Thomas Ball

• At the time of Emily Joanna's death (his first wife) Thomas was a builder and contractor
• Death Certificate - Residence Elma Belmont Road, Rondebosch, died of Angina Pectoris aged 75
• 1901 made a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George
• Thomas went to SA in 1861 aged 15; an 83 day journey from London

Cape of Good Hope Directories -

• 1870,71,72,75 - Ball, Thomas, carpenter, ii Longmarket Street
• 1876, 77 - Ball Thomas, carpenter, 74 Loop Street
• 1878, 79 Ball, Thomas, carpenter and builder, 74 Loop Street, cnr. Longmarket Street
• 1880 - Ball T builder, Loop street
• 1882, 85 Ball T Builder Loop Street
• 1886 Ball Thomas (firm Ball & Smart); residence Kloof Streey (Smart, George, (Balll & Smart); Kloof Street
• 1885 Directory - T Ball, 76 Loop Street listed under Builders and Contractors
• 1886 - Ball and Smart, Loop Street under Builders and Contractors
• Mentioned on death notices of William 1875 and Hannah 1891
• was Master Builder, chairman of Cape Hospital Board and Cape School Board
• On 14th April 1898 he was installed as Mayor of Cape Town and served for 2 years

There is apparently a painting of him in his mayoral robes hanging in the municipal buildings of Cape Town. He is depicted as a smallish white haired man, cheerful and with ruddy complextion and very deep blue eyes

29 August 1900

Corner-stone of Cape Town City Hall laid

Source: http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/extra-dates.ph...

The mayor of Cape Town, Thomas Ball, lays the corner stone of the Cape Town City Hall, designed by architects Reid and Green from Johannesburg. The City Hall was built in Italian Renaissance style. It has 39 bells making it one of the largest carillons in South Africa. The Cape Town City Hall is currently being used as the Cape Town Municipal library

Source:
Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau

http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/chronology/thisday/1900-08-29.htm