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

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INTRODUCTION.
A tradition has existed for fifty years or more, that George Wash-
ington was of Montague descent, through his mother Mary Ball. It
probably originated from the fact that William Montague married,
1727, a dau. of Capt. Richard Ball, who was Mary Ball's cousin [their
fathers were brothers]. This subject has been thoroughly investi-
gated by Rev. Horace E. Hayden in his Va. Genealogies, published
Wilkes-Barre, Pa., 1891. The compiler also has made a thorough
search, and left no means untried to obtain the truth. The result is,
that the only place where such descent could be possible, was
through Mary Ball's mother who was, before Col. Ball married her,
a Mrs. Mary Johnson, a widow, of Lancaster Co., Va. A tradition
exists in the Ball family that Mrs. Mary Johnson was born in England.
This tradition has been traced to Mrs. Ann Shearman, whose mother
was Esther Ball, the half sister of Mary Ball. If it is true, that she
was born in England, then—any descent from Peter Montague was
impossible. No record has been found to show the maiden name of
Mrs. Mary Johnson, or who she was before her marriage to Johnson.
If she was a Miss Montague, she would have to be a daughter of one
of the sons of the emigrant Peter Montague. One of his sons did
have a daughter whose name was Mary Montague, but church records
prove that she married, Oct. 24, 1682, Thomas Payne, and no record
exists to show that she ever afterward married any one else. Records
of that time and locality are lost, and the maiden name of Mrs. Mary
Johnson [Washington's grandmother] will probably never be known.