Absilla A. ``Assala'' Ballard

spouse: Reuben BALLARD
born: Abt 1748, VA or NC
died: Nov 1820, Warren Co.,KY
Children:
Chloe Ballard
Bathsheba Ballard
John Ballard
Bentley Ballard
Loving ``Levin'' James Ballard
William Ballard
Beda Ballard

Pedigree Chart

                      |--------John BALLARD (1639, England - 1704, VA)
                      |
           |---------Ralph BALLARD (1673, VA - 1722, NC)
           |          |
           |          |--------Pasheba ``Besheba'' ELIZABETH (1653, VA - 1700, VA)
           |
  |------Abraham BALLARD (1705, VA - 1754, NC)
  |        |
  |        |          |--------
  |        |          |
  |        |---------Sarah ( - )
  |                   |
  |                   |--------
  |
Absilla A. ``Assala'' BALLARD ( - )
  |
  |                   |--------
  |                   |
  |        |---------
  |        |          |
  |        |          |--------
  |        |
  |------Elizabeth SUMNER (1715 - )
           |
           |          |--------
           |          |
           |---------
                      |
                      |--------
She is named Absilla or Absilley in the Georgia land records more than once, and Absilley in the marriage record of her daughter Bathsheba. She's only named Assala one time -- for the marriage of her dau. Beda in Warren Co., KY. All these are conclusively associated with Absilla's husband Reuben Ballard.

Her name is also spelled Apsilla. This spelling, along with her surname and parents come from records published by Lynne Miller of Ballards of America. The key piece of evidence linking Apsilla to her father Abraham is Abraham's will, which refers to a daughter named Apsilla. Another clue is the repetition of the name Bathsheba (spelling varies) among Reuben and Absilla's children and in Abraham's family (Abraham's grandmother and one of his daughters carry the name). Reuben is thought to belong to the same extended Ballard family, thus they were some degree of cousins who married. However, the preceding is the only evidence presented to me that Reuben's wife Absilla is the same Apsilla named in Abraham's will. While I admit that Apsilla is a pretty unique name, the connection seems pretty flimsy at this point to me. But perhaps there are more family records or traditions somewhere that I don't know about yet that led to the conclusion also. Apsilla and Reuben enter into Bute Co., NC land transactions in 1770. This at least places them in the right part of NC for Absilla to belong with the Abraham Ballard family.

I am told that one family researcher, who I've never even corresponded with, believes that Apsilla's maiden name was Bentley. This researcher is Opal Callaway, a 3-great-granddaughter of Reuben Ballard, through Reuben's grandson Reuben Miller. There are a few circumstances which have also made me suspect Bentley as Apsilla's maiden name. First, Reuben and Apsilla have a son who they named Bentley Ballard. Reuben and Apsilla lived adjacent to a Jeremiah Bentley in Georgia. A person who I suspect is Bentley Ballard's son is named Jeremiah Bentley Ballard. And Bentley is carried on as a middle name in other descendents of Bentley Ballard. All these items could easily occur without Apsilla having the maiden name of Bentley, but it seems like a possibility that should be considered.

Sources for this individual: @S1276@ @S1277@ @S1264@

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