Person:Ballard Smith (5)

Will of Ballard Smith

Cty. Lou, Book: 5, Page: 103, Maj. Ballard Smith, Type: Will, Date: 13-Mar-1794

Will of Ballard Smith, Major in Army of United States, all estate to mother, Elizabeth of Hanover Co., Appoints Capt. John Preston, my brother William Smith, my mother and Anthony Smith of Hamilton Co. northwest of the Ohio River exors. personal property now with the Army. 13 Mar 1794. Sig. B. Smith. Wit. George Grooms, Joseph Prince and Robert Mitchell all of Hamilton co. CODICIL To Francis Smith ( alias Sprankle) who is a natural son begot by me upon the body of Barbary Spankle, 8,006 acres land in Jefferson Co. Kentucky by patent 10 Jul 1786.

Same witnesses.

[Will/Estate Settlement Excerpts] Debts to bepaid and residue of estate, real and personal, to my mother Elizabeth [Smith?] of Hanover Co., Va. Executors, Capt. John Preston, my brother William Smith, and my mother, of Virginia, together with Anthony Smith, of Hamilton Co., North West of the Ohio River; said Anthony Smith, immediately after testator's decease to collect and sell all of testator's property now in the army or its vicinity, and to receive all moneys due said testator either from United States or any individual in its army and apply same to payment of testator's debts and expenses. Codicil: To Francis Smith, alias Sprankle, "who is a natural son begot by me upon the body of Barbary Sprankle," 806 acres originally in Jefferson County, Kentucky, as by patent to me July 10, 1786. Witness both to will and codicil: George Gordon, Joseph Prince and Robert Mitchell, all of Hamilton County. The will and codicil of Ballard Smith was proved by the witnesses thereto, at Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio, Apr. 20, 1794; and a certified copy by clerk of court May 25, 1794, and presented by William Smith - an executor in Louisa Court and recorded May 10, 1803 with certificate that William Smith had qualified as executor Aug. 21, 1794, at Columbia [Northwest Territory] before Oliver Spencer, judge of probate.

Revolutionary War Pension Information

Information from “Virginia/West Virginia Genealogical Data from Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Records”, Vol. 5, compiled by Patrick G. Wardell, Lt. Col. U.S. Army Ret. :

Smith, Ballard - Bounty Land Warrant #2075 issued 3/20/1792. F-BLW2075, R2206.

Land Surveys/Grants in Kentucky

Ballard Smith served as a Lieutenant in the Revolutionary Army and was later promoted to Major. He received a 40,000 acre grant of land for his services. The Patent was in Lincoln Co., KY. in 1787 and was recorded in Book 13 page I8. A later land patent consisted of 5,000 acres in Jefferson County, KY. in 1786 and was recorded in Book 16 page 22. Another land patent consisted of 806 acres in Jefferson County, KY., in 1786.

23 April 1785 - Ballard Smith, Entry #4202, Book 2, Pg. 209. 20,000 acres on Rockcastle, Entry was made April 13, 1785 the first adjoined Robert Rutherford's entry on Rockcastle on the lower side and second adjoined Dayzart and Company on lower corner.

1988 - Ballard Smith received a land grant for 40,000 acres on the waters of the Rockcastle River in Lincoln County. Smith was identified as a resident of Jefferson County on the bond. [1]

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.20, Grantee: Ballard, Smith, Acres: 40,000, Book: 13 Page: 18, Date Survey: 4-29-1785, County: Lincoln, Watercourse: Rockcastle Brook

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.20, Grantee: Ballard, Smith, Acres: 5,000, Book: 16 Page: 22, Date Survey: 12-15-1786, County: Jefferson, Watercourse: Floyds Fork

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.119, Grantee: Smith, Ballard, Acres: 2,449, Book: 2 Page: 325, Date Survey: 7-15-1784, County: Jefferson, Watercourse: Floyds Fork

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.120, Grantee: Smith, Ballard, Acres: 400, Book: 8 Page: 44, Date Survey: 7-16-1784, County: Jefferson, Watercourse: Floyds Fork

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.120, Grantee: Smith, Ballard, Acres: 806, Book: 8 Page: 350, Date Survey: 3-25-1784, County: Jefferson, Watercourse: Floyds Fork

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.120, Grantee: Smith, Ballard, Acres: 1,000, Book: 13 Page: 235, Date Survey: 4-9-1786, County: Jefferson, Watercourse: Floyds Fork

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.120, Grantee: Smith, Ballard, Acres: 5,500, Book: 13 Page: 237, Date Survey: 5-5-1785, County: Jefferson, Watercourse: Harrods Creek

The Kentucky Land Grants, p.239, Grantee: Smith, Ballard, Acres: 666 2/3, Book: 14 Page: 567, Date Survey: 5- 9-1785, County: Military, Watercourse: N Fk Tradewater

1. ↑ Wisconsin. State Historical Society, and Reuben Gold Thwaites. Descriptive list of manuscript collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin together with reports on other collections of manuscript material for American history in adjacent states. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Genealogical Society of Utah, 1964)
   pg. 269.

   Ballard Smith, born in Hanover County, Va., was the son of Francis Smith, whose daughter, Susannah, married Col. William Preston. Young Smith entered the army in October, 1776 as ensign in the First Virginia Regiment; on Aug. 9, 1777 he was promoted to a lieutenancy; and on May 12, 1779 became captainlieutenant in his regiment. He served until the end of the war. In 1790 Smith was commissioned captain of the First United States Infantry; the next year he became major, and on Sept. 4, 1792 was assigned to the Fourth Sub-legion. Major Smith died Mar. 20, 1794.