My immigrant ancestors were John BALL and his son, William BALL. John and William came from England and settled in Hillsgrove, Sullivan Co, PA. They arrived in the USA in 1793. That same year, John drowned while bathing in the Loyalsock Creek. (So much for the promise of a new life in a New World.) His children were: Anne, John, William and Mary. My ancestor is John's son, William, born 21 Sep 1778 in England. This we know from a history of Lycoming County by John F. Meginness. William moved from Sullivan Co to Hepburn Twp, Lycoming Co, where he ran the grist and saw mill at Balls Mills. He died 8 Jul 1866. His wife was Catherine WEISEL (13 Aug 1793 to 25 Dec 1869). She was born in Bedminster Twp, Bucks Co, PA, a daughter of George WEISEL and Elizabeth HONIG, who were active at the Tohickon Union Church. Their children were: Isaac, George William, John, Samuel, Elizabeth, William, Mary Ann, Jacob, Joseph, Sarah and Jane. My ancestor is Mary Ann BALL who married William Miller BOWER. Mary Ann's brother, Samuel BALL, invented the grain cradle. The cradle was a wooden apparatus that was attached to a scythe. As you cut grain with the scythe, the cradle collected the cut grain so you could quickly tie off a sheaf when the cradle was full. This was a great improvement over cutting grain to the ground then having to gather it into a sheaf. The cradle was sold all over the USA until mechanical harvesting eliminated the need for it. The cradles were manufactured in a factory in Hepburn Twp, Lycoming Co, PA. Most of Samuel's siblings worked in some fashion in the business and build homes in the vicinity of the factory along what is now RT 973 E in Hepburn Twp. Is anyone researching this line, or know how John BALL is connected with other BALL lines. Any help would be appreciated. ******************************************** Harold Bower 3704 Kingsford Place Valrico, FL 33594-6901 [email protected] ******************************************** Surnames: BAUER/BOWER, SITLER, WRIGHT, BEACH, FAHLFEDER, MILHEIM, MOYER, SHAFER, PETRIKS, FISHER, LUDWIG, BIDELSPACHER, WALTZ, WURSTER, METZGER, HEIM, BLAKER, PIDCOE, MARTZ, SHEETS, BALL, MILLER, FRIEDERICH, GREENE, ADERHOLD, STOLTZ, ORICH, GUINTER, WAGNER and WEISEL ********************************************