History and genealogy of Peter Montague, of Nansemond and ...

406 DESCENDANTS OF PETER MONTAGUE.
His will was made two days before his death from which it is
inferred that he died suddenly from some acute disease. The will
bears date Feb. 7, 1720, proved May 16, 1721 and mentions only his
wife Katharine and William Montague the son of his brother William,
and step-son William Young and step-dau. Elizabeth Young.
The vestry book of Christ church has this record :
"Thomas
Mon-
tague, Sr., died Feb. 9, and was buried Feb. 14, 1720." From the
lapse of time between his death and his burial it is thought that his
remains may have been brought to Middlesex, to be laid by the side
of his father in the family, burial place. He left his estate to William
[3172] the son of his brother William Montague. His wife lived but
two months after he was buried. She d. April 19, and was buried
April 21, 1720*.
CHILD.
3173. William, b. , bapt. June 14, 1702, in Middlesex Co., d. in infancy*
FOURTH GENERATION AND CHILDREN.
3172.
William Montague, son of William, Jr. [3170], b. about 1707 or
1708 in Essex Co.
He 7H., Oct. 16, 1727, before he was of age, Hannah Ball, dau. of
Capt. Richard Ballf of Lancaster. The marriage bond is still to be
*Ch. Ch. vestry book.
t Capt. Richard Ball [the father of Hannah] was son of William Ball, Jr. His mother
{
was probably Miss Harris of " Bay View," Northumberland Co. William, Jr., was son of
j
Col. William Ball, Sr., and a brother of Joseph Ball who was the father of Mary, the mother
Of Washington. Hence Richard Ball and Mary, the mother of George Washington were I
first cousins, because their fathers were brothers. Hannah [Ball] Montague and Gen.
Washington were second cousins. They were both great grandchildren of Col. William Ball,
Sr. It is possible that this Montague relationship with Washington gave rise to the tradi-
tion that Washington was of Montague descent. This cannot be determined until the
maiden name of Mrs. Mary Johnson, who became the mother of Mary Ball, is discovered.
Tradition says she was a Montague, but no record has been found to support it. Ball was a
nickname of Baldwin, a west of England provincialism for bald. Baldwin was from a bap-
tismal name. Several chief tenants in Domesday Book are called Baldwinius and Baldvinus.
The arms of the Va. Balls were " Arg. a lion passant sable, on a chief of the second three
mullets of the first." Crest, " Out of the clouds proper, a demi lion rampant sable, powdered
with estoiles arg. holding a globe, or." Motto, " Coelumque tueri." Capt. Richard Ball was
j