Thomas Horace Ballard, the son of Thomas Ballard of Albemarle County, was, according to an uncorroborated online record, born in 1732.  He married his cousin Elizabeth (Mary) Ballard, the daughter of John Ballard (John Ballard’s will of 11 June 1779 recites “Then I give to my granddaughter Lucy Ballard, daughter of my daughter Elizabeth a cow and calf.”).  They lived in Albemarle county, Virginia,¹ and he died 3 December 1804.  On 10 October 1780 Thomas Ballard and Elizabeth his wife conveyed to Bird Rogers 200 acres in Albemarle, adjacent to the lands of Bland Ballard, William Michie and Thomas Ballard.²  Eleven years later, Thomas Ballard purchased from Charles Burrus 288 acres in Albemarle on both sides of Rockey Creek adjacent to land owned by John Ballard, William Garrison, Thomas Walton and Piner Gooch.  Charles Burrus had married Thomas and Elizabeth’s daughter Susannah.³

He left a will in Albemarle county, which was probated in Albemarle December 1804.⁴ He gave his estate to his six children and appointed his son James and his son-in-law Thomas Pettit his executors.  There is a notation in Albemarle County Deed Book 7 (1776-1782); above the record for a Deed from David Mills to Thomas’s father for 350 acres (said conveyance dated 9 November 1780), “Mills to Ballard, delivered to J.S. Ballard Exor. of Thos: Ballard the 22 May 1824, J. Garrett, D.C.”.  Thomas retained ownership of this parcel purchased by his father, which passed through his estate on his death.  This is the property described as lying on “both sides of the South Fork of Rockey Creek containing 350 acres of land.”⁵

Will of Thomas Ballard of Albemarle Co.

In the Name of God Amen, I Thomas Ballard of Albemarle County do make my last will and testament.

I give and devise to my son John Ballard and to his heirs forever all that part of land that lies on the North side of the north fork of Rock Creek.

Item. I give and devise to my son James Ballard and his heirs forever all the rest of my tract of land.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Bruce Thirty pounds of current money of Virginia.

Item. I give devise and bequeath all the rest of my estate unto my six children viz: John Ballard, James Ballard, Mary Davis, Lucy Harvey, Betsey Snow and Patty Pettit and to my grandaughter Justina Burruss to be devided equally amongst my said six children and my said grandchild. And I hereby appoint and ordain my son James and my son in law Thomas Pettit Executors of this my last will and testament.

This my last will and testament signed with my hand and sealed with my seal, dated this fourteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and two.  Signed: Thomas Ballard (Seal)

Signed, sealed published and declared to be the Testator as his last will and testament in presence of us who have subscribed our names in his presence; Wm. Michie, Wm. Michie Jr., Anne Michie, Elijah Garth, John Mullins Jr., Purvis Rogers, William Thompson

At a court held for Albemarle county the third day of December 1804.  This instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Thomas Ballard, deceased was presented into Court and proved by the oaths of Elijah Garth and John Mullins, Jr. two of the three subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of James Ballard and Thomas Pettit Executors there in named certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form of law on their giving bond and security according to law, whereupon they qualified and gave bond and security accordingly.  Teste: John Nicholas C.A.C.

His children were:

THOMAS, married Elizabeth _____________.

JOHN, married Elizabeth Thompson.

JAMES, married Ann Rodes (Rhodes).

Ann, married William Bruce, who died in 1813.

Mary, married  ____________ Davis.

Lucy, born c. 1767, married Joseph Harvey in Orange County, Virginia.

Elizabeth (Betsey), married Frost Snow.

Martha (Pattsey), married Thomas Pettit.

Susanna, married 23 October 1786 Charles Burrus; their child (named in the will of Thomas Horace Ballard above and the will of Charles Burrus recorded in Albemarle Co. Va. Will Book 6, p. 331) was Justina Burrus.  Virginia Compiled Marriages, 1660-1800 (Ancestry database online).  According to an unverified genealogy on the Shiflett Family genealogy website, Susanna Ballard was the second wife of Charles Burrus (died 22 February 1791); Charles married (1) Elizabeth Dickinson (died 6 September 1785), and left issue (five children) and (3) June Owens and left issue (five children).  He died 4 February 1819.

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 Endnotes

1. Among his holdings were 288 acres in Albemarle Co. By deed dated 9 April 1791, between Charles Burrus of Albemarle to Thomas Ballard of same, for £125, 288 acres in Albemarle Co., on both sides of Rocky Creek. Witnesses: Wm. Michie, Benj. Richards, David Michie, John Watts. Recorded April 1791, Albemarle Co. Va. Deed Book 10, p. 164.

2. Deed from Thomas Ballard and Elizabeth his wife of Albemarle Co. to Bird Rogers of same, for £400, 200 acres in Albemarle adjoining the lands of Bland Ballard, William Michie and Thomas Ballard. Recorded 11 October 1787, Albemarle Co. Va. Deed Book 9, pp. 387-8.

3. Deed between Charles Burruss to Thomas Ballard, for £125, 288 acres in Albemarle on both sides of Rockey Creek … beginning at a corner pine … to two oaks corner in John Ballard’s line …. joining William Garrison’s … joining Thomas Walton and Piner Gooch.  Witnessed by William Michie, Benjamin Richards, David Michie, John Watts.  Recorded 9 April 1791 Albemarle Co. Va. Deed Book 10, pp. 164-5.

4. Will of Thomas Ballard of Albemarle Co. Albemarle Co. Va. Will Book 4, p. 162-3.

5. John Bennett Boddie, Southside Virginia Families, Vol. 1, p. 20.  Albemarle Co. Va. Deed Book 7, 1776-1782, p. 498.