The ancestors of the West Virginia Ballengees are Isaac and Jane Ballengee. The parentage
of both these ancestors is suspected but unproven at present. Isaac may be a son or
grandson of Ives and Christian Bellangee or one of their children. Jean/Jane may be a
sister to the James Graham, Sr. who witnessed her will in 1804. It is noteworthy that James
McMullen Ballengee named his first son, Atlantus Graham Ballengee. This was probably for
Emily's father, Lanty Graham. No doubt James McMullen Ballengee and Emily were cousins.
We have record by tradition that Isaac married Jane/Jean Graham in 1767. This record does
not show up in the early Augusta County marriage records where she was living. The earlies record of
a child being born to this union was Henry who was born in 1778, so this marriage date is probably
about ten years too soon. From 1774 to about 1783 Isaac was living in Botetourt County. It was
probably during this time that he married Jean Graham.
The Graham family came from Pennsylvania into the Virginia valley. See: Graham Family
The records of the Virginia Valley was given in Kegley's Virginia Frontier indicate that
there was a large settlement in the Valley in the 1750s and 60s. There is a record of a
land survey in this book to Isaac Bellangee in the County of Botetourt. It may be
significant that this particular spelling of the name is used. It is the only record
located by the author, thus far, in Virginia with this spelling. It ties together the
New Jersey Bellangees with the W. VA Ballengees. (1)
Isaac served Virginia in the conflict with the Indians in 1774. This was called Lord Dunmore's
War. "Dunmore's War was a conflict between the Colony of Virginia and the Native Americans of the
Ohio Valley. Following increased raids and attacks on frontiersmen in this region, the Royal
Governor of Virginia, Lord Dunmore, organized a large force of militia and marched to Fort
Pitt arriving at the end of August 1774. Dunmore also ordered Colonel Andrew Lewis,
commander of the southwestern Virginia militia, to raise an army in the south and meet
Dunmore's force along the Ohio River. Lewis formed militia companies from Augusta, Botetourt,
Fincastle, Bedford, Culpeper, Dunmore, and Kentucky counties. After Colonel Lewis' victory at
the Battle of Point Pleasant, Dunmore successfully negotiated a peace treaty with the
Delaware, Mingo, and Shawnee chiefs which prevented them from settling or hunting south of
the Ohio River.
The Third Revolutionary Convention passed an ordinance in July of 1775 appointing
commissioners to settle the accounts of the militia lately drawn out in an expedition
against the Indians and for making provision to pay the same and for discharging public
claims. The ordinance named Archibald Cary, William Cabell, William Fleming, John Winn,
and John Nicholas commissioners to settle the claims of those inhabitants in the counties
of Augusta, east of the Allegheny Mountains, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper, Fincastle,
Halifax, and Pittsylvania.
The index contains the names of Virginia citizens or soldiers from the counties of Augusta,
Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper, and Fincastle who were compensated in 1775 for supplies or
service during Dunmore's Expedition in 1774. Entries in the volume include names, length of
service or item being compensated for, and the amount of compensation in pounds, shillings,
and pence. We find Isaac Bellangee served from Botetourt County: "Virginia citizens or soldiers from the counties of Augusta, Bedford,
Botetourt, Culpeper, and Fincastle who were compensated in 1775 for supplies or service
during Dunmore's Expedition in 1774."
Another listing of claims:
"Soldiers and Public Service in Dunmore's War", Page 156. [Claims]
Isaac Bellangee, Botetourt: Horse hire 3s
There is also conflicting tradition concerning Isaac's Revolutionary War service. One
tradition says that he was doing guard duty in 1776 in Philadelphia at the signing of the
Declaration of Independence. Then another tradition is that Isaac came to America with
Lafayette. Lafayette landed in 1777 so both of these traditions cannot be true. There is
no Isaac Ballengee or Bellangee listed as a Revolutionary War soldier in the records of
Virginia that the author has searched so far.
There is a record of Isaac Blangy who had settled in App's Valley prior to 1771. This was
at that time a part of Botetourt Co., VA. It was named after Absolom Looney who settled
the valley in that same year. In Charles Kemper's book the name Isaac Blangy is followed
by (Ballinger) probably because he had found early records in the county where the name was
spelled that way. (2)
In 1772, Ben Hawkins made a list of persons to be taxed in Montgomery County, Virginia. He
listed Isaac Bilanges on Craig's Creek. (3) Montgomery County was formed out of Fincastle,
Botetourt, and Pulaski counties. At one time Botetourt County took in most of what became
the southern part of West Virginia. Montgomery was the parent county of Greenbrier which
was formed in 1778 and then Monroe County was cut out of Greenbrier in 1779. This isn't to
say that Isaac didn't move around but persons tracing land records in Summers or Monroe
counties would need to go back to Greenbrier, Montgomery, and then Botetourt counties.
In 1777 Isaac took the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia: " I do hereby
certify that Isaack Ballengee hath taken and subscribed the oath or affirmation of
allegiance and fidelity, as directed by an act of General Assembly intitled an Act to
Oblige the free male inhabitantsof this State above a certain age to file assurance of
allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. Witness my hand and seal, this 13th day
of Sept. 1777.
By 1783 Isaac had moved from App's Valley as a road was being surveyed in Craig's Creek
settlement and it was being "marked out from the place formerly Ballinger's on Barber's
Creek to the Sweet Springs." (4)
In 1787 Isaac gave power of attorney to Thomas Price to sell his property on Barber's Creek. This
was executed in 1789 and the property was sold to William and Elizabeth
Royall. Isaac was by that time living in Greenbrier County.
In the 1790 Heads of Families of Virginia, Isaac Balinger is listed in Greenbrier County
1783-86. This record was also a tax list as the original census was destroyed in the War
of 1812.
The next land records the author has located to date show Isaac Ballenger granted 184 acres
on Sheep Rock Branch in Greenbrier County in 1787 and Jane Ballengee with 300 acres on the
Waters of New River in 1800. (6)
Tradition relates that at the close of the Revolution in 1783 or 4, Isaac left Botetourt
County and headed west. After days of traveling he settled somewhere on the Bluestone
River. Soon after he started building his cabin, the Indians drove him off. He then made
his way to the mouth of the Greenbrier River and then acquired all the land that later
comprised Hinton, Avis and Bellepoint, WV.
He built his first home, a log cabin, in a field. the first cabin was burned but another
built and it stood intact until torn down during the construction of the Bluestone Dam.
Isaac died about 1792 leaving three sons, Henry, Isaac and George who divided the tract of
land into three parts.
The date for Isaac's death cannot be too far wrong as Jane Ballengee was listed as head of
house in a list of residents of Monroe County in 1799. (7)
Jane made her will 15 Oct 1804 and it was proved 19th Feb 1805. (See appendix for copy of
this will). The will was witnessed by her brother, James Graham and his family. The will
gives the names of Isaac and Jane's children. This document along
with census records during the 1800s give us names and approximate dates of birth of the
children of this marriage. They are as follows:
Each son with his descendants will be treated as a separate section. Henry first, then
George, then Isaac II followed by those lines whose relationship is difficult to prove.
1. F. B. Kegley. KEGLEY'S VIRGINIA FRONTIER - THE BEGINNING OF THE SOUTHWEST - THE ROANOKE OF COLONIAL DAYS 1740-1783. The Stone Press. Roanoke, VA. 1938.
2. Charles E. Kemper. VIRGINIA HISTORICAL MAGAZINE. "The Settlement of the Valley." p. 167.
3. Robert D. Stoner. A SEED-BED OF THE REPUBLIC. 1962. Kingsport Press. Kingsport, TN.
4. Kegley.
5. James Isaac Ballengee. BALLENGEE TRAILS. First Edition. 1955.
6. Edgar B. Sims, State Auditor. SIMS INDEX TO LAND GRANTS IN WEST VIRGINIA. State of WV. 1952. Charleston, WV.
7. Oren F. Morton. A HISTORY OF MONROE COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA. Staunton, VA. 1916. The McClure Co., Inc.