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| Photo by L. Jones. Iceland. Feb 2015. |
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| Photo by L. Jones. Iceland. Feb 2015. |
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| Photo by L. Jones. Iceland. Feb 2015. |
Monday, March 2, 2015
Land of Ice
My "Frequent Traveling" sister vacationed to Iceland in mid-February. It looks like a visit "North of the Wall" on Game of Thrones.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Will of Bland Ballard
224 years ago, my 7th-great-grandfather Bland Ballard signed his last will and testament in Spotsylvania County. Bland was the father of Benjamin Ballard, and Benjamin was named as an executor of the will. The image below was taken using Evernote Scannable from a photocopy made at the Spotsylvania County Court in December 2014.
The Ballards were a prominent Spotsylvania County family. As with the transcription from John Booher's estate, slavery was a common occurence with the Ballards and this is reflected in his will and estate.
Transcription
In the name of God amen, I Bland Ballard of the County of Spotsylvania being very sick & weak, but of perfect sound mind & memory, (thanks be to almighty God for the same) do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form viz. --
Item - My will and desire is that all my just debts & funeral expenses shall be fully paid & satisfied.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Ballard, one negro wench named Sall, & her future increase to him & his heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son John Ballard, one negroe wench named Gin, with her future increase, to him & his heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Ballard, one negroe wench named Grace, with her future increase to him & his heirs forever.
Item - I give & bequeath unto my daugther Ann Haydon, one negro girl named Frank with her future increase to her & her heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto Betsy Tenant, one bed, one sheet, one poster, one pillow, two blankets & one counterpain to her & her heirs forever.
Item - One negroe child named Keziah & all the rest of my estate of what so ever kind it may consist of after my decease, as stocks of any kind household furniture, my will & desire is, that the said child Keziah shall be sold, & the money thence arising to be equally divided amongst my children, that is to say Thomas, John, Benjamin and Ann.
And I do hereby appoint & ordain my sons John Ballard & Benjamin Ballard, my joint executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking & disannulling all former & other wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 28th day of February one thousand seven hundred & ninety one.
Signed, sealed & acknowledged in presence of
G. Bell
William Ballard
Suener Tennant
Bland Ballard {seal}
On 3 January 1792, Benjamin Ballard, Edward Herndon and Reuben Hudson paid a bond of $1000 to the Justices of Spotsylvania County Court (Thomas Towles, Robert Hart, Thomas Strachan and Stockley Towles). Benjamin then committed to make an inventory of his father Bland Ballard's estate This document was signed by Benjamin, Edward Herndon and Reuben Hudson, in the presence of Beverley Chew. John Ballard made the same statement, signed by Reuben Hudson and Maxfield Whiting.
The next document contained an inventory of the estate.
"In obedience to an order of Spotsylvania Court made the 3rd day of January 1792 to us directed we the subscribers being first sworn have appraised the estate of Bland Ballard decd which was shewed to us by the executors, and are as followeth --
Two hundred & fourteen pounds 1.7 1/2
Sall (Pounds 50)
Grace (55)
Jenny (55)
Frank (15)
Keziah (10)
1 mare (5)
1 colt (2)
1 brown cow (3)
1 red bell cow (2.10)
1 yellow cow (2.10)
2 yearlings (1.10)
1 sow & 6 shoats (1.10)
1 bed bedstead and furniture (4)
1 ditto, ditto & ditto (4)
1 desk (15)
1 oval table (10)
1 safe (6)
1 large chest (8)
1 Linen wheel (15)
4 chairs 3 basons (11.6)
Carried Over 209.18
1 dish & 6 plates (10)
3 knives and 4 forks (1.6)
1 spice morter 8 pr stillards (18)
1 candle stick (7 1/2)
1 Looking glass (1.1 1/2)
2 stone pots (6) 1 tea kettle (6)
2 bells (5) 2 pr cards (4.6)
1 ox chain (6) 1 gallon jugg (1.3)
1 mustard pot, salt seller & 3 spoons (1)
1 pair tongs (2) plough hoe (1.6)
3 broad hoes, grubing hoe (2.3)
1 narrow ax 1 iron wedge (3.9)
1 plow 1 rawhide (7)
1 mans saddle & bridle (10)
1 meat tubb 1 hand saw & auger (1.3)
1 pair pot hooks and iron rack (1)
Total amount $214 1.7 1/2
A true copy from the original. Witness our hand, signed by order
Joseph Brock Clrk
Frances Simpson
Edward Herndon
--
Some of these items may have ended up in the inventory of Benjamin Ballard twenty-two years later in 1814. For more on Bland Ballard, read Stephen Ballard's blog entry here.
The Ballards were a prominent Spotsylvania County family. As with the transcription from John Booher's estate, slavery was a common occurence with the Ballards and this is reflected in his will and estate.
Transcription
In the name of God amen, I Bland Ballard of the County of Spotsylvania being very sick & weak, but of perfect sound mind & memory, (thanks be to almighty God for the same) do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form viz. --
Item - My will and desire is that all my just debts & funeral expenses shall be fully paid & satisfied.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Ballard, one negro wench named Sall, & her future increase to him & his heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son John Ballard, one negroe wench named Gin, with her future increase, to him & his heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Ballard, one negroe wench named Grace, with her future increase to him & his heirs forever.
Item - I give & bequeath unto my daugther Ann Haydon, one negro girl named Frank with her future increase to her & her heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto Betsy Tenant, one bed, one sheet, one poster, one pillow, two blankets & one counterpain to her & her heirs forever.
Item - One negroe child named Keziah & all the rest of my estate of what so ever kind it may consist of after my decease, as stocks of any kind household furniture, my will & desire is, that the said child Keziah shall be sold, & the money thence arising to be equally divided amongst my children, that is to say Thomas, John, Benjamin and Ann.
And I do hereby appoint & ordain my sons John Ballard & Benjamin Ballard, my joint executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking & disannulling all former & other wills by me made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 28th day of February one thousand seven hundred & ninety one.
Signed, sealed & acknowledged in presence of
G. Bell
William Ballard
Suener Tennant
Bland Ballard {seal}
On 3 January 1792, Benjamin Ballard, Edward Herndon and Reuben Hudson paid a bond of $1000 to the Justices of Spotsylvania County Court (Thomas Towles, Robert Hart, Thomas Strachan and Stockley Towles). Benjamin then committed to make an inventory of his father Bland Ballard's estate This document was signed by Benjamin, Edward Herndon and Reuben Hudson, in the presence of Beverley Chew. John Ballard made the same statement, signed by Reuben Hudson and Maxfield Whiting.
The next document contained an inventory of the estate.
"In obedience to an order of Spotsylvania Court made the 3rd day of January 1792 to us directed we the subscribers being first sworn have appraised the estate of Bland Ballard decd which was shewed to us by the executors, and are as followeth --
Two hundred & fourteen pounds 1.7 1/2
Sall (Pounds 50)
Grace (55)
Jenny (55)
Frank (15)
Keziah (10)
1 mare (5)
1 colt (2)
1 brown cow (3)
1 red bell cow (2.10)
1 yellow cow (2.10)
2 yearlings (1.10)
1 sow & 6 shoats (1.10)
1 bed bedstead and furniture (4)
1 ditto, ditto & ditto (4)
1 desk (15)
1 oval table (10)
1 safe (6)
1 large chest (8)
1 Linen wheel (15)
4 chairs 3 basons (11.6)
Carried Over 209.18
1 dish & 6 plates (10)
3 knives and 4 forks (1.6)
1 spice morter 8 pr stillards (18)
1 candle stick (7 1/2)
1 Looking glass (1.1 1/2)
2 stone pots (6) 1 tea kettle (6)
2 bells (5) 2 pr cards (4.6)
1 ox chain (6) 1 gallon jugg (1.3)
1 mustard pot, salt seller & 3 spoons (1)
1 pair tongs (2) plough hoe (1.6)
3 broad hoes, grubing hoe (2.3)
1 narrow ax 1 iron wedge (3.9)
1 plow 1 rawhide (7)
1 mans saddle & bridle (10)
1 meat tubb 1 hand saw & auger (1.3)
1 pair pot hooks and iron rack (1)
Total amount $214 1.7 1/2
A true copy from the original. Witness our hand, signed by order
Joseph Brock Clrk
Frances Simpson
Edward Herndon
--
Some of these items may have ended up in the inventory of Benjamin Ballard twenty-two years later in 1814. For more on Bland Ballard, read Stephen Ballard's blog entry here.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Inventory of Benjamin Ballard
Earlier in the week I posted a photo of my 4th-great-grandmother Emily A. H. Ballard Read. Her grandfather, my 6th-great-grandfather, was Benjamin Ballard. He was born approximately 1725. I'm beginning this dive into the Ballard family with Benjamin's estate, published in the Spotsylvania County Court records and entered on 14 February 1814. Huge thanks go out to Stephen Ballard, and his excellent research on the Ballard family in the Ballard of Virginia & Kentucky. The list provides a look into the contents of a Spotsylvania, Virginia plantation.
Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of Benjamin Ballard Senr decd. taken 14th day of February 1814
1 Bed bedstead & furniture
1 Ditto & ditto
1 Ditto & ditto
1 Blue Chest
1 Chest
1 Safe
1 small pine table
1 round walnut table
1 old pine table
1 arm chair
8 flag [chairs] Ditto
1 small looking glass
1 old spinning wheel
1 [] cotton cards
1 [] old [cards] ditto
1 coffee mill
1 [] sheep shears
1 hone & strap 2 razors
1 [] scales and weights
1 compass
1 butter pot
1 small pot
2 small jugs
1 pocket jug
1 coffee pot
1 set knives and forks
6 old knives gold forks
2 candle sticks and 1 set snuffers
1 tin pan & strainer & can
Amt carried up - $129.38 1/2
2 brass locks
9 cups 8 saucers 4 tea spoons
8 earthen plates
1 large and 1 small earthen dish
1 earthen sugar dish
1 butter bole 1 bowl
1 wine glass
2 earthen muggs
2 pepper boxes 1 gally pot
2 slays
2 shickles & baskett
1 old loom
1 old side saddle
2 old chests
1 mans saddle & bridle
1 blind bridle 2 snaffleds
1 chains and harness & rope
1 ditto, ditto & yoke & harness
2 horse collars
1 cary plough
1 old barshare
1 shovel plough
1 ditto, ditto
1 half share hoe & colter
2 clevis and pins
2 pr iron wedges
2 axes
2 ditto
1 hatchet, pick axe and howell
2 augers 1 drawing knife
2 gouges 3 chisels
box iron
1 adze 1 howell & compass
1 frow spoke shave & gouge
Amount carried over $165.12 1/2
2 hammers
1 shoe ditto & pinches
3 gimbels
1 iron pin
1 basket & old iron
1 ditto old chains
1 old flax wheel
1 wheat scythe 2 graps
1 cutting box
1 grind stone
1 calf bushell & peck
1 yoke
3 sivingle trees
1 single pot & 2 pr hooks
1 iron skillet
1 large iron pot & hooks
1 iron pot rack
1 oven & lid
4 old grubbing hoes
6 old hoes
1 tar bucket
1 old sieve
1 water tub 2 piggins wash noggin
1 small bell
1 small iron hoop'd barrel
1 old barrel 1 heat out
5 light casks
1 meat tubb
6 mobby stands
Set waping bars & boxes
1 ox cart
1 pr small wheels
1 chain & iron hammer
Amount carried up $223.43 1/2
1 Black mare
1 small bay ditto
1 grey horse
11 ewes 11 lambs
12 sheep
1 yearling white face
1 small ditto
1 work stear
1 ditto
1 buffalo bull
1 yoke young stears
1 bell cow
1 milk cow
1 red heifer
1 white face cow
1 sow 7 pigs
4 out shoats
waggon tongue, hounds & axel trees
13 fatning hogs
3 bee hives
1 gun
1 pr saddle bags
tongues griddle & shovel
Meal tubb
Meal bagg
1 rum hogshead
Carried over $603.76 1/2
Negroes
Cate ($100)
Judith ($250)
Aggy ($300)
Hannah & Child ($400)
Charlotte ($250)
Dudley ($300)
Davey ($450)
Warner ($200)
Jenney & child Henry ($400)
Milton ($250)
Silvia ($100)
Robin ($150)
[Total estate $3753.76 1/2]
Spotsylvania County, to wit,
By virtue of an Order from the worshipful Court of Spotsylvania County to us directed, which is hereunto annexed, We the undersigned, have in obediance thereto appraised all the Estate of Benjamin Ballard decd shown us by James Ballard the Exor and find the same to amount to the sum of Three thousand seven hundred & fifty three Dollars seventy six and one half cents current money which will appear by reference to the aforegoing Inventory - Given under our hands and seals this 14th day of February 1814.
Samuel Schooler {seal}
Jos. Chew {seal}
John Mitcham {seal}
Spotsylvania April Court 1814
This Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of Benjamin Ballard decd was returned and is order to be recorded.
Teste. Robert S. Chew
Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of Benjamin Ballard Senr decd. taken 14th day of February 1814
1 Bed bedstead & furniture
1 Ditto & ditto
1 Ditto & ditto
1 Blue Chest
1 Chest
1 Safe
1 small pine table
1 round walnut table
1 old pine table
1 arm chair
8 flag [chairs] Ditto
1 small looking glass
1 old spinning wheel
1 [] cotton cards
1 [] old [cards] ditto
1 coffee mill
1 [] sheep shears
1 hone & strap 2 razors
1 [] scales and weights
1 compass
1 butter pot
1 small pot
2 small jugs
1 pocket jug
1 coffee pot
1 set knives and forks
6 old knives gold forks
2 candle sticks and 1 set snuffers
1 tin pan & strainer & can
Amt carried up - $129.38 1/2
2 brass locks
9 cups 8 saucers 4 tea spoons
8 earthen plates
1 large and 1 small earthen dish
1 earthen sugar dish
1 butter bole 1 bowl
1 wine glass
2 earthen muggs
2 pepper boxes 1 gally pot
2 slays
2 shickles & baskett
1 old loom
1 old side saddle
2 old chests
1 mans saddle & bridle
1 blind bridle 2 snaffleds
1 chains and harness & rope
1 ditto, ditto & yoke & harness
2 horse collars
1 cary plough
1 old barshare
1 shovel plough
1 ditto, ditto
1 half share hoe & colter
2 clevis and pins
2 pr iron wedges
2 axes
2 ditto
1 hatchet, pick axe and howell
2 augers 1 drawing knife
2 gouges 3 chisels
box iron
1 adze 1 howell & compass
1 frow spoke shave & gouge
Amount carried over $165.12 1/2
2 hammers
1 shoe ditto & pinches
3 gimbels
1 iron pin
1 basket & old iron
1 ditto old chains
1 old flax wheel
1 wheat scythe 2 graps
1 cutting box
1 grind stone
1 calf bushell & peck
1 yoke
3 sivingle trees
1 single pot & 2 pr hooks
1 iron skillet
1 large iron pot & hooks
1 iron pot rack
1 oven & lid
4 old grubbing hoes
6 old hoes
1 tar bucket
1 old sieve
1 water tub 2 piggins wash noggin
1 small bell
1 small iron hoop'd barrel
1 old barrel 1 heat out
5 light casks
1 meat tubb
6 mobby stands
Set waping bars & boxes
1 ox cart
1 pr small wheels
1 chain & iron hammer
Amount carried up $223.43 1/2
1 Black mare
1 small bay ditto
1 grey horse
11 ewes 11 lambs
12 sheep
1 yearling white face
1 small ditto
1 work stear
1 ditto
1 buffalo bull
1 yoke young stears
1 bell cow
1 milk cow
1 red heifer
1 white face cow
1 sow 7 pigs
4 out shoats
waggon tongue, hounds & axel trees
13 fatning hogs
3 bee hives
1 gun
1 pr saddle bags
tongues griddle & shovel
Meal tubb
Meal bagg
1 rum hogshead
Carried over $603.76 1/2
Negroes
Cate ($100)
Judith ($250)
Aggy ($300)
Hannah & Child ($400)
Charlotte ($250)
Dudley ($300)
Davey ($450)
Warner ($200)
Jenney & child Henry ($400)
Milton ($250)
Silvia ($100)
Robin ($150)
[Total estate $3753.76 1/2]
Spotsylvania County, to wit,
By virtue of an Order from the worshipful Court of Spotsylvania County to us directed, which is hereunto annexed, We the undersigned, have in obediance thereto appraised all the Estate of Benjamin Ballard decd shown us by James Ballard the Exor and find the same to amount to the sum of Three thousand seven hundred & fifty three Dollars seventy six and one half cents current money which will appear by reference to the aforegoing Inventory - Given under our hands and seals this 14th day of February 1814.
Samuel Schooler {seal}
Jos. Chew {seal}
John Mitcham {seal}
Spotsylvania April Court 1814
This Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of Benjamin Ballard decd was returned and is order to be recorded.
Teste. Robert S. Chew
Survey of the Hampton Farm
At the end of January I posted a transcription of the sale of Samuel Hampton's farm and distillery to his son-in-law, Gasper Smith from 1837. A survey of the land located on the North side of the Holston River on Cedar Creek appears in the North Carolina and Tennessee Early Land Records on Ancestry (entered on 21 December 1837). I am including it here for completeness of the records on Samuel Hampton's land.
Friday, February 27, 2015
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