Jane Ryburn

b. 8 December 1784 or 9 December 1784, d. 17 November 1858
FatherMathew Ryburn1,2 b. 26 Aug 1753, d. 6 Mar 1818
MotherJane Beattie1 b. abt 1760, d. 21 Aug 1814
Birth8 Dec 1784 or 9 Dec 1784 Jane Ryburn was born December 8th or 9th, 1784.3,4,5,6 
Legatee22 Feb 1818 When Jane's father Mathew Ryburn wrote his will in February 1818, Jane was not yet married. Perhaps anticipating that she might remain single, Mathew stipulated that Jane's younger brother Mathew Jr. was to provide for her. Mathew also left her his bureau, three beds and "necessary" furniture. In addition she was given three milch cows, her choice of the horses, six sheep, six windsor chairs, a Negro boy Bill, silver tea spoons, and one half of the cupboard and kitchen furniture.2 
Marriage9 Apr 1820 She married John Davis, son of (?) Davis, on 9 Apr 1820 in Washington County, Virginia.7 
 Jane was 35 and John was forty-two. Jane's younger sister, Sarah, was married to John's twin brother William. 
Residence  John and Jane lived in Washington County about 8 miles from her old home.8 
  Census records suggest their land may have been in that part of Washington County which became Smyth County in 1832. 
Widowed1829 Nine years after their marriage Jane was widowed when John died of dropsey. Jane did not remarry but raised her three daughters on the family farm. 
Cens-18301830  It appears that she had significant help as there were eight slaves living with her in 1830.9 
Cens-18401840  That number had risen to eleven in 1840; six people in the household were engaged in agriculture.10 
Cens-185022 Jul 1850  By 1850 Jane was living with her daughter Eleanor and son-in-law James Porterfield.11 
  It is not clear if Jane was living in their home or if they were living with her. 
Death17 Nov 1858 Jane died on 17 Nov 1858.12,4 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 
Probate Recd11 Dec 1858 Jane's estate was inventoried and appraised in December 1858 by Robert Clark, Arthur Hutton and William Spier. The list included 3 beds, assorted small household items, a lot of books and six slaves. An accompanying sale bill indicated that James Porterfield purchased Jane's personal and household items.13 
Probate Recd  Settlement records filed in Washington county court in 1860 and 1864 listed the value of the estate at around $5,800, all but $60 of which came from the sale of Jane's slaves. Expenses included $5.00 for a coffin, $25.00 for a set of gravestones and $2.00 to bring the stones from Lynchburg. The bulk of the estate was divided between three people: Philip Kesnor [husband of daughter Jane], James Porterfield [husband of daughter Eleanor] and Abraham Moffett [husband of Jane's deceased daughter, Sarah].14,15 

Related Links and Images:

Jane's niece, Mary Jane B. (Davis) Moffett left a journal in which she included information on the Ryburn, Beattie and Davis families. See Mary Jane's Journal for images and transcriptions.
Jane's stone was broken at it's base by the 2011 tornado that tore through Old Glade Spring Cemetery. The first photo shows the stone in 2009, the second stone shows it after the hurricane and the third stone shows it being repaired.
Jane's stone in forefront of photo with Old Glade Spring Church in the background. Brother Beattie Ryburn's stone on right in photo (run cursor over stones on right side of photo).
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

John Davis b. Apr 1778, d. abt 1829
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited15 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 8. Children of Mathew Ryburn and Jane his wife: Elen, Mary, Jane, Sarah, Beaty (oldest son), Ann, Nancy, and Mathew (youngest son).
  2. [S131] Mathew Ryburn will (22 Feb. 1818), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 4: 234-235. Lists sons Beatie and Mathew Ryburn, also daughters: Jane Ryburn, Ann Ryburn, Sarah Davis, Nancy Buchanan (mentions her husband as James Buchanan), Eleanor Nichol and Mary McNeille.
  3. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 18. Birthdate calculated from date of death and age as recorded in journal (17 Nov. 1858 at age 73yrs 11 mos 9 days) is 8 Dec. 1784.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 179. Stone reported to read: Jane Davis, d. 17 Nov. 1858, age 78y 11m 8d; however in Sept 2000 the author (D. Powell) viewed Jane's stone and found that it actually read 73 years 11m 8d. This computes to a birthdate of 9 Dec. 1784.
  5. [S2648] Mathew Ryburn Family Record, handwritten copy, original held in 2011 by Carolyn Ryburn, Glade Spring, Virginia. Entry reads: "Jean Ryburn was born Dec 8th 1784."
  6. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton was the great nephew of Jane Ryburn. He states that Gene Ryburn was born 8 [6? hard to read] Dec. 1785; information is not sourced.
  7. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 16. John Davis and Jane Ryburn, 9 Apr 1820; minister Alexander McEwen.
  8. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 8.
  9. [S578] Jane Davis household, 1830 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 230 (right hand page), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 32 of 59. Enumeration includes: 3 females 5-10; 1 female 40-50; 8 slaves.
  10. [S1049] Jane Davis household, 1840 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, p. 389 (right hand page), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2004, image 16 of 59. Enumeration includes: 3 females 15-20; 1 female 50-60; 2 free adults of color (1 male, 1 female); 11 slaves (6 people engaged in agriculture; 17 total persons in household).
  11. [S465] James C. Porterfield household, 1850 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sched., District 60, p. 165 (stamped), dwelling 121, family 123, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2004, image 19 of 169. James C. Porterfield, 28, farmer, $4,000; Eleanor 28; Jane Davis, 64; all b. VA.
  12. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 18.
  13. [S826] Jane Davis inventory and sale (1858), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 14: 401. James Porterfield, administrator.
  14. [S851] Jane Davis inventory and sale (1860), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 15: 160. James Porterfield, administrator.
  15. [S852] Jane Davis settlement (1864), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 16: 190. James Porterfield, administrator.