Joseph Ballard, son of Joseph Ballard of Nansemond County, Virginia removed to Norfolk County with his wife Elizabeth. On 13 March 1732, they leased land land in Chowan County to Moses Branburie.
“Joseph Ballard and Elizabeth his wife of the precinct of Chowan and Government of North Carolina… to Moses Granburie … leases land for one year for.. one eare of Indian Corn at the feast of Saint Mitchell (Michael) the Arch Angel if the same be lawfully demanded” Mar 13, 1732. Norfolk Co. Va. Deed Book 11, 1730-34, p. 110.
Joseph Ballard left a will dated 18 May 1769, presented in court February 1773, Tyrrell County, North Carolina.
In the Name of God Amen, The Eighteenth Day of May in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Nine. I Joseph Ballard of Tyrrell Co. in the Province of North Carolina being Sick and Weak in Body but of Perfect Mind and Memory, Do Make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament
Principally and first of all, I Recommend my Soul unto the Hands of God that Gave it Hoping Through the Merits Death and Passion of Our Savour Jesus Christ, to have free Pardon and Forgiveness of all my Sinns and to Inherit Ever Lasting Life, and my Body I Commit to the Earth to be Decently Interred at the Discretion of my Executor Hereafter Named and as Touching my Worldly Estate I give and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner and for me.
Item …I will that all those Debts and Duties as I do owe in Right or Conscience to any Person Shall be Well and Truly Contented and Paid.
Item: I give unto my Son Joseph Ballard five Shillings Sterling.
Item: I give unto my Son John Ballard One Negro Man Named George.
Item: I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Arthur Bardin, five Shillings Sterling.
Item: I give unto my Son Robert Ballard five Shillings Sterling.
Item: I give unto my Grand Daughter Ann Ballard Daughter of my son Robert, One Negro Boy Named Charles, to her and her heirs for Ever.
Item: I give unto my Son James Ballard. One Tract of Land containing Two Hundred Acres be the same more or less, it being the Land I purchased of Soloman Johnson, or will more fuller appear by the Deed I have for the said Land, also One Negro Man Named Mingo, and Two Feather Beds and Furniture.
Item: I give unto my Son Silas Ballard my Plantation Whereas I Now Live, with All the Land where unto Belonging, it being Three Hundred and forty Acres, Being Part of a Tract of Land Taken up by Osburn Jeffers as Will appear by the Deed I had from Phillip Pearce. Also my will, One Negro man Named Tom One Negro woman Named Bridget, One Negro Boy Named Simon, also my dishes and Two Feather Beds furniture.
Item: I Give unto my Son Elisha Ballard, One Negro Man Named Toney. One Negro Woman named Fanney, One Negro Boy Named Jacob, One Negro boy named Lewis, Two Feather beds and Furniture, and my Case of Bottles to him and his Heirs for Ever.
My Desire is that After my Death all the Remains of my Household Furniture not before Given, Shall be Equilly Devided between my two Sons, Silas, and Elisha Ballard. I also Appoint my Two Sons John Ballard and Silas Ballard my Executors of this my Last Will and Testament.
In Testamony Whereoff I have Hereunto Lett my Hand and Seal, the Day and year of first Mentioned. Joseph (his mark) Ballard Signed Sealed, Published announced and Declared by the said Joseph Ballard as his Last Will and Testament in Presence of us the Subscribers. Hardy Conner, James Counsell, Elisha Ballard.
Tyrell Co., In the Term of Feb 1773 Personally appearing James Counsell and Madd Botham made oath the Holy English God that he see Joseph Ballard.
Sign seal publish pronounced and declare this to contain his Last Will and Testament and that … Hardy Connell ??? Elisha Ballard signed and witnessed thereunto. Recorded by FR Ward, Clerk
Issue:
Joseph
JOHN, probably the John Ballard who left a will in Dobbs County, North Carolina.
Elizabeth
Robert; Issue: daughter Ann
James
SILAS. See note below on the two Silas Ballards of Martin County, North Carolina.
ELISHA, probably the Elisha Ballard who married Elizabeth _________ and left a will in Martin County, North Carolina.
Notes on Silas Ballard. Curiously, there are two wills recorded in Martin County, North Carolina by two different Silas Ballards. At the moment it is impossible to determine which Silas belongs to this particular family, so both wills are transcribed below. We suspect, however, that the middle initial “E.” that is used in the first will argues for placement with this family, given that the brother Elisha named his son “William E. Ballard.” Yet the Will of the second Silas names John J. Sherrod as executor; Mary Ann Ballard, the daughter of Elisha Ballard of Martin County, North Carolina, married into the Sherrod family.
Will of Silas E. Ballard, 1821
State of No. Carolina, Martin County. In the name of God Amen I Silas E. Ballard of the state & county aforesaid being weak of body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be to God for the same, do make & publish this my last will & testament in manner & form as follows.
First I wish my body should be buried in a Christian like manner by my executors and that all my just debts be paid.
Item. I lend unto my beloved wife Nancy Ballard during her natural life my mannor Plantation with all the improvements thereon & after her death I give & bequeath the said manner plantation with all the improvements thereon unto my son Silas Ballard to him & is heirs forever. I also lend unto my beloved wife one third of all my personal & perishable estate during her natural life & at her death my will & desire is that all the perishable estate loaned unto my wife be equally divided between all my children share & share alike & that the personal estate be equally divided between my four daughters share & share alike.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving daughters Polly Hait, Fanny Ballard, Betsy Powell & Louis [Louise?] Ballard all my personal estate to be equally divided between them share & share alike to them & their heirs forever.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my son John Ballard my plantation known by the name Mehoon Plantation which plantation I purchased of Tho. Mehoon as will appear by the deed of said Mehoon to me to him & his heirs forever.
Item. I give & bequeath to my son Martin Ballard my plantation called the new Daverson land containing seventy-two acres more or less to him & his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Ballard my Plantation called the Old Daverson Land containing one hundred and ninety five acres more or less to him & his heirs forever.
Item. My will & desire is that my two sons Thomas & Silas Ballard be educated so as to make them in learning equal to my other two sons and that the expense of tuition board and the like be paid out of my estate.
I nominate and appoint my loving wife Nancy Ballard Executrix and my sons John & Martin Ballard executors to this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 10th June 1821. Silas E. Ballard [seal]
Signed, sealed published and acknowledged before us: Arthur Watson, Samuel Barnhill, Samuel Hyman
Wills; Author: North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Martin County); Probate Place:Martin, North Carolina Wills, Vol. 1-2, 1774-1867; Book 2, pp. 75-76.
Will of Silas Ballard, 1825
In the name of God Amen.
I Silas Ballard of the State of North Carolina and leaving in the County of Martin being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be God do this 17th day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty five make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say:
Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Ballard my negro fellow Henry also all my household and kitchen furniture also one yoke of team also all my stock of hogs and cattle also my two horses together with my crop of corn to her for use, also I lend unto my beloved wife Mary Ballard during her natural live three negroes namely Fanora, Washington and Alston & after her death to return in manner and form following: I give and bequeath Washington to my brother Lemuel Ballard’s son Joseph Ballard to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath at the death of my wife Mary Ballard Fanna & Alston to be equally divided between Mary Ann Ballard, Gracy Long’s children & Isham Ballard children if my brother Isham dies without children then the legacy left to his children to return to my sister and brothers children, and I hereby make and ordain my worthy friend John J. Sherrod Executor of this my last will and testament, in witness whereof I the said Silas Ballard have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this the day and year above written. Signed, sealed published and declared by the said Silas Ballard the testator of his last will and testament in the presence of us us who were present at the time of signing and sealing thereof. [signed] Silas Ballard [& seal]
Witnesses: Lualling Bowers, Nathan Horton
State of North Carolina, Martin County. Court of Pleas and Quarter Session, March Sessions 1826 – The above paper writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of Silas Ballard was produced in open court of the 17th day of November A.D. 1825 by Lualling Bowers and Nathan Horton the subscribing witnesses thereto and proved by them who swore that Silas Ballard the testator was of sound disposing mind and memory when he signed the same and that they signed the said will as witnesses at the same time and on motion was ordered to be recorded. Teste: Henry B. Hunter, Clerk, by Benj. F. Slade, DClr.
North Carolina. County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (Martin County) probate 17 November 1824. Wills Vol. 1-2, 1774-1867; Book 2, pp. 226-227.
Ballard of Virginia 
There are 3 wills in Martin County for Silas Ballards. The Silas E. (1821) seems to be somewhat independent but the other two read similarly but not exact to each other. One from 1825 and one from 1836.
Thanks for pointing that out — I have not spent that much time with this line. I just found the 1836 will, which the index for that will book identifies as that of “Silas Ballard Jr.” .