Individual Details

The first appearance of Walter Clopton in the St. Peters Parish Vestry records of New Kent Co is September 29, 1719 when he is paid 275 lbs of tobacco. Discussion during the vestry meeting reveals that he was allowed this sum for burying (and other charges) one Thomas Burdenwin. Walter was to deliver to the church wardens (Richard Allen & his father William Clopton) the sevant man's mare which came out of Essex County until the owners pay the 275 lbs of tobacco, or equivalent, to the Parish. On 30 Jul 1723, Walter Clopton took the oath and was appointed Vestryman. He was appointed to view & number the tobacco plants each year from 1724-29. 20 Apr 1731 he was elected Church Warden.; he took the oath at the May meeting. In Sept of 1732, he was replaced by Carles Massie as Warden but continued to serve as a Vestryman. He was collector for the Parish levy for some of the years. On 29 Sep 1740, Walter was again chosen church warden (two-year term) to serve with Daniel Parke Custis whose wife Martha would marry George Washington after he died. In 1741, Walter was paid by the Parish for keeping a bastard child of Mary Ashberry. In 1751, Walter Clopton was appointed one of the processioners - to work with Robert Jarratt (likely his brother-in-law) - they were both appointed again in 1755. In 1758, when the minutes end, Walter is still serving as a Vestryman as he has done for 35 years.

One of the last entries of the Vestry minutes of St Peters Parish is dated 22 Nov 1758 and Mr. Walter Clopton is listed as one of the Vestrymen present at that time.


He was a slaveholder as were his brothers and father. The Register of St. Peters notes that Nanny, a Negro of Walter Clopten died 6 Apr 1720; Jammey a Negro belonging to Walter Clopton was born 31 Mar 1726; Richard a Negro boy belonging to Walt Clopton was born 12 Mar 1757 and baptized on 20 June; Sarah a Negro girl was born 16 Nov 1757 and baptized 22 Dec.

VA Patent Bk 11, p. 46 17 Aug 1720. 400A Henrico Co, N side James R.
and here is a neighbor:
John BOLLING, 4480 acs. (O.&N.L.), Henrico Co., on N side of James Riv., 2 May, 1721, p. 60. 753 acs. beg. at his 320 acs., on E. side of the W. br. of Licking Hole, or Treasurer’s Run, near WALTER CLOPTON’s fence, on sd. Bolling’s line of his survey joining to Rock Castle; 1388 acs. Bounded as by patent dated 23 Dec., 1713, granted sd. Bolling; 320 acs. Bounded as by his patent dated 1 Apr. 1717; 1019 acs. As by his patent dated 15 July 1717. 8 Lbs., 14 Shill.Source: Foley, Louise Pledge Heath; Early Virginia Families Along the James River: Their Deep Roots and Tangled Branches; Vol. I: Henrico County – Goochland County, Virginia; Abstracts of Land Patents – Henrico County, p. 57


Married St. Peter's Parish Church

Hanover Co Court Record Book 1733-1735; Charles P. Blunt IV
1978
p.30/134
4 Oct 1734 Walter Clopton gent. Of St Peter's Parish in New Kent Co to James Hill, innkeeper of St. Peter's …for 2£ sterling, 200 acres south side of the South Anna River at mouth of Horse Shoe Creek. Part of 400 acres granted John Syme, patent 17 Aug 1725 and sold by said Syme to Walter Clopton by deed in Hanover Co 6 Jan 1726
Wit: J. Markland & Barttelot Anderson
Deed ack. Mary, wife of Walter relinq dower 4 Oct 1734

Here is evidence of that same tract that ended up in Louisa Co.
Lousia Co DB A
p.59   4 Dec1741   James Hill of St. ?Johns Parish,King William Co, to John Hill, St. Martins Parish, Louisa.  30#'s. 200 acres  South side South Anna River, mouth of Horseshoe Neck, up the River. part of 400 acres granted John Syme, Gent by patent 17 Aug 1725; conveyed to Walter Clopton by deed, 6 Jan 1726; conveyed  by Clopton to sd James Hill, Hanover Co, 4 Oct 1734.  Signed:  James Hill. Wit:  John Clarkson, John Bailey,William (x) Long.  Proved by wit. 14 Mar 1742.


Another possible daughter needs further proof. Found in the Clopton book - William Ballard and wife Elizabeth were of Lunenburg Co VA by December of 1735 when his first deed was dated 3 Dec 1735. (No mention of whether or not a wife was named in this deed - if he was then married, she would give dower release.) About 1760 they moved to the Scotland Neck of Halifax Co, NC, where he wrote his will on 10 Sep 1774. (no mention of how it is known these records in Virginia and then North Carolina was the same William Ballard - it is not an unusual name.) The will names wife Elizabeth and children: Mary Allen, Joyce Langley, Elizabeth Freeman, Martha Finch, Nancy Lenoir, Walter Clopton Ballard, Devereaux Ballard, Salumith Ballard, and William Sorrell Ballard. Some descendants have assumed Elizabeth was indeed a daughter of Walter Clopton & Mary Jarrett, but no child Elizabeth was baptized St. Peter's Parish.

1774 - Halifax County North Carolina Wills - In the name of God Amen I
William Ballard of the County of Halifax being much indisposed in body but in
perfect memory and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die,
do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament, That is to say .. Principally &
first of all I recommend my Soul unto the hands of God that grant it and as
to what Temporal Blessings it hath pleased the Almighty to Bless me with I give
and dispose of it in the following manner.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Allen, a Negro Wench named
Anness & her increase that now is or may be here after.
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Joyce Langley, a negro Wench named
Jean & her increase that now is or may be hereafter.
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Freeman a Negro Wench
named Bech and her daughter Milley & their increase
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Martha Finch a Negro Girl named
Lydia and her increase
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my daughter Nancy Lenoir a Negro Girl named
Judy and her increase
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Walter Clopton Ballard all my Lands
lying in the County as also a Negro Fellow named Cuffy
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Devereux Ballard a Negro boy named
Harry, and a Bay Mare about one year & five months old and one old Gunn
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Salumith Ballard a Negro Girl named
(illegible) & her increase, one feather bed & furniture, one horse of about
Ten pounds price Virg money & one Womans saddle & Bridle
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my son William Sorrell Ballard a Negro Boy
named Bristol & my small Gunn
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Elizabeth Ballard a Negro
Girl named Jean & her increase, as also a Debt due me John Hyde of Fifty Pounds
Virginia Money & Bond with Interest thereon. And in case the said Elizabeth
Ballard dies before she comes to the age of Twenty One Years, then and in such a
Case my Daughter Salumith Ballard shall have the Negro Girl Jean & her
increase (if any) and the -Debt due from John Hyde shall be divided as follows to Wit
Twenty five pounds to the said Hyde and Twenty five pounds to my Daughter
Martha Finch
I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Ballard a Negro Girl named Cinder
and it is my Will and Desire that my said Wife shall have the Loan of all the
residue of my Estate, and also all my Debts dues & demands whatsoever due to
me from any person of persons during her Natural Life, first paying my funeral
expenses, and all just debts due by me and at her decease everything she has
the loan of to be equally divided among my Children first letting my Sons
Devereux & William take their choice of a Negro a piece
It is my Will & desire that my son Walter C Ballard give unto my Son Wm S
Ballard when he comes of age a Horse of Ten Pounds Virginia Money Value
It is my Will & Desire that in case my Son Walter C Ballard should die
without Heirs Lawfully begotten then the Lands bequested unto him revert to my Son
Devereux Ballard and in case he should die without Heirs Lawfully begotten
then the said lands shall revert to my Son William S Ballard and if he should die
without Heirs Lawfully Begotten then the said Land to be sold and the money
equally divided among my surviving children. - I do hereby Constitute Ordain &
appoint my Beloved Wife Elizabeth Ballard my Executrix and Walter C Ballard &
John Faulcon Exers of this my Last Will & Testament. In Witness Where of I
have here unto set my hand and seal this tenth day of September Anno almer 1774
Signed & Sealed in presence of Wm Lenoir, Edward Finch, & John Hyde. William
Ballard and a mark Halifax (LST?) Febry Court 1775 - Then this Will was
exhibited in Open Court by the Extria and proved by the Oath of John Hyde a
Witness thereto Whereupon the Extrix within named was qualified according to law
& Motion Ordered to be Recorded. Test Jas Montfort C.C.

Birth	Abt 1688	Virginia
Marriage	4 Sep 1711	New Kent County, Virginia - MARY JARRATT
Death	Aft 1758	New Kent County, Virginia

Spouse	MARY JARRATT ( - )
Child	Ann Clopton (1712 - )
Child	William Clopton (1714 - )
Child	Mary Clopton (1716 - )
Child	Walter Clopton (1721 - )
Child	Robert Clopton (1725 - )
Child	Devereaux Clopton (1727 - )
Child	Margaret Clopton (1729 - )
Child	Richard Clopton (1731 - )
Child	BENJAMIN CLOPTON (1733 - 1790)
Child	Naomi Clopton (1735 - )
Child	Walter Clopton (1740 - )

Father	WILLIAM CLOPTON (1655 - 1733)
Mother	ANN BOOTH (1647 - 1716)
Sibling	Ann Clopton (1676 - 1741)
Sibling	Elizabeth Clopton (1682 - )
Sibling	Robert Clopton (1683 - 1747)
Sibling	William Clopton (1685 - 1733)