Jane Ballantyne was born July 11, 1822 in Scotland to John and Janet Turnbull Ballantyne. Her family joined the Latter Day Saints in Scotland and came to the U.S. on the ship Tyrian that landed in New Orleans in 1841. They went up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo, Illinois where the Mormons had settled and built a temple.

Jane was married to Abraham (Abram) Moncur July 14, 1843 at Nauvoo, Illinois. After their marriage they moved to Black River, Wisconsin a little above the town of LaCrosse. Abram worked for the Black River Lumber Company under the leadership of Lyman Wight. Their first child, Jennet, was born at Black River on May 17, 1844.

Because the Mormons were not well accepted in the east Lyman Wight organized a group of about 150 followers and headed for Texas arriving in November, 1845. They spent time in Grayson County, Travis County and then moved to a new location in Gillespie County four miles below Fredericksburg and built a community called Zodiac.

Two children were born to Abram and Jane at Zodiac, a daughter, Jenemie in 1848 and a son, A. Mormona (Morgan) in 1849. In 1851 the group moved to an area on Hamilton Creek that later became a part of Burnet County. The last child of Abram and Jane, Corolona, was born in Burnet County on February 28, 1852.

Less than a month later, on March 25, 1852, Jane died. She was buried in the Old Mormon Cemetery. Corolona died on January 9, 1853 and was buried beside Jane.

Abram went with the colony when they left Burnet County arriving and settling in Bandera County, Texas. After the Lyman Wight colony disbanded in 1858, Abram and his three children stayed in Bandera. He died the latter part of 1859 and is buried in Bandera. Jane's brother, William Ballantyne, received guardianship of the three children.

Jennet married George W. Lewis in Bandera on November 12, 1863 and died March 5, 1912 in Bandera. Jenemie married Richard E. Bird in Bandera on December 30, 1865. In 1880 they lived in Cherokee County, Kansas. Mormona (Morgan) remained single. He died June 13, 1918 and was buried on the old Ballantyne Ranch.

Information on Jane was taken from a written family history on Jane and her husband, Abram. Marriage from an LDS film.