William Ball, III

William married Hannah Heale, daughter of George Heale and Elizabeth Rogers. Her father also served Lancaster County as a Burgess. William and Hannah had at least seven children.

William III was appointed as a justice to the Lancaster County Court on November 14th, 1694 - the same day he presented his father's will for probate. In 1703 William was elected as a Burgess, in 1712 he was made Major in the county Militia. As a Burgess, William spent much of his time in Williamsburg but was frequently noted in the Legislative Journals as being absent due to illness. He retired from state politics in 1726 and returned to Lancaster County full time where he ran county court as Chief Magistrate and became Colonel of the militia in 1732.

In addition to his public life William also managed vast landholdings passed down to him by his father and also patented himself. Early on William and his family may have lived on the tract of land purchased by his grandfather in 1680 that became known as Millenbeck. He is thought to have been the one to develop the property and build the mansion house. Archaeological evidence from the site of the house points to it's construction between 1710 and 1737. A wine bottle seal embossed with the name William Ball and year 1711 was recovered near the site. In 1706 William patented 1,093 acres in Richmond County on Richland Run.

William's oldest son, William IV, predeceased him in 1742. William wrote his will on August 14th, 1744. He divided his land six ways among his grandsons. The Millenbeck estate was left to William V, minor son of William IV. To his son George he left the use of his land in Richmond County, to go the George's son Williamson at his death.

"all my land in Richmond County where Capt George Heale formerly lived during his natural life and after his death I give the said land to my grandson Williamson Ball son my of son George Ball and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever and for want of such heirs then I give the said land in Richmond County to my grandson George Ball and the male heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such heirs I give the said land to the next son or sons legally begotten or to be begotten of my son George Ball and the male heir or heirs of his or their body lawfully begotten forever and for the want of such heirs then I give the said land in Richmond County to my grandson Williamson Ball son of my son William Ball decd. and the male heirs of his body..."

Later in the will William also left George items including pistols, a saddle, a silver tankard, silver spoons, a watch, his wearing apparel, a yearling colt, four sets of bedroom furniture and a Bible. George was named the executor of his father's estate and probated his will on March 8th, 1745.

William ended his will by asking that his estate not be appraised, it was inventoried however by George and recorded on June 14th, 1745. Twenty nine slaves were listed by name. All of the items left to George were listed first. Livestock included two yoke of oxen, 35 cows, five calves, 41 head of sheep, 27 lambs, 26 hogs and 13 pigs. The inventory also listed 24,026 pounds of tobacco on hand at the estate.