Eliza Elizabeth Maiden1

b. 29 February 1820, d. 12 February 1904
FatherJohn Maiden2 b. 16 Jan 1797, d. 20 May 1862
MotherSusanna Landis2 b. 6 May 1799, d. 28 Mar 1850
Birth-Calc29 Feb 1820 Eliza Elizabeth Maiden was born in Augusta County, Virginia, on 29 Feb 1820 calculated from the information on her headstone.3,4 
Marriage25 Feb 1836 She married first Richard Wesley Butt, son of Richard Butt and Margaret Black, on 25 Feb 1836 in Botetourt County, Virginia. Richard was known by his middle name. Eliza was 15, 4 days shy of her 16th birthday.1 
  The following year Eliza's brother William would marry Wesley's sister Rebecca. 
Cens-18401840  Four years after their marriage "Westley" Butt was enumerated as the head of a family in Botetourt County. Besides an adult male and an adult female, the census recorded 2 children under 5 (a male and a female).5 
Migration Eliza and Richard migrated further south to Washington County, probably in the early 1840s. Eliza's parents and all but 1 of her siblings made the move in 1843. Eliza and Wesley settled on land in the southern part of the county whereas her parents settled on land near present day Shortsville (northeast of Abingdon).1,6 
Court Record23 Apr 1849  Wesley died in February 1847, and on April 23rd, 1849 the Washington County (Virginia) court appointed William Maiden [Eliza's brother] as guardian of her 6 children.7 
Cens-185019 Sep 1850  Later that summer the 1850 census was enumerated - the first census to record all members of a household. Eliza was listed at age 32 [actually 30], living on her own with 6 children.8,9 
Land-Sell26 Sep 1852  Judging by the 1850 census, Eliza tried to keep her farm going on her own which must have been very difficult, especially since she was not living near any of her brothers. On Sept. 26, 1852 her land was sold. It is quite likely that with Eliza's mother having died in 1850 Eliza and her children returned to her father's household on Maiden Creek.10 
Marriage27 Apr 1854 She married second John Lowrey Caldwell, son of Robert Caldwell and Jane Lowrey, on 27 Apr 1854 in Washington County, Virginia.4 
27 Apr 1854 She was 34 and he was 50. 
Cens-186025 Jun 1860 Six years after their marriage Eliza and John were enumerated in Washington County. John, age 55, was employed as the superintendant of the poor house. He owned property valued at $3,000 and personal property worth $1,000. Eliza's three youngest children from her first marriage (Jane Butt 17, Sarah Butt 16 and Fletcher Butt 14) were still at home. Eliza and John had added 2 children of their own by 1860: Laura (4) and Robert (3).11 
Land-Buy  Eliza's father died in 1862 after which his land was divided among his heirs. A series of transactions recorded these divisions, as well as subsequent purchases between the heirs. Eliza and John purchased several tracts including the one that included her parents brick home.12,13 
  Like so many families, the Civil War and it's aftermath was a time of great tragedy for Eliza and her family. Both her son Fletcher and her son-in-law William Thompson were captured while fighting for the Confederacy. Both died of dysentery while held in a federal prison at Elmira, New York. Four of Eliza's brothers saw service with the 48th Virginia Infantry, including her youngest brother Noah, who was seriously injured. Eliza's daughter Eliza Jane died in June 1866. Eliza's grandson Samuel Thompson died in 1862, followed by his mother, Eliza's daughter Mary Ann, in 1870. John and Eliza are also believed to have lost a child in infancy, and premature twins as well. The families of Eliza's siblings also sufferered, losing several young children to illness during the 1860s. 
Land-Sell6 Oct 1876  John and Eliza also suffered financially. By the fall of 1876 they were seriously in debt resulting in the sale of their land by a Commisioner of the Circuit Court. George Litchfield purchased the 153 acres on which the couple lived, however in exchange for Eliza's release of her dower rights to the land Litchfield and his wife deeded Eliza 21 acres in her own name which was not to be encumbered by John's debts and which Eliza was free to sell or leave to her heirs. Although not so stated in the deed, it appears the parcel included the brick house.14 
Cens-188014 Jun 1880  In 1880 John and Eliza were enumerated farming in the Saltville District of the county. Four of Eliza's brothers lived nearby; they all would have been living in the vicinity of Maiden Creek. Besides John and Eliza the household included Sarah Butt (36), and three Caldwell children: Maggie (24), Robert (23) and James (18).15 
Widowed13 Sep 1883  Eliza was widowed for a second time when John died on 13 Sep 1883. 
Cens-19007 Jun 1900  She then made her home with her daughter Maggie and Maggie's husband, Charles Maiden [who was the son of Eliza's brother John]. The 1900 census listed Eliza as the mother of 9 children, 6 of whom were living.16 
Death12 Feb 1904 Eliza died on 12 Feb 1904 at age 83.3 
Burial She was buried at Maiden Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Eliza as the head of household number 1472. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family 1

Richard Wesley Butt b. 1810, d. Feb 1847
Children

Family 2

John Lowrey Caldwell b. 29 Feb 1804, d. 13 Sep 1883
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Maiden and Susanna Landis
Last Edited19 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 635-45.
  2. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 596. Many items cited in Mrs. Rollin's work establish the names of John and Susanna Maiden's children who survived to adulthood, including Washington Co. VA Deed Book 26:1-11 which includes the partition of John's land after his death.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 128. Stone reported to read: Eliza E. Caldwell, d. 12 Feb. 1904, age 83y 11m 14d.
  4. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 45. Record abstracted as: John Lowrey Caldwell, 53y, sgl, b. WCV, farmer, s/o Robert & Jane Caldwell AND Elizabeth Butt, 30y, wid, b. Augusta Co., VA, d/o John & Susan Maden [sic]; date: 27 Apr 1854.
  5. [S1850] Westley Butt household, 1840 U.S. cens., Botetourt Co., Virginia, p. 294 (on next image which is second half of census page, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 79 of 96. Westley Butt head of family; 1 male under 5; 1 male 20-29; 1 female under 5; 1 female 30-39.
  6. [S1616] Joanna Owens, "Civil War Maidens," e-mail to Diana Powell, 13 Oct. 2007. Joanna lists John W. Butt as born in 1840 in Washington County. If that is accurate Richard and Eliza Butt moved south before her parents.
  7. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 42. William L. Maiden named guardian of Mary Ann, William A., John W., Eliza Jane, Sarah S. and Samuel F., orphans of Richard Butt, dec'd; bond: $1,200 with sureties Rignal Butt and John Maden [Maiden]; Apr 23, 1849.
  8. [S367] Eliza Butt household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. aft 168 stamped, dwelling 1472, family 1472, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 202 of 289. Household includes: Eliza Butt, 32; Mary 15; James (an unknown value) A. 13; John 11; Jane 9; Sarah 7; Samuel 5; all b. VA.
  9. [S16] An evaluation of Eliza's neighborhood in 1850 reveals that she was living in the southern most part of Washington County. Several nearby households (Nancy Buchanan, Benjamin Zimmerman, Mahlon Susong, Pleasant Carmack) are known to have been located in or near Bristol and/or along the Virginia-Tennessee border.
  10. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 636. Mrs. Rollins cites Washington Co. Deed Bk 21:192.
  11. [S234] John S. Calwell [sic] household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 66 (original script), dwelling 460, family 449, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 68 of 361. Household includes: John S. Calwell [sic], 55, Supt of Poor House, owns prop val at $3,000 and pers. prop of $1,000; Elizabeth, 40; Laura, 4; Robert, 3; Jane Butt, 17; Sarah Butt, 16; Fletcher Butt, 14; all b. VA.
  12. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 636.
  13. [S3266] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 32, 1875-1877, abstracting Deed Bk 32, p. 385: 1 Feb 1864 Morgan U. Maiden & Mary E., his wife to John L. Caldwell, all WCV, for $2,110, 6 acres on waters Findlay's or Mobley's Creek, including brick house formerly owned by John Maiden, dec'd.
  14. [S3266] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 32, 1875-1877, abstracting Deed Bk 32, p. 455: 6 Oct. 1876, John L. Caldwell & Eliza E., his wife to George V. Litchfield all of WCV, 21 1/4 acres from larger parcel of 153 acres formerly belonging to John L. Caldwell and which was sold by a Commissioner of the Circuit Ct. to Litchfield.
  15. [S163] John Caldwell household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 99, p. 34B, dwelling 306, family 313. Oct. 2007, image 34 of 63. Household includes: John Caldwell, 77, farmer; Eliza, 60, wife; Sarah S. Butts, 36, dau; Maggie Caldwell, 24, dau; cont. next page: Robert F. Caldwell, 23, son, farm laborer; James M., 18, son, farm laborer; Mary B., granddau, 6; all b. VA.
  16. [S634] Charles E. Maiden household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 122, sheet 6A (p. 296 stamped), dwelling 63, family 63, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 11 of 53. Household includes: Charles E. Maiden, 48, b. Aug. 1851, marr 17 yrs, employed at "job work"; Maggie L., wife, 44, b. Jan. 1856, marr 17 yrs mother of 4 children, 3 are living; Oscar L., son, 1_, b. Feb. 1885, day laborer; Emma V., dau, 10, b. Jan. 1890; Bessie L., dau, 4, b. Mch 1896; Elli_ E. Caldwell, M in law, 80, wid. b. Feb. 1820, mother of 9 children, 6 living; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  17. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 637-645. Mrs. Rollins cites Dr. Joanna (Maiden) Owens for her information on the descendants of Eliza (Maiden) Butt Caldwell (with the exception of son Addison).