For numerous years, diligent researchers have been attempting to solve the mystery surrounding the identity of Moreman/Moorman Ballard, the son of Philip Ballard. The challenge arises from the fact that both Philip Ballard and William Ballard had sons with similar names.

Many individuals, in their family trees and written accounts, have asserted that Moorman Ballard is the son of Philip Ballard. These claims predominantly rely on citations from Quaker monthly meeting documents. However, a thorough examination of these records reveals that William (the Quaker) is documented as Moorman’s father. It is crucial to point out that the documents also establish a connection between the Ballard family and the Moorman family.

During my research into available documents pertaining to Orange County, Virginia, I discovered an individual named Moreman Ballard. This discovery piqued my interest. As I continued to explore various documents, I noticed that his name consistently appeared as Moreman, not Moorman. This observation strongly suggests that this individual is likely the correct son of Philip Ballard.

In a attempt at driving a wedge between the two sons Moreman and Moorman and attempting to prove that these are two different people, I sat down and took a hard look at the documents I have and dates and locations of the individuals, as well as Stephen Ballard’s site, (https://ballardofvirginia.com/) and excellent work.

There was another Ballard family in Caroline Co., Virginia in this time period and it was determined through DNA that this is Richard Ballard of Lineage Group I and therefore for the purposes of this had been removed from my research on this subject.

First let us look at whom the father of the two individuals are, both of which are Lineage Group III:

William is reported as being born about 1715. Philip is reported as being born about 1706.

William Ballard of Caroline and Bedford Counties, Virginia.

Philip Ballard of Essex and Spotsylvania Counties, Virginia.

Here we already begin separation of the two families.

William and Philip are separated by one county to start with and later Philip stays to the north (Spotsylvania county) and William removes to the south (Bedford county) with Louisa and Albemarle counties separating the two families.

Stephen Ballard states on his website, “This William Ballard is commonly claimed to have married Mary Byrom, the widow of Howlett Chenault. We question this assertion because there is no evidence of William having any connection with Essex County.”

“Other researchers of claimed that William’s first wife was Mary Moorman, the daughter of Charles Moorman and Elizabeth Reynolds. Mary was the sister of Thomas Moorman (1704-1767), the first husband of Rachel Clark; this widowed Rachel married William Ballard in 1768. Various online genealogies list him with additional wives, but unfortunately without adequate documentation. The Mary Moorman attribution makes sense to us, but (for now) is without proof. It does beg the question of the source of the name “Byrom” for one of their sons.”

This also begs the question of the source of the name “Moorman”, which also makes sense because a relation of the mother was often used as first names of their children. I would suggest that William did have multiple wife’s. However, as Stephen stated there is no documentation available to prove this out.

Moreman may have married Martha Medley and in Quaker records Moorman married Minerva Bullock.

Moreman and Martha had one documented son Medley and a possible daughter Elizabeth.

Time Line and Locations of Moorman and Moreman Ballard:

• Moorman – Born 16 May 1747, according to Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting.

• Moorman – 6 November 1769, Cumberland county, Virginia, married Minerva Bulloch.

• Moorman – 6 June 1771, Orange county, Virginia, Land bought by Moorman Ballard from Brooke.

• Moorman – 3 November 1771, Orange county, Virginia, Land sale of Moorman Ballard to Snell and Twyman.

• Moorman – 12 September 1772, Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting (Hanover and Caroline counties), dismissed for married contrary to discipline by a priest.

• Moorman – 11 April 1778, Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting, Moorman Ballard is condemned for misconduct for which he stood disowned, but he presented a certificate from Tom’s Creek Friends in North Carolina, is reinstated and granted certificate to that Monthly Meeting.

• Moorman – 29 August 1778, the New Garden Monthly Meeting (Greene county, Tennessee) receives Moorman Ballard on certificate from Cedar Creek Monthly Meeting, Hanover Co., Virginia.

  • Moreman – 26 November 1778, Page 97, Orange county road orders (first record found of Moreman); “May Burton jr is appointed Oversr. of the Road in the Room of Benja. Head & that the hands of Colo. Thortons Thos. Daughaney, Thos. Ballard & Moreman Ballards be Aded “²

  • Moreman – 1782 Orange County tax list, Moreman listed.

  • Moreman – 1790 Orange county tax list – Moreman listed, (According to Head of families-Virginia; 1790, there were only 1,317 free white males of 16 years and upward in Orange county.)

  • Moreman – On 27 April, 1795, Moreman Ballard for 6 thousand pounds tobacco bought 104 acres land from Joseph Chapman.¹

  • Moreman – 27 June 1796, Page 386, Orange county road orders; “Jessee Plunkett appointed overseer of the road from Moreman Ballards to the Old muster field run & Ordered that he with James Riddle, Benjamin Winslows hands at this Quarter, Wm. Broddus, Edwd Franklyn & John McClamrock do Clear thes precints & keep the same in good repair Accordg to Law.” Note: 18 Year span, 1778 – 1796, Orange county road orders.³

  • Moreman – 1800 Orange county tax list, Moreman listed.

• Moorman – 21 July 1804, at New Hope Monthly Meeting, Moorman & his wife Minerva and their children are granted certificate to Miami Monthly Meeting in Ohio. This certificate was produced for their son Spencer, who presented it to the Miami Monthly Meeting.

• Moorman – 1805, Bedford County, Virginia, Chancery case. Moorman and siblings mentioned.

• Moreman – 1805, Orange county tax list, Moreman listed.

The historical records indicate an intriguing coincidence between the land grants of Philip Jr. and Moorman in Orange County, Virginia. The written documents, which acknowledge the possibility of spelling variations such as Moorman, Mourman, and Moreman, consistently specify the distinct names Moorman and Moreman. These records from 1778 provide evidence that these two individuals could not have been in the same location during the same years. One was situated in Orange County, Virginia, while the other resided in Greene County, Tennessee.

Further examination reveals an interesting transaction in 1771 involving Moorman and Minerva in Orange County, Virginia. The documentation shows the acquisition and subsequent sale of the same parcel of land within a short period of five months. The motive behind such a transaction remains puzzling. Moreover, approximately ten months later, Moorman was dismissed from the Quakers, adding another layer of complexity to their history.

Moreman’s name first appeared to me in the 1778 Orange county road orders.

In 1782 Orange county tax list, that year he had 4 slaves, 2 horses and 4 cattle. He is listed along side of his brothers. I have not found or seen any documentation of Moreman’s birth or marriage. This Moreman was not married to Minerva, as proved out by documents. However, what appears to be his son Medley does show up in documentation in 1800, a court document and tax list.

On 29 January, 1785, he witnessed a land grant between Peter Thornton of Caroline Co., and George Anderson of Orange Co. {Orange County Deeds, Vol. 17 1778-1786, Marriage records 1751-1777, Birth records 1751-1778, Deeds Vol. 18 1781-1787, image 481-482, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 24 February, 1795, in Orange County Court, Moreman was sworn in for Grand Jury duty;

Ruben Burnley Foreman. Isaac Graves, Henry Bell, James Daniel, Caleb Abell, Moreman Ballard, John Stendale, Roger Tandy, Daniel Thornton, John Henderson, Benjamin Head, Dunete Sanford, Martin Johnson, Robert Clark, Boswell Thornton & George Berry being sworn a grand Jury for the Body of this County having made Several Presentments which is ordered to be summoned to the next Term

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Minutes, v. 2-3, 1774-1797, pg. 285, Family Search, not indexed}

On 27 April, 1795, in Orange County Court, a deed was proved from Joseph Chapman to Moreman;

Deed from Joseph Chapman to Moreman Ballard Prov^d by three of the Witness’s thereto & Ord^d to be rec^d

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Minutes, v. 2-3, 1774-1797, pg. 295, Family Search, not indexed}

On 27 May, 1795, in Orange County Court, Moreman was paid for 4 days attendance;

Ballard to pay Moreman Ballard 4 days att^d vs Goodalls Execs

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Minutes, v. 2-3, 1774-1797, pg. 303, Family Search, not indexed}

On 4 March, 1801, in Orange County Court, Moreman is owed a debt;

Mourman Ballard … Plt
against } In Debt
William Cason … Deft
This day came the parties by their attornies and thereupon the defendant relinquishing his former plea acknowledgeth the Plaintiffs action Therefore It is considered by the Court that the Plaintiff recover against the defendant eighty pounds the debt in the declaration mentioned and his costs by him about his suit in this behalf expended: and the said defendant in Mercy But this Judgment is to be discharged by the payment of forty pounds with Interest therein to be completed after the rate of six per centum per annum from the first day of November 1798 till payment and the Costs

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Order, v. 9, 1801-1803, pg. 19, Family Search, not indexed}

On 28 April, 1801, in Orange County Court, Moreman presented a deed to Medley Ballard;

A Deed from Mourman Ballard to Medley Ballard proved by 3 Witnesses & O. R.

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Minutes, v. 4, 1797-1806, pg. 836, Family Search, not indexed}

On 28 May, 1801, in Orange County Court, Morman is owed a debt;

Mourman Ballard Plt
against } On a motion upon a bond entered into by the defendants for
the forthcoming and delivery of certain property taken on the
Plaintiff’s execution issued against the estate of the said
William Cason
William Cason and Fielding Riddle defts
This day came the plaintiffs by his attorney and it appearing by the Oath of Willis White that the defendants have had legal notice of this motion they were solemnly called but came not Therefore It is Considered by the Court that the plaintiff recover against the defendants One hundred and one pounds eighteen Shillings and ten pence the penalty for the said bond and his costs by him about his motion in this behalf expended; and the said defendants in Mercy But this Judgment is to be discharged by the payment of fifty pound nineteen shilling and five pence with Interest thereon to be computed after the rate of six per centum per annum from the sixth day of April 1801 till payment and the Costs.

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Order, v. 9, 1801-1803, pg. 19, Family Search, not indexed}

On 24 August, 1801, In Orange County Court, Moreman and brother Philip Jr. owe a debt on a bond made;

Richard J. Hackley assee of Richard Johnson Plt
against } On a motion upon a bond entered into by the defendants for
the forthcoming and delivery of certain property taken on the
Plaintiff’s execution issued against the good and Chattles of
the defendant and Philip Ballard
Philip Ballard and Mourman Ballard deft
This day came the plaintiffs by his attorney and it appearing by the Oath of Willis White that the defendants have had legal notice of this motion they were solemnly called but came not Therefore It is Considered by the Court that the plaintiff recover against the defendants One hundred and twenty five pounds ten shillings and six pence the penalty of the said bond and his Costs by him about his motion in this behalf expended and the said defendants in Mercy But this Judgment is to be discharged by the payment of Sixty two pounds fifteen shillings and three pence with Interest thereon to be computed after the rate of six per centum per annum from the sixth day of June 1801 till payment and the Costs.

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Order, v. 9, 1801-1803, pg. 126, Family Search, not indexed}

On 29 March, 1802, in Orange County Court, Moreman is sworn in for Grand Jury duty;

Joseph Burton foreman Edward Ancell William Blakey Joseph Carter Morman Ballard John White Rich^d Payne Elisha Estes John Williams Thomas Graves William Roberson Rich^d C Webb Benjamin Wright Benjamin Lancaster William Burton & Thomas Herndon were sworn a grand jury of inquest for the body of this County who having received their Charge retired & after some time returned and presented as follows (see list)

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Minutes, v. 4, 1797-1806, pg. 350, Family Search, not indexed}

On 31 March, 1802, in Orange County Court, Grand Jury makes a decision;

Lane v Ancell Jury sworn to wit W^m Shepherd, Roger Mallory, Tho^s Dear, Jn^o Brock, Zachariah Lucas, James Alexander, Tho^s Hening, Mourman Ballard, Jn^o Lucas, Ezekiel Lucas, Tho^s Hunter and Tho^s Barbour Jr ret^d verdict for Plt and Judgment, Gideon Dunn all^d 2 days att for Plt

{Orange County Court general index to orders and minutes; order and minute books , 1734-1867, Minutes, v. 4, 1797-1806, pg. 459, Family Search, not indexed}

Currently the last document I have seen on Moreman is the 1817 Orange county tax list. Moreman may have died in Orange Co., Virginia.

My opinion remains that these are two different individuals, Moreman being Philip’s son and Moorman being William’s son.

Current Records

Orange County Road Orders 1750-1800, 26 November 1778, Page 97.²

1782 – 1800 Orange County Tax list. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 11, 29, 44, 61, 82, 103, 113, 135, 145, 183, 232, 241, 271, 286, 321, 323, 348, 358, 381, 401,432, Family Search, not indexed.}

1800 – 1850 Orange County Tax list. On the 1804 Orange County Tax list, taken by Belfield Cave the surname was transcribed incorrectly, it was spelled Bradley, should be Ballard. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 9, 45, 61, 101, 115, 153, 171, 211, 224, 262, 275, 332, 346 407, 424, 499, Family Search, not indexed}

Orange County Heads of Families – Virginia 1785, pg. 97, List of William Bell. It lists Marman (typo should be Moreman).

Orange County General index to deeds, 1734-1892; deeds, 1734-1865; court records, 1734-1760; marriage and birth records, 1751-1778, Deeds Vols. 19-20 1786-1795, images 531 – 532 of 585.¹

Orange County Road Orders 1750-1800, 27 June 1796, Page 386.³

END NOTES