Thomas Ballard of Surry County, North Carolina, the son of William Ballard of Caroline and Bedford Counties, Virginia, was born in 12, 11 [January] 1735/6, according to records of the Cedar Creek and Camp Creek Monthly Meetings.¹

On 10, 5 [May] 1777, a Thomas Ballard was condemned by the Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting for marrying out of unity and former misconduct, yet presented a letter of recommendation from Friends at Tom’s Creek Monthly Meeting in Surry Co. North Carolina. He was granted certificate to that Monthly Meeting.²

Note: Tom’s Creek Meeting was the predecessor of Westfield Monthly Meeting. It was located in Surry County, North Carolina, not far from the Virginia line. The meeting for worship was organized about 1771; the preparative meeting in 1784. As noted above, the name was changed to Westfield when the monthly meeting was established in 1786. Previous to this time, Tom’s Creek Preparative Meeting had been attached to New Garden Monthly Meeting. In addition to Surry and adjoining counties in North Carolina, the territory of the Westfield Monthly Meeting included adjacent territory in Virginia and settlements in Greene and Jefferson Counties, in Tennessee.

More likely, this Thomas Ballard was on 29, 8 [August] 1778 received by the New Garden Monthly Meeting on certificate dated 16, 5 [May] 1778 from Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting in Hanover County Virginia (his likely brother Moorman was received the same year).³

In 1789, Stokes County was cut off from Surry County, and evidently his farm landed in Stokes County, for Thomas Ballard left a will dated 28, 12 [December] 1803 that was recorded in March Term 1804 in Stokes County, North Carolina.  The will names his wife Elizabeth, sons Thomas and Byrom, but none of his other children.

Whereas I Thomas Ballard of the County of Stokes and State of N. Carolina, being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory: calling to 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, As touching the worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give, devise and bequeath of the same in the following manner.

First, my desire and will is that all my just debts be legally discharged.
Second, that the tract of land whereon I now live, containing one Hundred and Sixty-two acres belong to my son Thomas with all buildings, houses or barns and all other appurtenances, provided nevertheless that my beloved wife Elizabeth shall have free and unmolested possession of the houses and plantation whereon they now stand during her life or widowhood, together will all plantation utensils and household furniture, and at her decease, or marriage, my son Thomas to become proprietor of said and all plantation utensils with all livestock: horses, sheep, cattle and hogs and further that my wife to have all household furniture together with certain young sorrel horse and young red brindled heifer as her own private property vested in her and her assigns without molestation.

Lastly that reposing special confidence in my beloved wife Elizabeth and son Byrom Ballard I do constitute and appoint them my sole Executors to execute this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 28th day of the Twelfth month One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three.

Signed, sealed and pronounced in presence of us, who in the presence of each other have herewith set our hands: Caleb D. Garrett, Joseph Bond, Samuel Bond.

Signed: Thos. Ballard

Stokes County, March Term 1804. The execution of the last will and testament of Thomas Ballard dec’d of which the foregoing is a true copy was duly proven in open Court by the affirmation of Joseph Bond and ordered to be recorded which is accordingly done. Robt. Williams, C.C.  Stokes Co. N.C. Wills, Vol. 1-3 (1792-1836), pp. 44-45.

Thomas Ballard married Elizabeth __________ and had issue:

Garman [Jerman, Jarman, German] b. 5, 2 [February] 1765.  On 28, 5 [May] 1785, Jerman Ballard was granted a certificate to the South River Monthly Meeting in Bedford County, Virginia by the New Garden Monthly Meeting.⁴ But he returned to the New Garden Monthly Meeting when a certificate was granted 21, 1 [January] 1786.⁵ His reception at New Garden occurred 25, 3 [March] 1786⁶.

On 9, 11 [November] 1791, at the Westfield Monthly Meeting, Jarmen, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Ballard or Surry County, North Carolina, married Rachel Hiett.⁷ They remained with Westfield until 1803, when on 4, 5 [May] 1803 they were granted a certificate to the Mount Pleasant Monthly Meeting.⁸

The children of Jarman and Rachel Ballard appearing among the records of the Westfield Monthly Meeting are: William, b.1, 9 [September] 1792; Phebe, b. 20, 11 [November] 1794; Ansolemn, b. 20, 11 [November] 1797; Elizabeth, b. 6, 10 [October] 1798; and Edeth, b. 8, 7 [July] 1800.⁸ On 25, 6 [June] 1803 at Mt. Pleasant Monthly Meeting, Rachel and her daughters Phebe, Elizabeth, Edith & Rebecca, were received 25, 6 [June] 1803 on a certificate dated 21, 5 [May] 1803 from Westfield Monthly Meeting.⁹

Byrum, b. 1, 4 [April] 1766. On 9, 11 [November] 1790, Byrum Ballard was reported married to Sarah Carson in the minutes of the Westfield Monthly Meeting, North Carolina.¹⁰  On 14, 11 [November] 1812, he was granted a certificate by Westfield to the Fall Creek Monthly Meeting in Ohio.¹¹

Archer, b. 12 , 8 [August] 1768. On 21, 3 [March] 1789, Archar Ballard is reported married to Rachel Worley in the minutes of the Westfield Monthly Meeting.¹²  On 10, 5 [May] 1810, at Westfield Monthly Meeting. Archer Ballard is granted by Westfield a certificate to the Fairfield Monthly Meeting in Indiana.¹³

Mary, b. 19, 1 [January] 1771. On 4. 1 [January] 1792, Mary Ballard, the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Ballard of Surry County, North Carolina, married Jacob Harrold at the Westfield Monthly Meeting.¹⁴

Frances, b. 11, 1 [January] 1774. On 7, 11 [November] 1793, Frances Ballard, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Ballard of Surry County, North Carolina, married John Burris at the Westfield Monthly Meeting.¹⁵

William, b. 8, 11 [November] 1776. On 20, 10 [October] 1798, William Ballard was disowned by the Westfield Monthly Meeting. He must have been re-instated, for on 23, 8 [August] 1800, William Ballard and sons Anthony, Asa and William were received on certificate from the Goose Creek Monthly Meeting, certificate dated 8 May 1800 [the latter could be a different William].¹⁶

Thomas, b. 10, 3 [March] 1783.

Elizabeth, b. 30, 5 [May] 1785.

---

Endnotes

1. William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. VI (Ann Arbor, MI: Edwards Brothers, Inc., 1950), pp. 227, 285.

2. Hinshaw, Vol. VI, p. 228.

3. Hinshaw, Vol. VI, p. 524.

4. William Wade Hinshaw, Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Vol. I (Ann Arbor, MI: Edwards Brothers, Inc., 1936), p. 524.

5. Hinshaw, Vol. VI, p. 297.

6. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 524.

7. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

8. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

9. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 1007.

10. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

11. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

12. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

13. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

14. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

15. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.

16. Hinshaw, Vol. I, p. 959.