as faithfully copied by hand from the original by Horatio's
grandaughter, Ella Jane Donaldson on April 30, 1900:
I, Horatio Ball, Sr., of Alex. County, Virginia, do hereby
make this my last will & testament in manner and form following,
that is to say
First. 1st I desire that all the perishable part of my estate be
immediately sold after my decease and out of the money derived
therefrom all my legal debts and funeral expenses be paid.
Second. 2nd I wish the grave yard containing one fourth of an acre
to be reserved for ever for the burial of the members of the family,
with right of way from the grave yard to the Georgetown road as
laid down on Samuel Ball's plat as drawn by Oliver Cox.
Third. 3rd I give to my son Samuel all of that piece or parcel of
land the same being the eastern part of my land on which the said
Samuel Ball now resides the same containing 6 acres 3 roods and 15
french perches, being the same more or less as surveyed to him by
Oliver Cox. August 1865 to him and his heirs for ever.
Fourth. 4th All of the rest of my estate I desire may be equally
divided among my several children one half between my first Wife's
children Horatio Ball, Jane Darnes, Mary Donaldson, Elizabeth Douglas,
Catharine Marcey, during their life and then to their children. The remaining half to my second Wife's children via: Edward Ball, William Ball, Sarah F. Ball, Almira V. Ball, Matilda M. Ball, during their life and then to their children for ever or they may sell to one another.
My claim against the government for damages sustained during the War if ever paid: I desire the Grave Yard enclosed out of same, and one third of the balance to Samuel Ball and the balance to be equally devided among my several children, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns and lastly I do here by constitute and appoint my son Samuel Ball executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former Wills or Testaments here to fore made by me, in witness where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed my [seal] this 9th day of September in the Year of Our Lord, eighteen hundred and sixty eight 1868
Signed
Horatio Ball [SEAL]
Published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Horatio Ball in the presence of
Witnesses:
William Douglas [SEAL]
Lemuel Topley [SEAL]
The family grave yard referred to in Horatio's Will is the Ball Family Grave Yard in Arlington, VA on Washington Boulevard.
