General Sources

1. Debbie Wilkins
   
   • Bland was Born about 1750 back in the Virginia area, (not sure
     exactly where). He married Francis Shiftlett and they had 15 children.
     Jean, Garland, Peachey, Nance, Dicie, Sarah, William, Thomas, Fanny,
     Annie, John, Lucy, Mary, Patsey, and Bennett. Bland died about 1809 in
     Albermarle County, Virginia.
         Bland was the son of Thomas and Sarah Ballard. And Francis was the
     daughter of John Shiflet and Joyce Powell. Now this is the tricky
     part. There were quite a few Bland Ballards during this time in the
     Virginia area about the same age too. Some say that he was the son of
     John Ballard and Mary Garland. He is closely related to Thomas. They
     end up with the same Grandfather. But in my search I am pretty well
     convinced that is is the correct way. There is a famous "indian
     fighter" by the name of Bland Ballard who married Mary Deering. We are
     not of his lineage.
         We can find the Ballard family in the History of Albermarle County
     in the public library. Specifically it says about Bland.
         "Bland married Frances, daughter of John Shiflett, and died in
     1809. His family consisted of five sons and ten daughters. He donated
     the ground on which the old Ivy Creek Methodist Church was built."
         I thought I would share with you Bland's last will and testament.
     It will give you a little insight of what he was like. I know it is a
     little lengthy, but maybe you would enjoy reading it. I think if I were
     Francis I would have been pretty upset with this will. But then again
     this is the way they lived at that time and a woman did not have many
     rights at that time. I am going to type it the way it is written so the
     spelling may be a little different, this is the way they spoke then.
     
     
   • WILL OF BLAND BALLARD--ALBERMARLE COUNTY, VA.
         WILL BOOK 5 PAGE 44 FHL #0030213
     
     In the name of God Amen I Bland Ballard of Albermarle County being of
     sound mind of disposing memory considering the uncertainty of life do
     hereby establish this writing as my last will and testament revoking all
     other wills or wills by me made by word or writing.
     
     Item I give to my wife Francis Ballard the land that I now live on being
     the lands that was deeded to me by her father John Sheflett estimated to
     be about sixty acres be the same more or less also I lend her all the
     household furniture with the intentials excepting the best feather bed
     and furniture that I have also. I lend all the stock of horses and
     cattle and all the other stock of every kind and all the plantation
     tools of every kind and this above lent estate she is to possess during
     being my widow disposed of as I shall hereafter mention also I give to
     her the produce that is made on the plais the year of my decease and the
     provision that is laid in for the said year for the support of her and
     children and after the death of my wife or widowhood the above lent
     estate is to be sold by my executors and the monies arising from the
     sale of the said estate is to be disposed of as I shall hereafter
     mention.
     
     Item I give to my daughter Jean Nailor part of a tract of land I
     purchased of Henry Carter lying in Albermarle County on the waters of
     Meadow Creek adjoining the lands of Martin Mooney, Garland Carr, Roland
     Horsley and Mr. Dorol and my self estimated to be in quantity one
     hundred and fifty acres to begin at Martin Mooney corner White Oak and
     run as fir on Carrs line thetas the same distance as on Mooneys and
     Dorol so as to make thirty seven acres of land to the dividing line the
     said land I give her and her heirs forever.
     
     Item the remainder part of the said tract of land as I bought of the
     Henry Carter after my daughter Jane Nailor's thirty seven acres of land
     as taken between by two sons and daughter, Garland Ballard, Bennett D.
     Ballard and Peache Hoy I give the said lands to them and to their heirs
     forever only excepted the apple orchards that is on the said lands whose
     lot it should fall into is to let my wife enjoy the fruit of the said
     apple trees as long as she liveth my widow.
     
     Item the feather bed and furniture before excepted I give to my beloved
     daughter Patsy Ballard to her and her heirs forever.
     
     Item I give to my beloved children Nance Murry, Mary Ballard, Dice
     Howard, Lucey Maupin, Sarah Ballard, Annis Ray, William Ballard, John
     Ballard and Thomas Ballard to each of them I give one dollar a peace to
     be raised out of my estate as I shall hereafter mention and to be paid
     to them by my executors I give to them and to their heirs forever.
     
     Item I have a negro boy by the name of Charles I lend the said negro
     Charles to my beloved wife Francis Ballard during her life or while she
     remains my widow for the use and compfort of her and my son Bennett D.
     Ballard and after her death or being my widow the said negro is to be
     sold and disposed of as I shall hereafter mention.
     
     Item I have a tract of land that I bought of Henry Carter lying in
     Albermarle County adjoining Mr. Dorel, Roland Horsley and Elizabeth
     Boothe in quantity about thirty five acres be the same more or less
     which I desire may be sold by my executor and the monies arising from
     the sale of the said land is to pay off all my lawful debts and to pay
     off these children mentioned in my will one dollar apeace to each as I
     before mentioned and other charges that might be pd.
     
     Item the said negro Charles I lent my wife Francis Ballard for the use
     and benefit of herself and her son Bennett D. Ballard after her death of
     being my widow my desire is may be sold and the monies arising from the
     sale of the said negro fifty pounds of the said negro should sell for so
     much to be equally divided among my five daughters to wit, Fanny Newcom,
     Annis Ray, Sarah Ballard, Patsey Ballard, Peache Hoy the money to be
     delivered to them or their heirs. Firther if the said negro should sell
     for more money that fifty pounds all that he should sell for over fifty
     pounds I give to my son Bennett D. Ballard to be delivered to him or his
     heirs by the executors.
     
     Item There is that lent property lent to my wife housel furniture horses
     and cattle and all the other stock of every kind plantation tools of
     every kind that was lent to my widow those things is to be sold and the
     money arising from the sales of the said property my desire is that
     first to pay all my lawful expenses that shall be brought against my
     Estate and the balance that should be over I give to my son Garland
     Ballard to him or to his heirs to be paid to him by my executors.
     Lastly I hereby appoint my worthy friends Thomas Garth Jun.r and Elijah
     Garth executors of this my last will and testament given from under my
     hand and seal this 28 day of June eighteen hundred and nine.
     
     Signed sealed and declared to be ) Bland
     Ballard (seal)
     my last will testament is presence of us )
     Charles Goodman
     Jessee Grady
     Phillip Darrel
     
     At a Court held for Albermarle County the 6th November 1809
     This instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and Testament
     of Bland Ballard deceased was produced into court and the record thereof
     being opposed the same was proved by the oaths of Charles Goodman and
     Jesse Grady witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
     
                                                             Teste
                                                             John Nichols CL
     
     
     
   • Well there is the Will. From this information we can assume that
     Bland was not a pauper. He had land and at least one slave. Usually
     if a person did not have much they did not leave a will. I am not sure
     what was going on between Bland and Francis, but there may be a reason
     he did what he did. He must have known he was going to die for this was
     in use so soon. I don't believe that Francis lived much longer because
     Bennett the youngest son was given to his older brother Garland Ballard
     as an orphan. He must have loved his family for he made sure they were
     well cared for in this will. He must have been religious because of the
     donation he made to the Ivy Creek Methodist Church of his land for them
     to build the church on.