Debbie Wilkins
This time I think I will tell you about Francis Ballards father Bennett
Ballard. She is Anderson Whitfield Thompson's mother.
He was born 2 Oct 1802 in Albermarle County, Virginia. His father's
name was Bland Ballard. His mother's name was Frances Shiftett. He
lived in an era of time that many of the people of that time was moving
westward. His father Bland died in 1809 in Albermarle county. When
Bennet was about 7 years old. Leaving his children orphans. I suspect
that Frances his wife must have died about 1813 because in 1813 we find
a Bond in Albermarle Co. Giving guardianship of Bennett Ballard to his
older brother (I believe) Garland Ballard. There was a bond of $750
noted on this document. I do have Bland's will and will sometime send
that to you all.
I have a marriage of Bennett in Randolph County, Illinois. How he
got there I am not sure or why they went there. I suspect they were
trying to homestead in different places before they found where they
wanted. But I know that it was done as a family because other siblings
were there too.
Bennett met and married this wife Barbara Thornhill there in
Randolph County, Illinois. Barbara was the daughter of Henry Thornhill
a Revolutionary War Veteran. And then they all ended up in Hopkins
County, Kentucky. They were in Todd County, Kentucky before that.
Bennett and Barbara had at least 6 children. Francis (our
ancestor), Henry, Elizabeth, Sarah, Barbara Ann, Mary Jane.
I do not know when and where Barbara Thornhill died. But Bennett D.
Ballard died 25 Oct 1858 in either Kentucky or Missouri. I believe it
probably was in Missouri, because his daughter Francis lived there and
there are places that Bennett is mentioned in Ozark county. But I could
be wrong about that.