Elijah was born about 1743 in Spotsylvania Co., Virginia. He married Mildred Dohoney, 24 August, 1773 in Orange Co., Virginia.

His Children were Frances, Thomas, Philip, John, Mary, Elijah Jr., Margaret, Mildred and James. There is a possibility that there is another son named Martin. His name appears on the 1784 Orange Co., tax list along side Elijah Sr. and son James.

Elijah’s name appears on the 16 October, 1776, “Ten-thousand name” Petition by Dissenters from whole state (Virginia), for ending established church, and for institution of religious equality. {The Ten Thousand Name Petition, Miscellaneous Petitions, 1776-1777, Legislative Petitions, General Assembly, Record Group 78, Archival and Information Services, Library of Virginia.}

On April, 1782, Orange County Tax list. Taken by Thomas Barbour. Tithes – 1| Slaves – | Horses – 1| Cattle – 4. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 11, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 4 December, 1782, John Brooke of Essex Co., for £864 sold Elijah 100 acres. {Orange County Deeds, Vol. 17, 1778-1786, Marriage records 1751-1777, Birth records 1751-1778, Deeds Vol. 18 1781-1787,image 389 390, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 26 June, 1783, a deed from John Brooke to Elijah was proved. “A Deed from John Brooke to Elijah Ballard was proved by the Oath of W^m. Bell, James Beazley and James Head three of the Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be Recorded”. {Orange County Court Minute Book, v. 2-3, 1774-1797, pg. 235, database with images, FamilySearch, not indexed}.

1784, Orange County Tax list. Taken by William Bell. Elijah listed with James Ballard and Martin Ballard. Free Males – 3| Slaves – 1| Horses – 2| Neat Cattle – 7| Tithables – 4.{Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 61, Family Search, not indexed.}

1785, Orange County Tax list. Taken by William Bell. Elijah listed. Free Males – 1| Slaves – 2| Horses – 2| Neat Cattle – 3| Tithables – 2.{Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 82, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 29 April, 1785, Elijah Sr. and wife Milly for £105 sold two acres to John Hunter and for £175 sold eight acres to John Payne . The property had a Sawmill and a Gristmill built by Elijah Sr. The mills were divided between Hunter and Payne. {Orange County Deeds, Vol. 17, 1778-1786, Marriage records 1751-1777, Birth records 1751-1778, Deeds Vol. 18 1781-1787,image 483-485, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 12 April, 1787, Orange County Tax list. Elijah listed. Blacks above 16 – 1| Horses – 2| Cattle – 2. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 135, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 16 April, 1787, Elijah Sr. and wife Milly for £100 bought 200 acres in Orange Co., Virginia from George Berry. William and Philip were witnesses. {Orange County Deed Book 19, pg. 152, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 24 May, 1788, Orange County Tax list. Elijah listed. White Tithes – 1| Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 146, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 31 March, 1789, Orange County Tax list. Elijah listed. White Tithes – 2| Horses – 2. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 183, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 19 June, 1790, Listed on Orange County, Virginia Tax List. Elijah listed. White Tithables – 1| Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 193, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 27 March, 1792, Listed on Orange County, Virginia Tax List. Elijah listed. White Tithes – 2| Black Tithes – 1| Horses – 2. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 241, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 14 October, 1794, Elijah Sr. and wife Milly along side of Isaac Davis in Orange Co., Virginia sold 4 acres for £40 to Michael Kinser. Brother Moreman (spelled Mourman) was one of the witnesses. {Orange County Deed Book 20, pg.505, Family Search, not indexed.}

20 November, 1795, Elijah Ballard as father of Francis Ballard in entry for Clayburn Rucker, Botetourt Co, Virginia, marriage register. Elijah’s son Thomas as witness. {Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940″, image 88, database, FamilySearch, not indexed.}

2 April, 1799, Elijah listed on the Monroe Co., Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 3 | Horses – 1. {Monroe County Tax List, 1799, Family Search, not indexed.}

In October, 1799, Elijah Sr. is listed as a new Monroe Co., Virginia Court petition, Elijah Ballard vs. Andrew Willey. {Monroe County Court, Caveat Book, 1795-1804, image 218, database with images, FamilySearch, not indexed}.

In 1800, Elijah Ballard Sr. and Clayburn Rucker were granted 970 acres Greenbrier Co., Virginia, at Hands Creek¹, on current maps it is shown as Hans Creek and until 1809 resided near Indian Creek in Monroe County, Virginia.

24 May, 1800, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 4 | Horses – 3. {Monroe County Tax List, 1800, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 17 November, 1800, Elijah along with Samuel Cleek appraised a cow found by Sarah Hendersons on her property. Appraised at £10. {Monroe County Estray records : 1799-1832, image 51 of 125, Family Search, not indexed}. 1799-1809 are court actions over stray animals and 1799-1832 is a court list by the county court of the strays for that period.

4 May, 1801, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 3 | Horses – 1. {Monroe County Tax List, 1801, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 26 January, 1802, a judgement was made in Monroe County Court in the case of Conrad Keller vs. Philip and Elijah Ballard. They were ordered to pay Conrad Keller $200. {Monroe County Justice Books, Judgements, 1769 – 1809, Family Search, not indexed.}

1 April, 1802, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 3 | Horses – 1. {Monroe County Tax List, 1802, Family Search, not indexed.}

6 April, 1803, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 4 | Horses – 2. {Monroe County Tax List, 1803, Family Search, not indexed.}

25 May, 1804, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 2 | Horses – 1. {Monroe County Tax List, 1804, Family Search, not indexed.}

10 April, 1805, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 2 | Horses – 1. {Monroe County Tax List, 1805, Family Search, not indexed.}

8 April, 1806, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 1 | Horses – 1. {Monroe County Tax List, 1806, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 15 July, 1806, Elijah bought 150 acres on the south side of Turkey Creek, Monroe Co., for one dollar. {Monroe County Deed Book, v. B-C, 1805-1812, pg. 202-203, database with images, FamilySearch, not indexed}.

7 May, 1807, Elijah listed on the Tax list by William Vawter. White Tithables – 2 | Horses – 2. {Monroe County Tax List, 1807, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 25 June, 1808, a case in Monroe Co., court, John Shawver vs. Elijah Ballard was presented for debt. A plea was waved and judgement made. On 28 June, 1808, Elijah was ordered to pay £13, 1 shilling and 10 pence. {Monroe County Court, Caveat book, 1795-1808, image 572,574,575,577, database with images, Family Search, not indexed.}, {Monroe County County Justice Books, Judgements, 1769-1809, image 142, Family Search, not indexed.}

An unrecorded deed (file B 28) in Monroe, Co., dated 13 October, 1808, is between Elijah and wife Millie and Charles Neel for 150 acres on Turkey Creek, opposite John Camels mill – the same grant to Nimrod Tackett, 22 May, 1797, by Tackett and wife conveyed to Joshua Mitchal by deed 20 April, 1802.

On 11 January, 1809, Elijah and wife Mildred sold 88 acres for $10 to William Veal. {Monroe County Deed Book, v. B-C, 1805-1812, pg. 281-282, database with images, FamilySearch, not indexed.}

Elijah and family on Kanawha 1810 census. {United States Census, 1810,” database with images, FamilySearch, Elijah Ballard, Cabin Creek, Kanawha, Virginia, United States; citing p. 121, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 69; FHL microfilm 181,429}

He was a millwright by occupation, and in his labors was greatly assisted by his son Elijah Jr. In 1809 another move was made to Kanawha Co. Virginia, and this time a cabin was built on the banks of Coal River, three miles below where Boone Court House now stands. Here they were pioneer millers, and for years were the only ones who built mills in this section of the state. In the year 1811 they erected a horse mill for George Bentley. It was located in Teays Valley, near the present site of Scott Depot, in Putnam County. Four years later in 1815 they built a two-wheel mill at the upper falls of Coal river for Joseph Thomas, who was the first settler at that place. In 1819 he was contracted and built a tub-wheel mill at the lower falls of Coal for Phillip R. Thompson and James Swindler, and the same year went to Teays Valley, and built a water mill for Joshua Morris. It stood on the creek, about one mile from the railroad crossing near Hurricane station.

Elijah and family on Kanawha 1820 census. {United States Census, 1820,” database with images, FamilySearch, Elijah Ballard, Kanawha, Virginia, United States; citing p. 2, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 142; FHL microfilm 193,701}

Listed from 1807-1823, Kanawha Co., Virginia personal property tax lists. {Kanawha County Tax List, 1792-1832, FamilySearch Microfiche, film 2024596}.

At some point during 1823 he and some family removed to the area of Moscow, Rush Co., Indiana. Elijah was among the first settlers in Orange township in Rush Co.

On 10 July, 1826, Elijah purchased 80 Acres of land in Rush Co., Indiana. {U.S. Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, Federal Land Patents}.

He passed away there on 4 November,1829.² He was buried on his property in the now-derelict Ballard Cemetery.  

Current Records

List of Inhabitants (Virginia), 1782 Orange County.

END NOTES

1. Sims index of land grants in West Virginia, West Virginia Auditor’s Office, pub. 1952.

2. Find A Grave, database and images, memorial page for Elijah Ballard, Sr (1743–4 Nov 1829), Find A Grave: Memorial #61500164, citing Ballard Cemetery, Moscow, Rush County, Indiana, USA ; Maintained by Sue McDuffe:) (contributor 47122067) .