Person:Bland Ballard (5)

Will of Bland Ballard

In the name of God Amen, I Bland Ballard of Albemarle Co. being of sound mind of disposing memory considering the uncertainty of life do hereby establish this writing as my last will and testament revoking all other will or wills by me made by word or writing.

Item – I give to my wife Francis Ballard the land that I now live on being the lands that was deeded to me by her father John Sheflett estimated to be about sixty acres be the same more or less also I lend her all the household furniture with the intentials excepting the best feather bed and furniture that I have also I lend all the stock of horses and cattle and all the other stock of every kind and all the plantation tools of every kind and this above lent estate she is to possess during being my widow but if she should marry then the above lent estates is to be then sold and disposed of as I shall hereafter mention also I give to her the produce that is made on the plais the year of my decease and the provision that is laid in for the said year for the support of her and children and after the death of my wife or widowhood the above lent estate is to be sold by my executors and the monies arising from the sale of the said estate is to be disposed of as I shall hereafter mention.

Item – I give to my daughter Jean Nailor part of a tract of land I purchased of Henry Carter lying in Albemarle Co. On the waters of Meadow Creek adjoining the land of Martin Mooney, Garland Carr, Roland Horsley and Mr Dorol and my self estimated to be in quantity one hundred and fifty acres to begin at Martin Mooney corner White Oak and run as fir as Carr’s line that the same distance as on Mooneys and Dorol so as to make thirty seven acres of land to the dividing line the said land I give her and her heirs forever.

Item –The remainder part of the said tract of land as I bought of Henry Carter after my daughter Jane Nailor’s thirty seven acres of land is taken out I give the balance fo the said tract of land to be equally divided between my two sons and daughter, Garland Ballard, Bennett D. Ballard and Peache Hoy I give the said lands to them and to their heirs forever olny excepted the apple orchards that is on the said lands whose lot it should into is to let my wife enjoy the fruit of the said apple trees as long as she liveth my widow.

Item – The feather bed and furniture before excepted I give my beloved daughter Patsy Ballard to her and her heirs forever.

Item – I give to my beloved children Nance Murry, Marry Ballard, Dice Howard, Lucey Maupin, Sarah Ballard, Annis Ray, William Ballard, John Ballard and Thomas Ballard to each of them I give one dollar a peace to be raised out of my estate as I shall hereafter mention and to be paid to them by my executors I give to them and their heirs forever.

Item – I have a negro boy by the name of Charles I lend the said negro Charles to my beloved wife Francis Ballard during her life or while she remains my widow for the use and comfort of her and my son Bennett D. Ballard and after her death or being my widow the said negro is to be sold and disposed of as I shall hereafter mention.

Item – I have a tract of land that I bought of Henry Carter lying in Albemarle Co. Adjoining Mr Dorel,Roland Horsley and Elizabeth Boothe in quantitity about thirty-five acres be the same more or less which I desire may be sold to my executor and the monies arising from the sale of the said land is the pay off all my lawful debts and to pay off these children mentioned in my will one dollar apeace to each as I before mentioned and other charges that might be pd.

Item – The said negro Charles I lent my wife Francis Ballard for the use and benefit of herself and her son Bennett D. Ballard after her death or being my widow my desire is he be sold and the monies arising from the sail of the said negro fifty pounds of the said negro should sell for as much to be equally divided among my five daughters to wit, Fanny Newcom, Annis Ray, Sarah Ballard, Batsey Ballard, Peachey Hoy the money to be delivered to them or their heirs. Further if the said negro should sell for more money than fifty pounds all that he should sell for over fifty pounds I give to my son Bennett D. Ballard to be delivered to him or his heirs by the executors.

Item – There is that lent property lent my wife house furniture horses and cattle and all the other stock of every kind plantation tools of every kind that was lent to my wife during her life or remaining my widow after her death or remaining my widow those things is to be sold and the money and money arising from the sales of the said property my seisre is that first to pay all my lawful expenses that shall be brought against my Estate and the balance that should be over I give to my son Garland Ballard to him or to his heirs to be paid to him by executors. Lastly I hereby appoint my worthy friends Thomas Garth Junr and Elijah Garth executors of this my last will and testament given fro under my hand and seal this 28 day of June eighteen hundred and nine.

Signed, sealed and declared to be my last will testament in presnece of us –

(Signed) Bland Ballard (seal)

Wit: Charles Goodman, Jessee Grady, Phillip Darrel.

At a Court held for Albemarle Co. the 6th November 1809 – This instrument of writing purporting to be the Last will and Testament of Bland Ballard deceased was produced into court and the record thereof being opposed the same was proved by the oaths of Charles Goodman and Jesse Grady witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

Teste John Nichols CL

Information on Bland Ballard

From "Ballard of Virginia & Kentucky" website:

Bland Ballard of Albemarle County, Virginia (c.1735-1809). Bland Ballard was probably born in Caroline county, for a land patent taken by his father Thomas Ballard (No. 19) dated 1738 describes Thomas as “of Caroline county”.

Nothing is known of his early life prior to 14 November 1771, when his name appears among the records of Fredericksville Parish of Albemarle county, when he was ordered to help in the processioning of some lands in Fredericksville Parish of Albemarle county, with John Ballard and Robert Michie.1 On 24 March 1777 at a vestry held at William Tinsley’s, he is named as a reader at the Upper Church, and for this service he was paid 1040 pounds of tobacco.2

His name appears in the 1779 will of his father, Thomas Ballard. He and his father Thomas were witnesses to the 1780 will of his uncle John. His first marriage was to an as yet unidentified woman about 1752, but can be surmised by the fact that Frances Shiflett could not be the mother of all 15 of his children, for she was younger than most of his children. He married Frances Shilflett in the early 1780s. Frances Shiflett, was a daughter of John Shiflett and his wife Joice Powell.

On 27 September 1793 John Shiflett and wife Joice gave to their daughter Frances Ballard and her daughter Martha 60 acres of land.3 In Apr 1795 an inventory of the estate of John Shiflett decd. included a bond on Bland Ballard for 5 pounds.4 On 5 September 1796 Joice Shiflett, Bland Ballard and Franky his wife and the other heirs of John Shiflett decd. sold land to Phillip Seale.5

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