William Ballard, the son of John Ballard (c. 1765-1829) and Molly Powers (c. 1760-1815) of Albemarle County, Virginia, was born c. 1788 and died before 3 August 1874, the date his will was presented for recording. He married 6 February 1809 Sarah Jarman, the daughter of William Jarman (1748-1813) and Sarah Maupin (1755-1830). Sarah is identified in her father’s will as “Sally Ballard,” along with her sister Frances Dabney Ballard (“Fanny Ballard”) and her brother who married William’s sister Elizabeth, Pleasant Jarman (Last Will & Testament of William Jarman, dated 26 February 1810, recorded 7 June 1813, Albemarle Co. Va. Will Book 5 (1809-1814), pp. 280-282).  Sarah died before 1870; she last appears in the 1860 Federal Census as “S.J. Ballard, age 70” with “Wm. Ballard, age 72” in Fredericksville Parish, Albemarle County, Virginia.

They appear to have spent their entire lives in Albemarle County, appearing in the 1810, 1820, 1830 and 1840 Federal Census. In 1850 he is enumerated in Albemarle County as age 62 with Sarah, age 60, with daughters Mary, age 26, Sally, age 28 and Mildred, age 20. In 1860 William and Sarah (“Wm” and “S.J.”) are alone, but in 1870 two of the daughters have returned home: Mildred, since married to Reuben Sydney Powers (who had died in 1864) with their children Thomas E. Powers, age 13, Sally B. Powers, age 11, and John B. Powers, age 7; and another daughter Sarah C. Jarman, age 53, who had married Miletus Brown Jarman (“M.B. Jarman,” age 67), with their son John B. Jarman, age 13.

William Ballard left a Last Will and Testament dated 5 September 1868 and recorded 3 August 1874 in Albemarle County. The will names only three of his daughters: Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow and Mildred Ann Powers. He had other children who survived him — William J. Ballard (1811-1884), John Powers Ballard (1816-1878), and Thomas Edward Ballard (1824-1902). Another daughter, Mary, appears in the 1850 Census but nowhere else, and likely pre-deceased her father.

Albemarle Co. Va. Will Book Vol. 28-29, 1867-1880 pp. 3-5.

In the name of God amen — I, William Ballard, of the County of Albemarle, and the State of Virginia, being of sound mind and memory, do make, declare and publish this my last Will and Testament: That is to say, as follows:

First, I desire that after my death, all of my debts shall be paid out of my estate.

Second, after the payment of my debts, I bequeath all of my real and personal estate to my well beloved daughters Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow, and Mildred Ann Powers — I desire that except in regard to such special bequests, as are hereinafter mentioned, my three above named daughters shall parcel and divide my real and personal property in such way and manner as they may jointly agree upon and decide.

Third, To my daughter Sarah Catherine Jarman, I specially bequeath the mare and colt now in her possession; the same to be relinquished to her, before any division of my property is made — & further Herein specially wish and direct, that in the event of the death of Sarah Catherine Jarman, without living issue, then this special bequest as well as her third of the other real and personal property, after the disposal of the special bequests, shall revert to my daughters Mildred Ann Powers or she binning dead to her children.

Fourth — to my daughter Mildred Ann Powers, I specially bequeath the Lot of land, known as “The School House Lot” and my residence : also my carriage and horses, in my possession to her before any division of my property is made—

Fifth — I specially wish and direct that in the event of the death of Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow, without living issue, then her third of the real and personal property after the disposal of the special bequest, shall revert to Mildred Ann Powers or she being dead to her children.

Sixth — I wish and direct that in the event of the death of either or both of my daughters Sarah Catherine Jarman and Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow, before my death, and their leaving no living issue, then the third share of either or both of them shall fall to Mildred Ann Powers, or she being dead, to her children — that is to say, should Sarah Catherine Jarman be dead without issue living, then Mildred Ann Powers shall have two thirds of the estate, and Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow the other third, after relinquishing the special legacy herein before mentioned, to Mildred Ann Powers — and in like manner, I wish and direct in the event of the death of Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow, before my death.

Seventh — I wish and direct that in the event of the death of any living issue of either Sarah Catherine Jarman or Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow before the age of twenty one years, then the portion to which the mother of such issue shall have become entitled, shall revert to Mildred Ann Powers or she being dead, to her children.

Eighth — I wish and direct that Mildred Ann Powers shall have unrestricted control of any portion of my estate, to which she may directly become entitled, from my death or indirectly from the death or any other or others of my legatees — and also I wish and direct that in the event of the death of Mildred Ann Powers before my death, then her children shall possess and receive all such benefits as would have been possessed and received by her if living under this Will.

Ninth — I wish and direct that Mildred Ann Powers, Sarah Catherine Jarman, and Fanny Elizabeth Bigelow shall jointly administer upon my estate, and that no security be required of them or either of them on account of their acting as executors.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and seal, and declare this to be my last will and testament, in the presence of the witnesses named below, this fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.

William Ballard {Seal}

Signed, sealed, declared and published by the said William Ballard, as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence, and in presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto as also to the interlineations on the 10th and 16th lines of the 2nd page.

Benj. F. Jones, Wm. J. Points

At a court held for Albemarle County Aug. 3rd 1874

A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of William Ballard deceased was produced into Court, and B. F. Jones & Wm. J. Points the only subscribing witnesses being sworn deposed that they together in the presence of each other and in the presence of William Ballard heard him acknowledge said instrument as his Last Will and Testament, and at his request signed the same as witnesses, and thereupon it is considered that said instrument of writing is fully proven and was ordered to be recorded as the last will and testament of William Ballard, dec’d.

Teste, H. B. Burnley D.C.

Albemarle Co. Va. Deed Book 69, p. 767 [Admin. of William Ballard Estate]

Know all men by these present that we, Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fanny E. Bigelow, Mildred Ann Powers and Thos. E. Ballard, Security, are held an firmly bound unto W.R. Burnley, S.A.C. and as such, Admr. C.T.A. of William Ballard, deceased, in the just and full sum of one hundred dollars, to the payment whereof well & truly to be made to the same W.R. Burnley, Admr. as aforesaid, his executors, administrators or assigns, we lend ourselves, our heirs, executors & administrators jointly & severally firmly by these proceeds, sealed with our seals and dated this day of April 1875.

Whereas William Ballard late of Albemarle County Va., deceased, did by his last will and testament bearing date the 5th day of September, 1868 give and bequeath unto the said Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fanny E. Bigelow and Mildred Ann Powers all his property of which he was possessed the time of his death, as by reference to said Will, recorded in the Clerk’s office of Albemarle County Court in Will Book No. 29 page 3, will more fully appear: And the said Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fanny E. Bigelow & Mildred Ann Powers now desire said property to be turned over to them, and W.R. Burnley S.A.C. Admr. C.T.A. of said William Ballard having agreed to turn the same over to them with the exception of an amount not over $50 to cover costs of administration etc. and has turned the same with such exception over to them contemporaneously with them the said Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fanny E. Bigelow and Mildred Ann Powers executing this refunding bond as required by law, and the said Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fannie E. Bigelow and Mildred Ann Powers execute this their refunding bond with the said Thos. E. Ballard their security.

Now Therefore of the said Sarah Catherine Jarman, Fanny E. Bigelow and Mildred Ann Powers shall refund a due proportion of any debts or demands which may hereafter appear against the decedent William Ballard & of the costs attending their recovery then the above obligation shall be void, otherwise to remain in full force & value.

S. C. Jarman {Seal}
A. N. Bigelow {Seal}
Fannie E. Bigelow {Seal}
M. A. Powers {Seal}
Thos. E. Ballard {Seal}

Attest: Wm. W. White, D.L. Smith

State of Virginia, County of Albemarle,

Wm. W. White whose name appears as witness to the above writing personally came before me in my County aforesaid & acknowledged the same as such witness. Given under my hand this 12th day of August 1875.

D.L. Smith, J.P.

In the clerks office of Albemarle County Court, Aug. 6, 1875

The above refunding bond was presented & proved by the affidavit of Wm. A. White & the oath before me of D.L. Smith witnesses thereto & was admitted to record.

Teste, Jno. W. Goss D.C.ss

The children of William Ballard and Sarah Jarman were:

WILLIAM J. (1811-1884), who married 21 November 1837 in Albemarle, Virginia Sarah C. Blackwell (1816-1904). Their children were John Newton (1839-1922), married 22 September 1874 Lilly Thrift (1849-1927) and left issue; Beatrice, (b. c. 1841), married 28 August 1860 Montgomery W. Head in the District of Columbia, left issue; William (1843-1861), died without issue; Ella T. (June 1848-22 March 1930), married 11 June 1858 Charles Poindexter (1848-1924), died without issue.

Sarah Catherine (c. 1812-1890), who married 24 November 1854 in Albemarle, Virginia Miletus Brown Jarman (c. 1803-c. 1874), and had issue.

JOHN POWERS (c. 1816-1878), who married 25 December 1840 in Chesterfield, Virginia Jane Frances Powers (1821-1892), the daughter of William Afton Powers (1785-1864) and Alice Maher Saunders (1791-1851). John Powers Ballard was the owner of The Exchange Hotel and founder of the Ballard House Hotel in Richmond, Virginia. Their children were William Powers (1842-1924), Francis Stribling (1843-1877); the following children did not survive to adulthood: Fannie Harrison (1850-1852) and Alice (1857-1858).

Frances Elizabeth (“Fanny”) (b. c. 1818), who married Archibald N. Bigelow, proven by these deeds recorded in Albemarle County:

Albemarle Co. Va. Deed Book 57, p. 192 [Loan to William Ballard]

Whereas in the year 1844 or thereabouts a certain Miletus B. Jarman of Albemarle bought of William Ballard of said county a woman by name Rachel & her child Warner & whereas the said Jarman some years thereafter transferred these said negroes and their increase to the wife of said Ballard & their four daughters, namely Sarah, Mary, Fanny and Mildred to be held jointly by the mother and the four children; and whereas the said Archibald N. Bigelow, by deed dated the 30th of October 1857 and of record in the Albemarle Clerk’s Office, transferred his interest in said negroes & their increase (they at the time being Rachel and her six children, namely Warner, Milly, William, Charlotte, Nelson & Alice) in right of his wife the said Fanny Ballard, to John P. Ballard of Richmond in trust for his wife’s sole separate use — and whereas the said four daughters and their husbands (they having all married and since their interest in the slaves was required) are desirous to let their father the said William Ballard the use of the said negroes viz. Rachel & her six children and the increase of the females. Now therefore this deed made the 26th day of February 1858 between the said Mary his wife, R.S. Powers & the said Mildred his wife, and the said Fanny E. Bigelow & her trustee John P. Ballard (who writes herein so as to signify his consent to the loan hereinafter made) of the first part & the said William Ballard of the second part, Witnesseth, that in consideration of the natural love and affection of the said daughters and their husbands for and toward the said William Ballard, they the said parties of the first part do loan the slaves aforesaid & their increase as aforesaid, that is to say, Rachel & her six children and the future increase of the females, to the extent of their interest in the same, to the said William Ballard, but the duration of said loan is to depend solely upon the will & pleasure of the said parties making the loan, that is to say, the said loan is to cease and terminate whenever the said parties of the first part shall think proper o put an end to it; & besides the loan shall cease to the extent of the interest of any one of the said parties of the first part, whensoever such an one shall chose to put an end to it — but in that event the other parties of the first part may still permit their interest in the negroes to remain on loan just as before, but this permission shall in no way tend to abridge the rights of property or the part of those who see fit to end the loan so far as their interests are concerned. As witness the following signatures and seals.

M.B. Jarman {Seal}
S. C. Jarman {Seal}
Wm. Tompkins {Seal}
Mary S. Tompkins {Seal}
R.S. Powers {Seal}
M.A. Powers {Seal}
Fannie E. Bigelow (Seal}

Albemarle County, to wit;

I, Thomas F. Lewis, a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia, do certify that Miletus B. Jarman, whose name is signed to the writing above, bearing date the 26th day of February 1858, has acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid. Given under my hand the 14th day of August 1858.

Thomas F. Lewis J.P.

State of Virginia, Albemarle County, to wit;

We Thos. F. Lewis & Geo. B. Brown, Justices of the Peace for the County of Albemarle in the state of Virginia, do certify that Sarah C. Jarman, the wife of Miletus B. Jarman, whose names are signed to the writing above, bearing date on the 26th day of February 1858, personally appeared before us in the county aforesaid, and being examined by us privy and apart from her husband, and having the writing aforesaid fully explained to her, she the said Sarah C. Jarman acknowledged the said writing to be her act & declared that she had willingly executed the same, & does not wish to retract it. Given under our hands the 14th day of August 1858.

Thomas F. Lewis J.P.
Geo. B. Brown J.P.

Corporation of the City of Richmond, to wit;

I R. Milton Cary, a Notary Public for the corporation aforesaid in the State of Virginia, do certify that Fanny E. Bigelow, William W. Tompkins, & R. S. Powers whose names are signed to the writing above, bearing date the 26th day of February, 1858, have acknowledged the same before me in my corporation aforesaid. Given under my hand this 27th day ofFebruary 1858.

R. Milton Cary

State of Virginia, Corporation of the City of Richmond, to wit;

I R. Milton Cary a Notary Public for the Corporation of the City of Richmond in the State of Virginia, do verity that Mary Tompkins, the wife of W. W. Tompkins, & Midred Powers, the wife of R. S. Powers, all of whose names are signed to the writing love, bearing date the 26th day of February 1858, personally appeared before me in the Corporation aforesaid, and being respectively examined by me privily and apart from their respective husbands, & having the writing aforesaid fully explained to them, the said Mary Tompkins & the said Mildred Powers respectively acknowledged the said writing to be her act respectively and declared that they had willingly executed the same & do not wish to retract it. Given under my hand the 27th day of February 1858.

R. Milton Cary.

At a Court held for Albemarle County September 6th 1858.

This Deed of Loan was this day produced into Court and being duly certified was thereupon ordered to be recorded.

Teste, Ira Garrett, C.C.

Albemarle Co, Va. Will Book 59, p. 496 [Deed of Gift]

Whereas by deed bearing date the 26th day of February 1858, and recorded in the Clerk’s Office of Albemarle County, M. B. Jarman and S.C. Jarman his wife, W.W. Tompkins and Mary J. Tompkins his wife, R. S. Powers and M. A. Powers his wife, and Fannie E. Bigelow — undertook to lend to the undersigned Wm. Ballard, a negro woman named Rachael and her six children, namely Warner, Milly, William, Charlotte, Nelson and Alice, and the increase of the females among them — at the will and pleasure of the grantors. And whereas the existence of this deed did not come to my knowledge until very recently. Now know all men by these presents that I, William Ballard, of the County of Albemarle, do hereby renounce and disclaim all benefit of and intent under said deed — for the reason that I claim to be the fee simple owner of said slaves (or the survivors of them, for one of them, Alice, is dead) and do not recognize the right of the grantors or of any other person to make any disposition of said slaves, as I think proper. I the said William Ballard, in consideration of the love and affection which I bear to my three daughters, namely Sarah C. Jarman, the wife of M. B. Jarman, Mildred A. Powers, the wife of R.S. Powers, and Fannie E. Bigelow, wife of Archibald N. Bigelow — do hereby give to my said three daughters jointly and equally the said slaves Rachael, Warner, Milly, William, Charlotte and Nelson, and the future increase of the females among them, in manner following, that is to say, I give one equal third part of said slaves to my daughter Mrs. Jarman for and during her natural life, with remainder to such child or children of hers as may be living at her death, including also the issue (living at her death) of any one or more of her children who may die in her life time — such issue to take per stripes. But if the said Sarah C. Jarman shall leave no issue at the time of her death, then the third part of said slaves which are given to her for life shall descend and pass to her sisters Mrs. Powers and Mrs. Bigelow or their descendants respectively, living at her death. Such descendants to take per stripe if Mrs. Jarman shall die leaving no issue at her death, and either Mrs. Powers or Mrs. Bigelow shall have died in her life time. And there shall be no issue of such decedent living at the death of Mrs. Jarman, then her share of said slaves shall devolve wholly upon the receiving sister — or upon the issue of such one of them as may have died leaving issue. And if at the death of Mrs. Jarman without issue surviving her, their shall be living neither one of the said sisters, nor any issue of either, then her said shall of the slaves aforesaid, is to descend and pass, according to the law of descents and distributions to my next of kin. One equal third part of said slaves and of their future increase, I give to my said daughter Mrs. Powers for her live, with like remainder and limitations, to her sisters Mrs. Jarman and Mrs. Bigelow or their descendants respectively — and finally to my next of kin as are prescribed in the case of Mrs. Jarman — and the remaining third part of said slaves and their increase, I give to my daughter Mrs. Bigelow for her life — with the same remainder and limitations to her sisters Mrs. Jarman and Mrs. Powers and their issue, and finally my next of kin, as are provided for in the case of Mrs. Jarman.

But this deed and conveyance is made subject to the reservation to myself and my wife Sarah Ballard of a life estate in all of said slaves and their increase: and the said reservation is not only made to both of us as long as we both live. But to the survivor of us, during his or her life, Witness my hand and seal this 18th day of June 1861.

William Ballard

In the Clerk’s Office of Albemarle County 18th June 1861.

This deed was presented to me and being acknowledged by the parties thereto was thereupon admitted to record.

Teste, Ira Garrett C.C.

Mary (b. c. 1824), who we know only from the 1850 Federal Census. Married 1857 William J. Tompkins. Mary must have died young, for William Tompkins married 25 January 1860 (2) Mary J. Durrett (online records).

Thomas Edward (1824-1902), who married (1) Ella C. Pollard (1829-1865); Issue: Lizzie Carta Ballard 91854-1911) who married 11 September 1873 in Hanover County, Virginia Calvin Brown Renick (1836-1934), and had issue; (2) 13 December 1866 in Hanover County, Virginia Nannie Overton Price (1847-1931); Issue: Ellen Price Ballard (b. c. 1867), died before 1870.

Mildred Ann (1827-1899), who married 4 May 1854 in Albemarle County, Virginia Reuben Sydney Powers (1824-1864), the brother of Jane Frances Powers, who married her brother John Powers Ballard, and left issue. Mildred Ann Ballard Powers is interred at Woodland Cemetery, Chase City, Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and Reuben Sydney Powers is interred at Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia.