William Ballenger, 1757 – 1825:  Life in Outline



1757: Born, probably in Virginia (date derived from pension application).

1777-1780: Soldier in the Continental Army, Virginia, 10th Regiment, with the rank of sergeant.


Highlights: Spent time in the hospital, present at Valley Forge, named to the Light Infantry (an elite corps), present at battle of Monmouth, June 28, 1778, and the taking of Stony Point on July 16, 1779; subsequently, he was placed on detachment to guard prisoners taken at Stony Point. Discharged at Lancaster, Pennsylvania on January 10, 1780.

1780-1783: Resided in Culpeper County, Virginia, marries his first wife Elizabeth Bartlett. He appears in the 1782 Rent Roll.

1783-1792: Lives in Loudoun County, Virginia. He worked as an overseer for George Gray, a Revolutionary officer from Culpeper County. He witnesses three deeds. Appears in Loudoun County Tithables and the county tax list of 1787.

1792-1809: Lives in Fluvanna County, Virginia. He is listed on the personal property tax lists. Elizabeth died and William marries Anna Sharp on October 15, 1804 in neighboring Albemarle County.

1810-1821: Nicholas County, Kentucky. He applied for his pension in 1818 and is listed in the Federal Censuses in 1810 and 1820, and secured land in Wayne County, Indiana in 1816.

1822-1825: Wayne County, Indiana. Wife Anna dies, William excites deeds to some of his children. William marries Polly Godfrey on July 1, 1824. William signed his will March 20th, 1825 and it is proved on July 25, 1825.




Source: Margaret Currie