Mathew Ryburn

b. 25 June 1797, d. 16 June 1836
FatherMathew Ryburn1,2 b. 26 Aug 1753, d. 6 Mar 1818
MotherJane Beattie1 b. abt 1760, d. 21 Aug 1814
Birth25 Jun 1797 Mathew Ryburn was most likely born on 25 Jun 1797 in Virginia although several printed records use variations on the date.3,4,5,6,7,8,9 
Military1815  During the closing days of the War of 1812 (Feb. 1815) Mathew served as a private under Capt. James Orr with the 70th Virginia Militia (Bradley's Regiment). A notation on the muster roll notes that he was a substitute for Beatie Ryburn. In later years he was elected Captain of the "Troop of Cavalry" of the 70th Regiment (the Washington Co. militia unit).10,11 
Devisee22 Feb 1818 Mathew's father, Mathew Sr., wrote his will in February of 1818. He left Mathew and his brother Beattie the land on which the family had been living, to be divided between them. Mathew also was willed a Negro man named Frank, two horses, a wagon, three milch cows, six sheep, all the hogs, two beds and furniture, a cupboard and one half of the cupboard and kitchen furniture, as well as all the farming tools. The two brothers were jointly appointed executors of their father's will.2 
Marriage1 Sep 1819 He married Martha Orr, daughter of James Orr and Mary Carson, probably on 1 Sep 1819 in Washington County, Virginia. A family record reported the date as the second.12,13,14 
Court Record21 Mar 1821 On 21 Mar 1821 Mathew and Beattie Ryburn gave a joint deposition in the case of Beaty et al vs Clark et al. This was a chancery suit brought by [their cousin] James Beattie against his siblings and their spouses. The depostion was brief; Mathew and Beattie offered an opinion that the land James Beaty [Beattie] received in his father's will was less valuable than the land left to James's brother David. Mathew and Beattie stated they had been raised within a mile of the premises and were well acquainted with the land and its improvements. They also stated that on the Sunday before James Beaty started [to Missouri] they walked with him "from meeting" and discussed whether James had "brought suit" [see Mathew's signature below].15 
Cens-Sum Mathew was enumerated as the head of a household in Washington County on both the 1820 and 1830 censuses prior to his death in 1836.16,17 
Death16 Jun 1836  Mathew died "on the homestead" on 16 Jun 1836 at age 38.18,19,20 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.18 
Probate Recd28 Nov 1842 The first settlement record for Mathew's estate was filed by James Orr in Washington County, Virginia, on 28 Nov 1842. It listed income of $1,254 from the sale of Mathew's personal property. Payments were made on various accounts due and notes owed, including $6 to Jonthan Leech for a coffin. There was also a $57 payment to Beatie Ryburn and Nancy Buchanan as guardians of the children of James Buchanan for a note and interest due.21 
Probate Recd28 Dec 1846 A final settlement was filed on 28 Dec 1846 by Moses Orr who had taken over as administrator. In addition to the typical court and legal fees a series of payments were made to Mathew's heirs. Claiborne Shugart, as guardian of Mathew's two underage sons (William B. and Mathew Jr.) was paid $61 for each boy. Claiborne also received another $61 share "in right of his wife". As was customary for the time, the husbands of Mathew's other daughters also received their wives shares. Hence $61 payments were made to James H. Buchanan and Robert H. Henderson. Mathew's son James received his $61 share but he also received $183 which represented his mother's dower share of Mathew's estate. James had "bought out" his mother's dower rights when she remarried.22 
 Though the Ryburns were typically farmers, a surprising number of Mathew's descendants (or their husbands) worked on the railroad in the last half of the 1800s and early 1900s. The husbands of two of Mathew's granddaughters (Daniel McNew and Thomas Taylor) were enumerated as locomotive engineers in 1870. Mathew's grandson, Mathew Ryburn Shugart (he was also the husband of one of Mathew's granddaughters) died in an 1889 train accident. At least 6 great grandsons also worked on the railroad (Charles and Benjamin Hutton, James and Joseph McNew, Benjamin Ryburn-McNew, and William T. Taylor) and 2 of them would die in train accidents as well. 

Research Comment:

Early Southwest Virginia Families, in its list of children for Mathew and Martha, inserted a comma between the words Jane and Beattie. This has led to some confusion over whether there was a separate child named Beattie. However, there does not appear to be any other record documenting his existance. Jane is listed later in the same source as Jane Beattie Ryburn so it appears the comma was inserted in error in the earlier mention of her name.23

Related Links and Images:

Mathew's signature from his deposition in Beaty et al vs Clark et al (1821). For details of the lawsuit, including Mathew's deposition, see the Chancery page15
Typed page from Redmond Cole collection headed: "From old Bible of ______ copied Aug. 21, 1930". Data is credited to John Clark Ryburn of Glade Spring, Virginia. There is also mention of an old family bible held by John's sister, Maggie Ryburn. John and Maggie were grandchildren of Mathew Ryburn and Martha Orr. It is not clear how much of the material on the typed page came from the Bible and which comments were added by John C. Ryburn and/or Mr. Cole. In particular, note that ____ Henderson is noted as the husband of Mary C. Ryburn. In actuality he was the husband of Minerva Ryburn who was listed beneath Mary on the list of children. The attached image has been resized for the web. If anyone would like the original file please email me.20
Mathew's niece, Mary Jane B. (Davis) Moffett left a journal in which she included information on the Ryburn and Beattie families. See Mary Jane's Journal for images
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Martha Orr b. 29 May 1800, d. 16 Feb 1865
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited29 Mar 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. [S1830] Typed notes on Ryburn family, "R" Misc. File (folder #82), The Redmond S. and Mary Cole Collection, Family History Library. Sheet includes data credited to John Clark Ryburn of Glade Spring which was reported to be copied from an old bible on Aug. 21, 1930. A bible in the possession of John's sister Maggie Ryburn is also mentioned. It is inferred, but not specifically stated, that this is the bible from which the data was taken. The data pertains to Mathew Ryburn, Martha Orr, and their children. Mathew's birthdate was reported as 25 June 1797.
  4. [S2648] Mathew Ryburn Family Record, handwritten copy, original held in 2011 by Carolyn Ryburn, Glade Spring, Virginia. Entry reads: "Mathew Ryburn was born June 25th 1797. "
  5. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton was the great nephew of Mathew Ryburn. He reported his date of birth as 25 June 1797 but did not provide his source.
  6. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 186. Mathew Ryburn, 25 Jun 1795-16 Jun 1836 (Redmond Cole record). This cannot be correct, as his sister Nancy was born in January 1795. It is odd that this date is credited to Redmond Cole since his own records use 25 Jun 1797.
  7. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 2. Mathew's date of birth recorded as 25 Jan 1797.
  8. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 104. Mathew's date of birth listed as 25 Jan 1797 (probably contributed by Ms Peggy Shugart).
  9. [S29] Leonidas Littleton Papers titled "Ryburn Family". This source states that Mathew was born 2 Jan 1797.
  10. [S2137] Compiled Service Record, Mathew Ryburn, Private, James Orr Company, 70th Virginia Militia ("Bradley's Regiment"), Cavalry, War of 1812, Record Group 94, National Archives, Washington D.C.
  11. [S725] Gerald Clark, The Militia of Washington Co., Virginia, p. 51.
  12. [S149] Washington Co., VA Marriage Register 1 & 2 (transcribed), p. 285. The date listed in the transcribed register is 1 Sept. 1819.
  13. [S2390] William R. Wheeler, Minister's Returns 1785-1832 Washington Co., Virginia Vol. 1A, p. 122. Rev. McEwen reported the date of marriage as Sept. 1, 1819.
  14. [S1830] Typed notes on Ryburn family, "R" Misc. File (folder #82), The Redmond S. and Mary Cole Collection, Family History Library. Sheet includes data credited to John Clark Ryburn of Glade Spring which was reported to be copied from an old bible on Aug. 21, 1930. A bible in the possession of John's sister Maggie Ryburn is also mentioned. It is inferred, but not specifically stated, that this is the bible from which the data was taken. The data pertains to Mathew Ryburn, Martha Orr, and their children. This record lists the marriage date as September 2, 1819.
  15. [S1039] Deposition of Beattie and Mathew Ryburn in case of Beaty et al vs Clark et al; Wythe Co., Virginia Superior Ct. of Chancery no. 1821-04-SC. Beattie and Mathew were witnesses for the plaintiff. Their deposition was taken on 21 Sept 1821 at the house of Major Thomas Edmiston in Washington County, Virginia.
  16. [S621] Mathew Ryburn household, 1820 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 35 (976 in added script, 227 stamped at bottom of page), viewed online at Ancestry.com, Mathew Ryburn; 1 male (0-9), 1 male (16-25); 1 female (10-15) [ probably an error on part of enumerator as Martha was 20 years old]; 1 male slave (45+), 1 female slave (0-13).
  17. [S578] Mathew Ryburn household, 1830 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 278, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Mathew Ryburn, 1 male (10-14), 1 male (20-29), 1 male (30-39); 1 female (0-4), 2 females (5-9), 1 female (20-29); 1 male slave (55-99), 1 female slave (0-9), 1 female slave (10-23).
  18. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 186. Mathew Ryburn, 25 Jun 1795-16 Jun 1836 (Redmond Cole record).
  19. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 9 (location).
  20. [S1830] Typed notes on Ryburn family, "R" Misc. File (folder #82), The Redmond S. and Mary Cole Collection, Family History Library. Sheet includes data credited to John Clark Ryburn of Glade Spring which was reported to be copied from an old bible on Aug. 21, 1930. A bible in the possession of John's sister Maggie Ryburn is also mentioned. It is inferred, but not specifically stated, that this is the bible from which the data was taken. The data pertains to Mathew Ryburn, Martha Orr, and their children.
  21. [S268] Mathew Ryburn settlement (recorded 1842), Washington Co., VA Will Book 9: 160. James Orr administrator (probably Mathew Ryburn's father-in-law).
  22. [S668] Mathew Ryburn settlement (recorded 1846), Washington Co., VA Will Book 10: 160. Moses Orr administrator (probably Mathew Ryburn's brother-in-law).
  23. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 104.
  24. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 318. Parents listed as Mathew and Margaret Ryburn. However, this is an error; his mother was Martha Orr Ryburn.
  25. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 9. Mathew Ryburn Jr. married Patsy Orr, lived & died on the homestead had 5 children: James, Jane, Mary, Mathew, William.
  26. [S17] "Smyth Co. Deaths with Washington Co. Births", p. 9. Jane Buchanan, d. 5 Apr 1868 [or 9?], Cove Creek, consumption, 45, d/o Mathew & Martha Ryburn, b. WCV, James H. Buchanan, husband.
  27. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 33. Claiborne S. Shugart named guardian of Jane B., Minerva C., Mathew B. and William B. Ryburn, orphans of Mathew Ryburn, deceased. Bond: $8,000. Sureties: Moses C. Orr and Arthur Hutton.
  28. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 102-6.
  29. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 318. Mathew Ryburn, 24y, sgl, b. & resid Wash. Co. VA, farmer, s/o Mathew and Martha Ryburn AND Martha Harvey Clark, 26y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John & Mary Clark; 20 Dec. 1855.