BFHA-RC-000016
Research record and source registry for James Gray Madison Ball. This archive entry preserves the corresponding publication section for website research review.
Publication excerpt:
JAMES GRAY MADISON BALL: William F., Edward, Bartholomew; William, Sr. James Gray Madison Ball was born 31 July 1809 in Baldwin County, Georgia. He was the first born of William F. Ball and his second wife Elizabeth Gray.1 James grew to adulthood in Baldwin County. He, like his brother, William Baker Ball, had every advantage of that day. It is not known how much education he wanted or received, but he was not a farmer. He became a Christian and joined the Methodist Church in Baldwin County in 1825.2 He married Nancy Boynton in Baldwin County, 24 December 1828.3 His first child, James Edward Augustus Valerius Cincinnatus Ball, was born in Houston County, Georgia 29 March 1831.4 His and Nancy’s second child, Augustus Valerius Cincinnatis Ball, was born 28 April 1833 in Houston County.5 Their third child, also a son, William Moses Ball, was born in Houston County 1 September 1835.6 James G. M. Ball was licensed by the Methodist Church to be a minister of the Church in September of 1837 in Houston County.7 James’ wife, Nancy Boynton, died during the year 1838, perhaps the year James and his family moved to Stewart County, Georgia; and in December of that same year, James married Eliza Ann Spreight in Stewart County.8 Eliza Ann Spreight was a widow. Her maiden name was Weston, the daughter of Stephen Weston and wife Sarah C., of Stewart County8. James G. M. Ball and his family are listed on the 1840 federal census of Stewart County.9 Mary Elizabeth Ball, first born of James by his second wife, Eliza Ann, and the last child born to this couple, was born 29 June 1842 in Stewart County, Georgia.10 In January of 1844, James G. M. Ball was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Church in Stewart County.11 It is not known when James first became a Justice of the Peace in Stewart County, but he was a Justice as early as 26 October 1845, for he performed a marriage on that date, uniting in marriage Jubilee Smith and Mary Annie Audult.12 James was the Post Master in the town of Hard Money in 1847. The name was later changed to its present name of Weston.13 James was again elected to the office of the Justice of the Peace on 8 April 1848, and again 25 January 1849.14 He was also elected as an Elder in his Church during 1848. On 16 May 1849, Stephen Weston, Eliza Ann’s father, died and the will names son-in-law James G. M. Ball as one of the two executors.15 The 1850 census of Stewart County lists James and his family and also lists slaves owned by James at this time.1665 James G.M. Ball signed a guardianship document on the 6th day of September 1852 for $12,000. “…. To be void on condition that the said James G.M. Ball shall do and perform all the duties of guardianship for the purpose and property of Augustus V. C. Ball and William Moses Ball, minor children of James G.M. Ball as the law requires of him, otherwise to remain in full force, power and virtue.” This document was co-signed by John S. Spreight and Homer V. Mulkey.17 Why was James making such a document on just Augustus V.C. Ball and his brother William Moses Ball and does not include brother William Moses Ball and does not include brother James E.A. Ball and sister Mary Elizabeth? There may be more than one reason why James did this, but one reason is that when his first wife, Nancy Boynton, died in 1838 in Houston County, James was required to sign a similar document on his sons James, Augustus and William. James E.A. Ball is now 21 years old and no longer a minor under the age of twenty-one years, so he is being dropped from the document, by his father signing another such document without James E.A.’s name being included. James E.A. was born in 1831, so in 1852 he was 21 years old. …. Augustus V. C. was born in 1833, so he was 19 years old and William Moses was born in 1835 so he was 17 years old. Mary Elizabeth is not included because she is the offspring of James G. M. and his second wife, Eliza Ann, who is still living. On 10 January 1853 and again on 25 May 1854, James G. M. Ball was commissioned as Justice of the Peace.18 James G. M.
[Excerpt; the full publication section is preserved in the BFHA source registry document.]