and son who married sis-
ters, the daughters of Mr. Bruen. The elder Baldwin
married the elder sister Mary in 1653; younger
Baldwin, son of a former wife, was born 1640, married
Hannah Bruen in 1663. Mr. Bruens other daughter mar-
ried Thomas Post.
Page 156.
The latest information concerning Mr. Bruen
Is derived from a letter written by him in 1680 to
his son-in-law, Thomas Post of Norwich, which is re-
corded in New London as a voucher to a sale of land.
In that letter he refers to himself and his wife,
his son John and his daughter Hannah, with their
respective partners as all in health. "It hath
pleased God" he observes "hitherto to continue our
lives and liberties, though it hath embittered our
comfort by taking to Himself our Reverend pastor
Mr. Pierson, Aug. 9, 1679.
ESTHER BRUEN BALL
Esther Bruen was the daughter of John Bruen
who was a descendant of Obadiah Bruen, who was a son
of John Bruen of Stapleford County, Cheshire, England,
who was born in 1560 and died in 1625. This John
Bruen, had a most interesting history, being a de-
scendant of Henry II, King of England. John Bruen
was raised not only in plenty, but luxury and ex-
travagance until his father's death, after which he
devoted his life entirely to charity. His son,
Obadiah, was baptized In England Dec. 25, 1606. He
and his wife Sarah came to America in 1640. There
were several intermarriages between the Balls and
Bruens. I may say that anyone who came down through
one of the Ball-Bruen line is eligible to become "a
daughter of the Magna Charta" - also the order of
"The Knights of the Most Noble Garter" and undoubted-
ly to many other similar organizations.
It has been quite easy to trace the Bruen
line. I have three lines traced: One going back to
Robert le Bruen 1230; another to five of the signers
of the Magna Charta and another line to the time or
King Stephen who reigned from 1136 to 1150. I sim-
ply have the outline to the latter but not their
history.
Then Obadiah and his wife, Sarah, came to
America, they landed at Plymouth, Mass., 1640-41.
They spent busy lives in America. Obadiah held
many local positions according to "extracts taken
from Calkins History of New London, Conn., and
Glouster, Mass." He lived in Mass., from 1641-1666
He then joined the Bradford {Branford} Colony and thus became
one of the founders of Newark, N. J. See Biographical
and Genealogical History of Morris County, New Jersey.
Obadiah was a descendant or Robert le Bruen, A.D.
1230 who came from Normandy to England undoubtedly
with, Wm. the Conqueror of whom record Is made in
Doomsday Book.
MARY THE MOTHER OF GEORGE WASHINGTON
Every member of the Ball family should be
interested in the life story of the mother of George
Washington. His great ability and noble character
were no accident.
We have the following description of Mary
Ball Washington directly from the pen of Lawrence
Washington, half brother of George as follows:
"Of the mother, I was ten times more afraid
than I ever was of my own parents. She awed me in
the midst of kindness, for she was truly kind. And
even now when time has whitened my locks, and I a
grandparent of the second generation, I could not be-
hold that Majestic woman without feelings it is im-
possible to describe. Whoever has seen that awe-
inspiring air and manner, so characteristic in the
Father of His Country, will remember the matron as
she appeared when the presiding genius of her well-
ordered household, commanding and being obeyed."
In seeking for an American woman upon whom
eyes of past generations have been drawn, and on whom
the admiration of coming ages is likely to rest, we
have even more than a patriotic honor in choosing
Mary the mother of George Washington.
Fortunately for the curiosity and instruc-
tion of the world, a man connected with the family
but in no wise related to her, George W. P. Custis,
a grandson of the widow Custis, who married George...
{CUT}
