Amanda B. Buchanan1

b. 21 September 1832, d. 13 September 1897
MotherMary G. Buchanan1 b. 11 Jun 1807, d. 6 Jan 1883
Birth21 Sep 1832 Amanda B. Buchanan was born on 21 Sep 1832, probably in Washington County, Virginia.2 
Devisee23 Sep 1842  Amanda's mother appears to have had a close relationship with one Robert Meek of Washington County. Robert wrote his will in the fall of 1842, a few days after Amanda turned ten. The will left Amanda's mother a plantation and $3,000 in personal property. It also left Amanda a plantation Robert had purchased of Charles Meek and $3,000 in personal property, and requested that Amanda be educated at the Female School at Salem, North Carolina for 3 years. The will carried the stipulation that if Amanda married without her mother's consent she would forfeit the land.1 
Guardian27 Nov 1843  Robert Meek's will was probated the following August. In order to protect the considerable estate left to Amanda, Robert Beattie was appointed her guardian on 27 Nov. 1843.3  
5 Sep 1844  Settlement records for Robert Meek's estate list a payment in Sept. 1844 to Robert Beatie as Amanda's guardian which was paid as part of her legacy and which had been directed to be paid in property. It appears this reflects the cost of Amanda's Sept. 1844 purchase of 160 acres.4 
Cens-185022 Aug 1850  By the summer of 1850 Amanda's mother had married Calvin Cunningham, a man 16 years her junior. The 1850 census for Washington County recorded Calvin, a 31 year old farmer, with Mary, 47, and Amanda [enumerated as Cunningham], 17.5 
Marriage5 May 1852 Amanda married Dr. Benjamin D. Gatewood on 5 May 1852 in Johnson County, Texas.6 
Land-Sell9 Jul 1855  Amanda's mother must have approved of the match as Amanda and Benjamin sold 160 acres in Washington County on 9 Jul 1855 The land, which comprised 3 tracts, was noted to have been left to Amanda in the will of Robert Meek. 
Cens-18601860  Benjamin and Amanda quickly added 4 children of their own to the family. They were recorded in Polk County, Tennessee, in 1850 with two older Gatewood children born in Kentucky ("R.M.", 16 and Maria, 14) and the 4 younger ones born in Tennessee (Alice, 7; William, 5; Cate, 3; and Lucretia, 2). Benjamin's entry noted that he was a physician and that he owned personal property valued at $12,000.7 
Migration  In the years following this census enumeration Amanda and Benjamin moved to Johnson County, Texas, where they were enumerated in 1880 living among many other Gatewood family members.8 
Death13 Sep 1897 Amanda died on 13 Sep 1897 at age 64.2 
Burial She was buried at Live Oak Cemetery in Blum, Hill County, Texas.2 

Related Links and Images:

Amanda and Benjamin lived in Johnson County, Texas which can be located on the Texas map (also accessible via the Misc. Locations link in the menu bar at the top of any page).
Last Edited10 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S2615] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. VA Will Book 9 1841-1845, abstracting the will of Robert Meek dated 23 Dec. 1842 and recorded 28 Aug. 1843 in Washington Co. Will Bk 9: 243 which provides for Amanda B. Buchanan, daughter of Mary G. Buchanan.
  2. [S1777] Find A Grave Website (http://www.findagrave.com/index.html : accessed Oct. 2013). Amanda B. Gatewood memorial #8237426, Live Oak Cemetery, Blum, Hill County, Texas (entry includes photo of stone: Amanda B. Gatewood born Sept [not legible; Sept. 21 stated on memorial page] 1932 died Sept. 13, 1897).
  3. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, o, 36, Robert Beatie named guardian of Amanda B. Buchanan, daughter of Mary G. Buchanan. Bond: $6,000 with Absalom Beatie, Hiram A. Griever, James Clark, Samuel Dunn and Madison Beatie surety.
  4. [S2615] Jack Hockett, Washington Co. VA Will Book 9 1841-1845, abstracting the settlement record of Robert Meek recorded 27 Feb. 1845 in Washington Co. Will Bk 9: 391.
  5. [S367] Calvin Cunningham household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 108 stamped, dwelling 621, family 621, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2013. Household includes: Calvin Cunningham, 31, farmer, owns land worth $1,700; Mary, 47; Amanda, 17; all b. VA.
  6. [S2176] "Johnson Co. Tennessee Marriage License Records", Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002, digital images, Ancestry.com (www.Ancestry.com : accessed Oct. 2013), entry for ___a [smudged] B. Buchanan to Benjamin D. Gatewood, license issued and returned 5 May 1852.
  7. [S3262] B.D. Gatewood household, 1860 U.S. cens, Polk Co., TN, pop. sched., 3rd District, p. 60, dwelling 419, family 419, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2013. Household includes: B.D. Gatewood, 40, physician, owns personal property of $12,000, b. KY; Amanda, 26, b. VA; R.M., 16, b. KY; Maria, 14, b. KY; Alice, 7, b. TN; William, 5, b. TN; Cate, 3, b. TN; Lucretia, 2, b. TN; Nathan Rollins, 16, farm hand, b. TN.
  8. [S1811] Benj D. Gatewood household, 1880 U.S. cens., Johnson Co., Texas, pop sched., District 82, ED 82, page 4D, dwelling 31, family 31, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2013. Household includes: Benj D. Gatewood, 61, farmer, b. KY/VA/VA; Amanda B., 47, wife, b. VA/VA/VA; Amanda, 14, dau, b. TX/KY/VA; Robert E., 13, son, b. TX/ KY/ VA; household 33 in same dwelling: William Gatewood, 26, son, b. TN/KY/VA; Millie E., 18, dau-in-law, b. TX/TN/NC; Mary Cunningham, 72, mother-in-law, wid or div, b. VA/VA/VA; Millburn Jones, 23, laborer, b. Ark.