Col. Thomas Ballard

Col. Thomas Ballard

• Son of Col. Thomas Ballard, of the council of state, was one of the justices of York county and colonel of the militia. He was burgess for the county in 1693, 1697, 1698, 1699, 1700-1702, 1703-1705 and 1710-1712. He married Catherine, daughter of John Hubard. His will was proved in York county, June 18, 1711. He left issue, and among them was Capt. John Ballard, of York county, who died in 1745. Source: Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, Volume I - IV--Burgesses and Other Prominent Persons, page 182
• Birth: 1654, York County Virginia, USA
• Death: Jun. 11, 1711, York County Virginia, USA
• Find A Grave Memorial# 60664554

Married

• Married: Catherine Hubbard, a daughter of John Hubbard. His will was proved in York County, June 18, 1711. He left issue, and among them was Capt. John Ballard, of York county, who died in 1745".

(wikipedia.org)

Children

• William Ballard, (1684 - 1754)
• Elizabeth Ballard Smith, (1689 - ____)
• Anna Ballard, (1689 - ____)
• Major John Ballard, (1693 - 1744)*

"The Reverend Mr Blair, who had been serving as Rector of Henrico Parish (then along the western frontier), was very aware of the fate of Henricus and the first attempt at a college there, both of which had been annihilated in the Indian Massacre of 1622. The peaceful situation with the Native Americans and the high ground and central location in the developed portion of the colony at Middle Plantation must have appealed to him, for he is credited with selecting a site for the new college on the outskirt of the tiny community.

Blair and the trustees of the College of William and Mary bought a parcel of 330 acres (1.3 km2) from Thomas Ballard for the new school. The new school opened in temporary buildings in 1694. Properly called the "College Building", the first version of the Wren Building was built at Middle Plantation beginning on August 8, 1695 and occupied by 1700". (Today, the Wren Building is the oldest academic structure in continuous use in America).

"Ballard's oldest son and heir, Thomas Ballard, Jr, sold the Middle Plantation estate shortly after his father's death. Most of it went to form the campus of the College of William and Mary.

Colonel Thomas Ballard, Jr, was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from York County, Virginia. Ballard was a son of Colonel Thomas Ballard, of the council of state born around 1654 at Middle Plantation, Virginia. He served as one of the justices of York Co. and was Colonel of the Militia. He was burgess for York Co. in 1693, 1697, 1698, 1699, 1700-1702, 1703-1705 and 1710-1712.

He was Justice of the Peace, Cpt of Militia of York Co. Va. and sheriff of that Co. Reared at Middle Plantation (later Williamsburg) and returned to York Co. in 1684. Inherited land from his godfather, Major Robt. Baldry who came to America at age 18 aboard ship Globe which sailed from Gravesend on 8-7-1635. Baldry prospered, but had no children.

Col. Ballard was a member of the Court Martial of Bacon's men after the rebellion collapsed. He was dismissed from the Council for loyalty to Gov. Berkeley, after Berkeley was recalled. Bacon the rebel bought landfrom Col. Ballard on the south side of the James River now known as Bacon's Castle. Bacon never fully paid Ballard for this land.

https://ballardofvirginia.com/about/the-children-of-thomas-ballard-...

James Branch Cabell’s summary of the life of Thomas Ballard of York County, Virginia is the definitive treatment, and follows here.1 Just as we did with his father, Thomas Ballard of James City County, Virginia, the Endnotes below highlight more recent scholarship.

Thomas Ballard was the second son of Colonel Thomas Ballard of James City county. The younger Thomas Ballard was, therefore, probably born in York county c. 1655, and reared at his father’s home at Middle Plantation, which more lately became Williamsburg. That he eventually returned to York county was due to his parent’s wise choice of his godfather in Major Robert Baldrey. Baldrey had come to Virginia in 1635, being then aged eighteen, had married, and had acquired a considerable plantation in York, where he was for years a justice of the peace. He married, as has been said, but had no children: and in his will (dated 1 May 1668, recorded in York 30 December 1676),2 he bequeathed with the exception of 130 acres left outright to Thomas Greene, a life interest in all the testator’s property to his wife, Elizabeth, with reversion at her death to Baldrey’s godson, Thomas Ballard.3 Baldrey’s widow seems to have died before 1684, at latest, as in that year Thomas Ballard, Junior, removed to York and took possession of his godfather’s estate. He was certainly still living in James City 28 March 1683-4, when he witnessed a power of attorney from John Suckell to Joseph Topping; but he was a member of the grand jury in York in November 1684.4

He married about this time Katherine, daughter of John Hubard of York (then deceased); the marriage must have taken place at all events before 9 May 1685, as Ballard and his wife were witnesses on that date to a deed given by Thomas and Sarah Aylett to Thomas Wade.

Thomas Ballard was dead by October 1710; yet, rather curiously, his will, dated 26 September 1706, was not yet recorded until 18 June 1711.

Links

• https://frostandgilchrist.com/getperson.php?personID=I37263&tree=fr...
• http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/BALLARD/2001-10/1002667984
• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jbh&id=I5283
• https://ballardofvirginia.com/about/the-children-of-thomas-ballard-...