William Ballantyne was born about 1824 in Scotland to John and Janet Turnbull Ballantyne. (The 1870 and 1880 Bandera County, Texas census shows him to be born about 1824).

His family joined the Latter Day Saints in Scotland and came to the U.S. on the ship Tyrian landing in New Orleans in 1841. They went up the Mississippi River to Nauvoo, Illinois where the Mormans had a settlement and built a temple.

After Joseph Smith was murdered the church split with some going with Brigham Young to Utah and some with Lyman Wight to Texas. William went to Texas.

William was married either in Scotland or at Nauvoo as they lost a child on the overland trip to Texas (documented in the Journal of History, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints "Pioneer Trails Across Iowa," page 55) in the archive department at the Family History Center, Salt Lake, Utah.

The Mormons lived in several counties in Texas building grist and sawmills and building the first jail at Austin. William's father died while they were at Austin and is buried on a hill that is now a part of the capitol grounds. They finally settled in Medina, Bandera County, Texas where William was shown in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 census.

A niece, Jenette Bell, lived with William and it is said she had 3 children by him - Helen (Ellen) born June 21, 1869, Hannah and Hattie (twins) born March 4, 1873. No marriage record was found. Births show her as the mother; father not listed. Hannah died Sept. 24, 1953 and her death certificate shows her father as William (no last name) and mother's name not shown.

William was appointed guardian of his sister Jane and Abram Moncur's three minor children (Jennet, Jeremie and Mormona) during the court session of March Term A.D. 1860, Bandera County, Texas.

William's death date and burial site are not known, however, there was a Ballantyne Ranch in Bandera County where Mormona (Morgan) Moncur is buried. It is probable William is buried there too. He is not listed in the Bandera Cemetery.