There were several individuals named Thomas in and around Orange Co., Virginia at the time, it was a common first name, so careful attention is required and easily confused with others.

Thomas was born about 1741 in Spotsylvania Co., Virginia.

He first married Frances Anna Chapman about 1768 in Orange Co., Virginia, she died in 1777. Their children were John C., Anna and Frankie C..

His second wife was Mary Elizabeth Smith (c. 1760 – c. 1830), married 8 March, 1778 in Orange Co., Virginia. Their Children were Nancy, Elizabeth Betsy and Feldon/Fielding. {Virginia, Orange County Marriage Records, 1757-1938,” database with images, FamilySearch, image 142 of 518; County Courthouse, Orange.} {Orange County Deeds, Vol. 17, 1778-1786, Marriage records 1751-1777, Birth records 1751-1778, Deeds Vol. 18 1781-1787,image 248, Family Search, not indexed.}

He enlisted with his brothers William and Philip Jr. in the Culpeper Minutemen Service under Captain Spencer, the Regiment to which he was attached was commanded by Col. Taliaferro [George Taliaferro], Lieut. Col. Stevens [Edward Stevens] and Major Thomas Marshall; was engaged against the British at the Skirmish at the Great Bridge, December 9, 1775, Great Bridge, Virginia. He later enlisted with the regular Army in the 7th Virginia Regiment as a Pvt., between May – Nov 1777, Capt. Francis Taylor Co. and Capt. Joseph Spencer Co., Company B, and was Absent, 28 March 1777. He was discharged 17 Nov., 1777 and returned back home in Orange Co., Virginia. There are a total of 20 documents about Thomas’ Revolutionary War service. They are Payroll, War Roll and Compiled Service Cards.

1777 was a eventful year for Thomas, his wartime service and the death of his first wife Frances in that same year.

On 26 November, 1778, Thomas and brother Moreman are assigned to May Burton Jr.’s Gang. In the Orange County Road Orders;

“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 to his Gang” (see Colonial Document Definition below)

{Orange County Road Orders 1750-1800, by Ann Brush Miller, 26 November 1778, Page 97}.

On 9 April, 1791, Orange County Tax list. Taken by Frances Cowherd. White Tithes – 2, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 232, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 7 April, 1792, Orange County Tax list. Taken by Frances Cowherd. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 2 Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 241, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 23 April, 1792, Thomas’ brother Elijah Sr. sold him 99 acres for £30 in Orange Co., Virginia. {Orange County Deed Book 20, 1792, pg. 74, database with images, FamilySearch, not indexed}.

On 25 March, 1794, Orange County Tax list. Taken by Frances Cowherd. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 1, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 271, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 11 April, 1795, Orange County Tax list. Taken by Frances Cowherd. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 2, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 323, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 28 March, 1796, Orange County Tax list. Taken by Frances Cowherd. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 2 Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1782-1850, Personal property tax lists 1782-1800, Image 348, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 22 April, 1799, Monroe County Tax list. Taken by William Vawter. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 1, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 13, Family Search, not indexed.}

In August, 1799, Thomas and brother Philip Jr. were sued by James Graham for damages in Monroe, Co. Court, Thomas, 100 dollars and Philip Jr., 20 dollars. The judgement from Court was for Graham. Thomas paid and Philip Jr.’s fine was abated. A notation was also added that Philip Ballard was not from Monroe County. {1799 Monroe County Court, Caveat Book, 1795-1804, image 196 and 259, FamilySearch, not indexed}.

On 16 April, 1800, Monroe County Tax list. Taken by William Vawter. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 2. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 27, Family Search, not indexed.}

In November, 1800, Thomas is listed in the Monroe, Co., Court docket. The Commonwealth vs. Miller, Thompson, White, Farley, Thomas Ballard. {Monroe County Court, Caveat Book, 1795 – 1804, image 198, database with images, FamilySearch, Not indexed.}

On 9 May, 1801, Monroe County Tax list. Taken by William Vawter. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 2, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 41, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 26 April, 1802, Monroe County Tax list. Taken by William Vawter. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 2, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 54, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 26 April, 1803, Monroe County Tax list. Taken by William Vawter. White Tithes – 1, Black Tithes – 2, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 71, Family Search, not indexed.}

In August, 1803, a petition in Monroe, Co., court, Thomas Ballard vs. Thomas Price was documented. In May, 1804, the petition was dissolved. {Monroe County Court, Caveat Book, 1795-1804, images 171,173,234,235,293,294; database with images, FamilySearch, Not indexed.}

On 18 November, 1803, Thomas had a land survey done on 45 acres on Felties Run a branch of Indian Creek, Monroe Co., Virginia he was purchasing. {Monroe, County Deeds, Survey Records, v. 1-3, pg. 181, database with images, FamilySearch, not indexed}

On 20 April, 1804, Monroe County Tax list. White Tithes above 16 – 1, Black Tithes above 16 – 1, Black Tithes above 12 – 1, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 88, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 16 April, 1805, Monroe County Tax list. White above 16 – 1, Black above 16 – 1, Horses – 1. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 105, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 15 April, 1806, Monroe County Tax list. White above 16 – 1, Black above 16 – 2, Horses – 2. {Personal property tax lists, 1799-1850, Image 122, Family Search, not indexed.}

Thomas owned 2 slaves named Rachel and Lucy at this time. Thomas would make them get up at night and report the position of the Moon to him in order to tell the time. They were also responsible for keeping the geese out of the wheat fields. It was said that Thomas was a strong “Union man” and that he opposed slavery, although owning some. He made a statement he was going to set them free. He sent a boy to help Betsy Smith with milking cows, etc. Thomas traveled with Jack Smith to Logan County, Virginia and brought back a boy named Jordan, with the understanding that if he heard that Jordon was ever mistreated that he would be returned to him. Jordon stayed with the Smith family on Indian Creek for 60 years. After the Civil War, Jordon was given a mountain farm.

Thomas is listed starting from 1807 on the Kanawha County Tax List and then on the 1824 Logan County Tax List. This is not a case of Thomas moving from one County to another, it is a case of the County line moving.¹ {1807 – 1823 Kanawha County, Virginia Tax Lists, database with images, Family Search, not indexed.}-{1824 – 1827 Logan County, Virginia Tax Lists, database with images, Family Search, not indexed.}

Thomas listed in the 1830 Logan Co., Virginia census. Males; Of fifteen and under twenty -1, Of eighty and under ninety – 1, Females; Of fifty and under sixty – 1. {United States Census, 1830,” database with images, FamilySearch, Thomas Ballard, Logan, Virginia, United States; citing , NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm}.

He died 3 December 1831 at about age 90 in Logan Co., Virginia.

Thomas Ballard is in the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), Patriot Research System (PRS). Patriot # P-343407.

Current Records

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783,” database with images, FamilySearch, Thomas Ballard, 14 May 1777; citing 14 May 1777, Virginia, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,375.

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783,” database with images, FamilySearch, Thomas Ballard, Aug 1777; citing Aug 1777, Virginia, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,375.

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783,” database with images, FamilySearch, Thomas Ballard, Sep 1777; citing Sep 1777, Virginia, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,375.

United States Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783,” database with images, FamilySearch, Thomas Ballard, Oct 1777; citing Oct 1777, Virginia, United States, citing NARA microfilm publication M246. Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Services, 1980. FHL microfilm 830,375.

END NOTES

1. Logan County was formed in 1824 from parts of Giles, Tazewell, Cabell, and Kanawha counties.

Colonial Document Definition

* “in the room of” is archaic language meaning “as a substitute for”.

* Gang – Property owners or tithables along side or in the vicinity of a road and assigned to maintain a portion of that road.

* Tithables were annual “head taxes” levied on residents.
“…all male persons, of the age of sixteen years, and upwards, and all negro, mulatto,
and Indian women, of the age of sixteen years, and upwards, not being free, shall be,
and are hereby declared to be tithable, or chargeable, for defraying the public, county,
and parish charges.”
After 1705, tithables were all males 16 and older and all non-white servant women 16 and older. In 1723, an act clarified that free Negroes, mulattos, and Indians (except tributary Indians) and their wives were taxable at the age of 16. As before, the age of tithables was determined as of 9 June.