1. William Ballard. Born, circa 1777. Died, after 1830, in Catahoula Par., LA.
According to the 1820 and 1830 census of Catahoula Parish Louisiana, William was born between 1775 and 1780. He must have died between 1830 and 1840, for he does not appear in the 1840 census.
The earliest records for William were found in the American State Papers Vol. II, page 777, where three land claims, Numbers 138, 140D, and 141D are listed. These clains were registered on the same day by the same agent. The three claimants, Richard, William and Reuben Ballard, must have been related. In 1818, William Ballard must have sold part or all of the land claimed as indicated in this conveyance record:
Be it known that we WILLIAM BALLARD and HYMAN BYRD now settled and inhabiting the hereafter described tracts of land in the county of Rapide and Parish of Catahoula and Territory of Orleans, now the state of Louisiana, which said tracts we began to improve on or about the year Eighteen hundred and Eight, and never since removed from the territory and state aforesaid, but continued living on and improving said tracts of land we have granted bargained sold and conveyed as we do by these presents Grant bargain sell and convey unto JACOB B. FOWLER his heirs and assigns for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand dollars to us in hand paid by the said Jacob B. Fowler the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge. All the right title or claim we may have on said tracts of land as preemptions which said improvements adjoin each other on Deer Creek and lands claimed by Mrs. HAIGGINS otherwise warranting our said right title or claim of preemption to the said JACOB B. FOWLER against the claims demand or demands of any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof we have set our hands and acknowledge the same in the presence of the subscribing judge the subscribing witnesses this 31th day of October 1818.
/s/ WILLIAM BALLARD, HIRAM BYRD
In 1819, William Ballard was a witness to a conveyance of two lots in Harrisonburg, Catahoula Parish, and in 1823, stood bound as security for George Fogle in that parish.
William married Rachael , after 1817. Born, circa 1795, in South Carolina. Died, 1 Oct 1853, in Franklin Par., LA. According to her obituary, in the New Orleans Christian Advocate, Rachael came to Louisiana from South Carolina with her father about 1817 and died near Deer Creek in Franklin Parish, Louisiana. After William's death, Rachael lived with a daughter and her husband, William Ensminger.
In 1840, there was an older woman Rachael's age with the William Ensminger family and a Rachel Ballard was listed with the Ensminger family in 1850, although, apparently, her daughter had died. Some of Rachael's children probably lived with the Ensmingers also. Children:
i. Louisa2 Ballard. Born, circa 1818. She married Henry Stampley. Louisa is named in the 1850 census and appears as a 32 year old female in the household of Henry Stampley. Two Ballard men, Jacob L. and William M. are probably her brothers. There are no other children. In Henry Stampley's household in the 1840 census, there were a total of 7 children. From their ages, only two are likely to be Louisa's. Jacob, and William Ballard can be identified by their ages and two others could be John Manor and Armstrong Ballard.
ii. (Wm.'s Dau) Ballard. Born, circa 1820, in Catahoula Par., LA. Died, before 1850. She married William Ensminger. This daughter of William and Rachael Ballard is probably the 5-10 year old female listed in the 1830 census and the 20-30 year old female in William Ensminger's household in 1840. She must been the wife of William Ensminger and must have died before 1850. Her mother, Rachael, is probably the 40-50 year old female listed. In the 1850 census, Rachel Ballard, age 55, still lives in the Ensminger household and there are Ensminger children from 3 to 20. Some of these must be grandchildren of William and Rachael Ballard.
2 iii. Armstrong Ballard.
3 iv. Mary (Polly) Ballard.
4 v. John Manor Ballard.
5 vi. Jacob L Ballard.
vii. Preston Ballard. Born, 1833, in Catahoula Par., LA.
6 viii. William M. Ballard.
