TIMOTHY BALL

	Rev. George W. Clark, great-grandson of Timothy Ball, compiled
interesting data relating to the house which he built in the early part of
the Eighteenth Century, and which is still standing, and known as Ye Old
Washington Inn. The clergyman noted:

	The house is on the Ridge-wood or mountainside road, between
Orange and Springfield, about three miles from either place and a short
distance from either the South Orange or the Maplewood railroad station.
In the front chimney, above the peak of the roof, is a stone inscribed "T.
& E. B. 1743" (Timothy and Esther Hall), the date of the building. An-
other interesting feature is a small square aperture in the front wall of
the house which leads to an old fashioned built-in bed which for purposes
of warmth adjoins the huge chimney.
	Timothy Ball, grandson of Edward Ball, of Newark, and son of
Thomas Ball, near "Tuscan Hall," was born In 1711, was married to
Esther Bruen about 1743. They are said to have lived in a house (log.
probably) a few rods to the northeast, just over the brook that divided
Orange from Springfield. Wishing to dig a well, a diviner came along
and by use of sticks pointed out where water could easily be found on the
southwest side of the brook. This located the more permanent house,
which Mr. Ball was about to build, on that side of the brook.
	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 substantial house for those days, but Mr. Ball enjoyed it only four-
teen years. In the winter of 1757-1758 the smallpox was prevalent in
New Jersey, and Mr. Ball died of the disease in 1758. The house and
farm were left to be managed by the wife and two daughters. Five chil-
dren 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 grand-
father of the writer, and in due time located about fifty rods away, tow-
ards South Orange. John settled near Boonton and Usal{Uzal} occupied the
homestead. Edward, grandfather of Timothy Ball, was one of the orig-
inal settlers of Newark and was born about the year 1642 or 1643. He
married Abigail Blatchley, of Connecticut, about the year 1664 and re-
moved to Newark in the year 1667 and probably died there (the. exact
date of his death being unknown). He was a prominent man in New-
ark's affairs--Sheriff, Committeeman on boundaries in matter of settle-
ment with Lord Proprietors, Indians, etc. Is supposed to have had six
children, among whom was a son named Thomas.
	Thomas Ball was born about 1687-1688 and died on or about Decem-
ber 18, 1744. Married Sarah Davis about the year 1710. Was a black-
smith and constable of Newark between 1715-1716 and removed, between
1718-1720, to a tract between Hilton and Jefferson Village, New Jersey,
where he died near the site of "Tuscan Hall," built by his son Ezekiel.
Thomas Ball is said to have had twelve children, among whom was a son
named Timothy.
	Timothy Ball was born October 26, 1711, and died January 9, 1758.
Was a farmer on the mountainside, west of Maplewood Station, near
South Orange, N.J. Married Esther Bruen, December, 1734, and is said
to have had eleven children, among whom was a son named Uzal Ball.
	Uzal Ball was born March 20, 1748, and died April 9,1799. Was a
farmer, his homestead being situate near South Orange, N.J. Married
Abigail Burnet and died leaving seven children.
	There is a tradition in the Ball family that Edward Ball (grand-
father of Timothy) was related to Mary, the mother of Washington; his
father perhaps being the grandfather of Mary Washington. During the
Revolutionary War, while Washington had his troops stationed at Mor-
ristown, he frequently came to the top of the mountain to witness the
movements of the British troops near Elizabethtown and Staten Island,
which could be seen in the distance. On these occasions he used to visit
Usal{Uzal} Ball who lived on the homestead of Timothy Ball, his father. There
he passed nights, and on more than one occasion, as a precaution, stabled
his horse in their kitchen. Washington recognized the Balls as distant
relatives, calling them cousins. John, David and Usal{Uzal} Ball, sons of Tim-
othy, served with the New Jersey troops in the Revolution.

	Timothy Ball made his will in 1752, and which was recorded Febru-
ary 8, 1758, as follows:

	In the name of God Amen the first day of June 1752 I Timothy Ball
of Newark in the County of Essex and Province of New Jersey being in
good health in Body and perfect mind & memory thanks be given to
Almighty God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my Body and
knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain
this my last will & Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I
give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave
it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in decent Chris-
tian Burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the
General resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Power of God
and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to
bless me with in this life I Give Demise and dispose of the same in the
following manner and form My will is that all my just Debts as shall
hapen at my decease shall be paid by my Executors hereafter named and
appointed out of my moveable Estate.
	Item I Give and bequeath unto my loving and beloved wife Esther
the use of all my lands Tenements and Hereditaments during the time
she shall remain my widow and no longer my will also is that my sd wife
shall have fifty Pounds out of my moveables such things as she shall chuse
out of the Invitary at her disposal forever.
	Item I Give and bequeath unto my beloved sons namely John & Uzal
and all other sons that my said wife shall have within nine months after
my decease all my Lands or meadows eqaly to be Divided amongst them
except I shold be in Debt at my Deceas so that there should not be move-
ables anough to pay them and the Legacies before & hereafter mentioned
then my will is that my Executors shall have power to sell Land at any
time when they see fit and pay my debts and my will is that my Executors
or any Persons under or from or by them or their orders or by my sons
orders at any time may Devide my Land equaly amongs my sons, and my
will is that if my Executors hereafter appointed shall see that I have
land inconveniant for my Sons and that there is Land more conveniant
for them and for ther benefit that then they may sell some & buy others
for my sons and my will is that if I should have any Land in pardonship
with any Body that then my Executors may Devide it at any time and my
will is that if there should be any more moveables then to pay the Legacys
that my sons should have it.
	Item I Give & bequeath unto my beloved Daughters Sarah Charity
Rachel and to all other daughters as shall be Born of my said wife within
nine months after my Decease they shall have fifty pounds apeace to be
paid by my Executors when they are eighteen years old or before if they
are married.
	Item I do make ordain constitute and appoint my beloved wife Esther
and My beloved Brother Aaron Ball and Nathaniel Ball the Sole Execu-
trix and Execrs of this my last will and Testament and I do revoke nullifie
and make void all former wills & Testaments by me in any manner of
ways heretofore maid & declared hereby ratifying & confirming this to
be my last will & testament and none other In Testimony whereof I have
to this my last will & Testament set my hand and affixed seal the day and
year above written.
Signed sealed published                    TIMOTHY BALL (Seal)
and declared by the
Testator to be his last will
and Testament in presence of
witnesses
Jonatha{n} Tompkins,
Jedidiah Hedden,
William Green

Be it remembered that on the third day of February in the year of Our
lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty eight Jonathan Thompklns
and Jedidiah Hedden two of the witnesses personally appeared before me
Uzal Ogden duly authorized to Prove wills & qualify Executors in the
Eastern Division of New Jersey & they being duly sworn on the Holy
Evangelists did Depose that they were present and saw Timothy Ball the
Testator within named sign & seal the within written Instrument and
heard him publish pronounce & declare the same to be his last will and
testament and that at the doing thereof the said Testator was of sound
mind & memory to the best of their knowledge & understanding and at
the same time William Green was present and signed as did they each
sign as a witness in the Teatators presence.
                                                     UZAL OGDEN
Be it also Remembered that at the same time Esther Ball & Nathaniel
Ball two of the Executors within named personally came before me and
were sworn to the due execution and performance of the within will &
testament according to Law.                          UZAL OGDEN
Probate Granted by John Reading Esqr President &c in the usual form
Dated the same 3d feby 1758
Recorded in Liber F of wills page 487 &c.