Joseph Ballard, possibly the son of John Ballard of Nansemond County, Virginia, was born before 1673 (probably c. 1652) and died between 21 July 1729 and 14 October 1729, when his will was recorded in Albemarle County, North Carolina.

Joseph Ballard married  Anne ________________, who survived him and is named in his will dated 1729.

Notes on Albemarle County: Albemarle County had been established in 1664,  By 1670, four precincts of Albemarle County had been formed: Shaftesbury, Currituck, Pasquotank, and Berkeley.  In 1681, Berkeley was renamed Perquimans, and by 1685 Shaftesbury became Chowan.  By 1689 the county ceased to function as a governmental unit, replaced by the four “precincts” (which would later become counties themselves): Chowan, Currituck, Pasquotank and Perquimans.  Albemarle County was finally abolished in 1739.

On 20 April 1694, Joseph Ballard, joined by Elisha Ballard and Elias Ballard patented 550 acres in the Upper Parish of Nansemond Co., on the south side of Sumerton Creek, and on the North side of Beech Swamp. April 20, 1694, Patent Book No. 8, p. 334 (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. II, p. 388).  The headlights were John Guttridge, William Green, Joseph Sairs, Sarah Kirk, Abel Kerk, Jane White, Alex. Magreggory, Elizabeth [Magreggory] his wife; Jno, Jupiter, Tom, Negroes.

Curiously, the Quit Rent Roll of 1704 reports that Joseph Ballard was seized of 200 acres.

On 16 December 1714, Joseph Ballard acquired 369 acres of New Land in the Upper Parish of Nansemond County on the south side of the Beech Swamp; adjacent Speight’s line & John Drury’s corner, for importation of 8 persons: John Bradham, Thos. Mayer, Ursilla Bradham, Eleanor Mayher, Mary Darling, Peter Durdinose, Thos. Eagerly, Philip Laughly.  Patent Book No. 10, p. 204.  Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. III, p. 160.

On 21 July 1729, Joseph Ballard wrote his last will and testament, in which he recites that he was of Albemarle County, North Carolina; according to Lynne D. Miller, the loose version and the version transcribed into the county records have both been preserved (Albemarle Co. N.C. # SS 876/198), and recorded 14 October 1729.  It appears that the land Joseph possessed fell into Albemarle County with the boundary adjustment that became effective the previous year.

In the name of God, Amen. The twenty one day of July in the year of our Lord 1729. I Joseph Ballard of Albemarle Co., planter, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and command my soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the Earth, to be buried in a Christian fashion like and descent manner at the discretion of my executors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the almighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate where with it hath pleased God to leave me in the life I give and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:

Item: I give and bequeath to Anne my dearly beloved wife the plantation where I now live … for life and one negro woman named Marcy and one white mare and one bay horse and all there remainder part of my estate after what here under mentioned is left out.

Item: I give unto my well beloved son Joseph Ballard whom I likewise constitute make and order only and sole executor of this my last will and testament, two cows, two yearlings, and two heffers and one gray horse and one feather bed and furniture.

Item: I give to my well beloved son John one tract of land containing 200 acres lying in Snow Fall and six head of cattle and feather bed and furniture.

Item: I give to my well beloved daughter Martha, five cows and calves.

Item: I give to my well beloved daughter Susanne, five cows and calves.

Item: I give to my well beloved son Elisha one gray mare and two iron pots and two pewter dishes.

Item: I give to my well beloved son Elias, one sorrell horse, two iron pots, and two pewter dishes.

Item: I give to my well beloved daughter Esther (Hester?) at the day of her marriage five cows and calves.

And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disallow all and every other former testaments, wills, and legacies, bequests and executors ratifying and confirming this an no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day and year above written. Joseph Ballard Sealed published and pronounced and declared by the said Joseph Ballard as his last will and testament before us: James Many (believe Manning) John Hooks, John Purvis Edenton October 14, 1729, Proved the within will of Joseph Ballard before me by the oath of James Manny (Manning). Richard Everard

Anne is probably the Anne Ballard named as an adjoining property owner in a patent taken on 20 June 1733 by Henry Holland for 230 acres of New Land in the Upper Parish of Nansemond County, adjacent his own old land, John Holland, Senr., John Windburn junr. & Anne Ballard.  Patent Book No. 15, p. 68.  Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. IV, p. 13.

An Ann Ballard is named in a patent taken on 1 August 1745 by Thomas Howard, Junior, for 403 acres in the upper Parish of Nansemond County “near a place called Wickham, adjacent Ann Ballard & Mrs Mary Baker.”  Patent Book No. 23, p. 992.

Joseph Ballard and Anne ______________ had issue (though some researchers name a first wife Elizabeth; we have not yet identified the source of that information):

JOSEPH

John

Martha

Susanne

Elisha, possibly ELISHA BALLARD of Nansemond County, Virginia

ELIAS

Esther

[Misc. records below need verification and study; found on Rootsweb newsgroup]

LDS Microfiche #6019508
Edgecombe PRECINCT Deeds Recorded in Halifax County NC, Abstracts from Halifax Deed Books 1-6,
Book by Margaret Holman

20 February 1739
John MULKEY to Francis HANEY of Charles City VA: 210 acres, part of a grant to Joseph BALLARD.

17 February 1746
Henry CHAMBERS of Edgecombe to John BALLARD of Nansemond VA: L45 VA money for 400 acres on Wolf Pit branch and Beaverdam swamp; part of a patent to John POPE of 17 Feb 1730. David CLARK and John DAWSON witnessed.

30 March 1751
John BALLARD of Tyrril county to Matthew BURNETT: L22.10 for 40 acres on south side Conneto creek, joining lands of PRESTON, formerly SIMS, Mill swamp and the creek, with all houses, orchards, gardens, etc. Per a patent of 26 July 1743. N. COOPER and Thomas HOWELL witnessed.

16 November 1741
Robert HILL of Edgecombe to Joseph PHILLIPS of Edgecombe: L50 for 25 acres on south side of Blue Marsh swamp, joining John BALLARD and mill swamp and William HICKMAN.

20 October 1743
Patrick MENTURE of Roanoke to Elias BALLARD of Bertie: L50 for 300 acres on both sides of a dividing line between Edgecombe and Tyrril counties, joining Thomas BRIGMAN and Conniho creek. James CONNER, John BALLARD and Elias
BALLARD witnessed.

24 March 1743/44
Thomas BRIGMAN of Craven county to John BALLARD of Tyrell: L50 for 400 acres on south side of Conehoe mill creek and swamp. Joseph BALLARD, Elias BALLARD and Elisha BALLARD witnessed.

16 November 1744
John BALLARD of Craven county to Thomas Price of Edgecombe: L16 for 150 acres, all land he bought of
William GAUSE near Rainbow Banks. William TAYLOR, Elias BALLARD and John HOOKS SR witnessed.

16 November 1744
John BALLARD of Craven county to John HUCKS of Edgecombe: L45 for 250 acres in river pocosin, joining John EVERITT and Thomas PRICE, where HUCKS now lives. William TAYLOR witnessed.

16 November 1744
John BALLARD of Craven county to John HUCKS of Edgecombe: L5 for 100 acres on south side of Roanoke river, joining
Theophius PUGH, per patent of 15 Feb 1739. Willaim TAYLOR, Elias BALLARD and John HUCKS JR. witnessed.

16 February 1744
James BARNES of Northampton county to George BELL of Edgecombe: L25 for 315 acres joing John GRAY and cypress swamp, per grant to John BALLARD of 1 Feb 1725.

8 March 1745
John BALLARD of Craven county to William TAYLOR of Edgecombe: L25 for 200 acres joining Roanoke river pocosin, William REDDIN, and mouth of the branch, with all houses, gardens, etc. Charity CARNALL, William REDDEN and
Elias BALLARD witnessed.

8 March 1745
John BALLARD of Craven county to William TAYLOR of Edgecombe: L5 for 200 acres on Wolf Pit branch
and Rocky swamp.

8 March 1745
John BALLARD of Craven county to William TAYLOR of Edgecombe: L5 for ?? acres joining Roanoke, Green swamp, Beaver pond and John HUCKS where John BALLARD formerly lived.

8 March 1745
John BALLARD to William REDDIN of Edgecombe: L25 for 150 acres in river pocosin. Elias BALLARD, Charity CARNALL and William TAYLOR witnessed.

25 February 1757
John BALLARD of Nansemond VA to Henry BRADLEY of Edgecombe: L40 for 400 acres on mouth of Wolf pit branch upon Beaver dam swamp, per grant to John POPE of 17 Feb 1730. Thomas DAVIS, Henry HILL and Joseph MONTFORT witnessed.