Johnson Ballard (c. 1775 – c. 1849)

The eldest son of William Ballard, was born about 1775, Orange County, Virginia. He married, about 1798, Nancy Craig. Although no original marriage records have been found for Johnson Ballard and Nancy Craig, Nancy was listed as the wife of Johnson and named as Nancy Ballard wife of Johnson Ballard in the 1798 Albemarle County, Virginia will of her father, Thomas Craig. Johnson Ballard and Nancy Craig Ballard resided from 1798 to about 1850, in Albemarle County, Virginia with their children, who were all born in Albemarle County, Virginia.

Their children were, Martha, Mary Elizabeth, Ira Jameson, Nancy, Susan, Thomas Medley, Isabella, John Allen and William Clarence Ballard.

Johnson listed on the 1790 Orange County tax list. {1790 Orange County tax list, image 193, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 5 July, 1791, Johnson Ballard, living in Orange County, Virginia, received from Nancy Craig’s brother John Craig, 400 acres land for £100 in Albemarle County, Virginia. {Deeds, 1748-1917 ; general indexes 1748-1917, Albemarle County Deed Book 10, pg. 259 – 260, not indexed, Family Search.}

“This Indenture made this fifth day of July one thousand seven hundred & ninety one between John Craig of Albemarle County of the on part & Johnston Ballard of Orange County of the other part Witnesseth that the said John Craig for his consideration one hundred pounds Virginia Currency to him in hand paid by the said Johnston Ballard before the sealing & delivery these presents the right whereof he doth therewith fully contented and satisfied of paid there of every part thereof do discharge him the said Johnston Ballard his heirs & forever have granted Bargained and Sold & by these presents do Bargain & Sell Alien _____ & Confirm unto the said Johnston Ballard his heirs & Assignees on Tract or parcel of Land containing by estimation four hundred Acres situated lying and being in Albemarle County to wit,”

“Memorandum that on the day and year first within written peaceable and quite possession given of the within granted & sold land with the appurtenances thereto, Belonging was taken & had by the said John Craig and by him delivered to the said Johnston Ballard according to the receipt and true intent and meaning of the within Indenture –

John Craig (seal)”

At Albemarle Court July 1791–

This Indenture was produced into Court and acknowledged by John Craig one of the parties thereto and ordered to be recorded –

John Nicholas (signature)
C.C.

4 December, 1792, Johnson sold the 400 acres that John Craig had relinquished to him to Anthony Haden for £89, 6 shillings, nine pence. John Craig is one of the witnesses. {Albemarle County Deed book 10, pg. 512-513, Family Search, not indexed.}

24 May, 1793, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, spelled Johnston, White males above 16 – 2, Blacks above 16 -2, Horses – 3. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1782-1799, image 394, Family Search, not indexed.}

4 April, 1794, Johnson purchased 50 acres from James Harrison and wife Sarah for £25. {Albemarle county deed book 11, pg. 411, Family Search, not indexed.

4 April, 1794, Johnson along with James Harrison and wife Sarah purchases 50 acres from Bezabeel Brown for £25. {Albemarle county deed book 11, pg. 412-413, Family Search, not indexed.

2 June, 1794, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 2, Blacks above 16 – 2, Horses – 3. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1782-1799, image 427, Family Search, not indexed.}

On 18 October, 1794, a Albemarle County Court order is produced for relinquishing the dower of Nancy Craig to Johnson Ballard. In this document it shows that the Brown’s are required to make a visitation to Catherine Craig, John Craig’s wife for approval of the transfer.

The Commonwealth of Virginia to Bernard Brown & Bezabel Brown gentleman greeting whereas John Craig of the county of Albemarle by his certain Indenture of Bargain and sale bearing date the 5th day of July 1791 hath conveyed unto Johnson Ballard of the county of Albemarle one certain tract of land containing by Estimation four hundred acres and whereas Catherine Craig his wife cannot conveniently travel to the county court of Albemarle to make her acknowledgment whereof you or any of you are required to examine her prively and apart from her said Husband and whether she doth freely and voluntarily without the _____ or persuasion of her Husband whether she is willing that the same should be recorded in our county court of Albemarle and her ______ so taken you send and certify to the justices of our county court in closing said Indenture and this writ annexed. Witness John Nicholes Clerk of our said court this 18th day of October 1794 in the 19th year of our independence.

teste
John Nicholas.CAC

Pursuant to the within ________ to us directed we have proceeded to examine the within named Catherine Craig privately and apart from her husband as find her truly consentive to the sale and dividing away the above number owed. Same and that this her examination shall be recorded in the county court of Albemarle as witness our hands this 1st day of April 1795

Bernard Brown
}Bezabel Brown

10 March, 1795, Johnson along with James Harrison and wife Sarah sells 100 acres to Bezabeel Brown for $100. {Albemarle county deed book 11, pg. 412-413, Family Search, not indexed.

25 May, 1795, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 2, Blacks above 16 – 1, Horses – 3. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1782-1799, image 457, Family Search, not indexed.}

24 June, 1797, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 2, Blacks above 16 – 1, Horses – 2. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1782-1799, image 525, Family Search, not indexed.}

17 April, 1798, through a land office treasury warrant, Johnson received 100 acres on Jones Mountain and the waters of Doyles river. {Albemarle county land grants office, No. 38, pg. 178, Family Search, not indexed.}

30 July, 1798, Johnson had a survey completed on 100 acres in Greenbrier County (now Monroe), Virginia. The land was part of a land office treasury warrant of 2000 acres that his brother Curtis Ballard had obtained. {Monroe County Deeds, Survey records, v. 1-3, 1799-1850, book 3, pg. 299, Family Search, not indexed.}

1799, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Blacks above 16 – 1, Horses – 3. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1782-1799, image 599, Family Search, not indexed.}

1801, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 2. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 78, Family Search, not indexed.}

1802, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 2. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 123, Family Search, not indexed.}

1803, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 2. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 166, Family Search, not indexed.}

1804, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 2. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 213, Family Search, not indexed.}

1805, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 2. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 257, Family Search, not indexed.}

18 December,1805, Johnson and wife Nancy sold 100 acres in Monroe County, Virginia, to Henry Hull for $60 (payment was a 2 yr. old Bay Colt worth $60). {Monroe County Deed book, 1789-1901; deed index, 1789-1969, Deed book, v. B-C 1805-1812, pg. 69-72, not indexed, Family Search.}

1806, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 3. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 302, Family Search, not indexed.}

1807, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 4. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 350, Family Search, not indexed.}

1809, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 4. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 393, Family Search, not indexed.}

1810, Albemarle Virginia Tax list, White males above 16 – 1, Horses – 4. {Albemarle Virginia Tax list 1782-1851, Personal property tax lists, 1800-1813, image 440, Family Search, not indexed.}

1810 Albemarle Agricultural Census. {“United States Census, 1810,” database with images, FamilySearch, Johnson Ballard, Fredericksville, Albemarle, Virginia, United States; citing p. 185, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 66; FHL microfilm 181,426.}

12 April, 1815, Johnson by land office treasury warrant received 25 acres. {Albemarle county deed book 11, pg. 37-38, Family Search, not indexed.}

1820 Albemarle Census, Free white males under ten years – 2, Free white males of ten and under sixteen – 1, Free white males of forty five and upwards – 1, Free white females under ten years – 1, Free white females of ten and under 16 – 2, Free white females of sixteen and under twenty six – 2, Free white females of twenty six and under forty five – 3, Free white females of forty five and upwards – 1. {“United States Census, 1820,” database with images, FamilySearch, Johnson Ballard, Albemarle, Virginia, United States; citing p. 4, NARA microfilm publication M33, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 130; FHL microfilm 193,689.}

1830 Albemarle Census, Males: of five and under ten – 2, of twenty and under thirty – 1, of sixty five and under seventy – 1, Females: of fifteen and under twenty – 2, of twenty and under thirty – 1, of fifty and under sixty – 1. {“United States Census, 1830,” database with images, FamilySearch, Johnson Ballard, Albemarle, Virginia, United States; citing 234, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 197; FHL microfilm 29,676.}

24 March, 1831, Johnson by land office treasury warrant received 25 acres. {Albemarle county deed book, Family Search, not indexed.}

Johnson Ballard and his wife Nancy Craig lived for the remainder of their lives on 400-acres located in Albemarle, Virginia near Doyles River and the town of White Hall.

On the Albemarle, Virginia Personal Property Taxes for the year 1849, Johnson Ballard “Est.” was listed, indicating an estate and had died that year in Albemarle, Virginia, not Owen, Kentucky.

A 1850 U.S. Census for Albemarle County, Virginia, shows Johnson absent but does show that wife Nancy, two sons, their wives and grandchildren lived a the same household and location.