Margaret Buchanan

b. 29 December 1778, d. 19 February 1853
FatherRobert Buchanan1,2 b. 25 Sep 1747, d. bef Sep 1779
MotherJane Beattie1 b. abt 1760, d. 21 Aug 1814
Birth29 Dec 1778 Margaret Buchanan was born on 29 Dec 1778.3,4,5 
Fath-Death Margaret's father died when she was an infant. Her mother married Mathew Ryburn a year or two later and Margaret grew up with eight half siblings. Margaret's 10th birthday coincided with the birth of her fourth half sister, making a houseful of five young girls. The birth of her half brother Beattie two years later was undoubtedly a welcome event. 
Ward14 Sep 1790 On 14 Sep 1790 William Beattie, Margaret's uncle, was appointed as her guardian. This may have been due to the death of Margaret's grandfather, John Buchanan. John wrote his will in 1776 at which time his son Robert Buchanan was alive (John named Robert in the will). But by 1790 when John's will was probated, Robert was deceased, leaving Margaret as his only heir.6 
Land-Sell17 May 1791  The following Spring William Beattie also represented Margaret in the sale of 366 acres of land to Hugh Johnston. Margaret's father and Hugh had owned a large tract of land together. Following his death, Robert's share passed to Margaret. Lots were drawn to divide the land, with Margaret selling Hugh the upper portion of the tract and Hugh deeding the lower half to Margaret.7,8 
  Portions of this land are still owned by Margaret's descendants. 
Marriage9 Sep 1800 She married Thomas Edmiston, son of Col. William Edmiston and Margaret Montgomery, on 9 Sep 1800 with Rev. Edw. Crawford officiating.9 
Residence  Margaret's niece, Mary Jane Beaty Davis Moffett, writing in the 1870s, stated that Margaret [and Thomas] lived and died "near the old home" and had four children: Buchanan, Margaret, Jane and Eliza.10 
Court Record10 Mar 1821  On 10 Mar 1821 Margaret gave a deposition as a witness for the defense in a chancery case involving the heirs of David Beattie [her uncle]. She spoke about how Mary Beaty [David's widow] came to Margaret's home so her husband, Thomas Edmiston, could write Mary's will for her. After the rest of the family had retired for the night the two women sat up for some time discussing Mary's intended disposition of her property. The resulting deposition bears Margaret's signature [see below].11 
Widowed25 Oct 1822 Margaret was widowed on 25 Oct 1822 when Thomas died at the age of 49.12 
Cens-18501850  The first federal census to record all members of a household by name was enumerated in 1850, 28 years after Thomas's death. Margaret was recorded living in the household of her son Col. Robert Edmondson and his wife, Nancy Beattie.13 
  Although 30 years separated Margaret and her daughter-in-law, the two women were first cousins. Also in the 1850 household was Robert and Nancy's daughter, Margaret Buchanan Edmondson, no doubt named for her grandmother. 
Death19 Feb 1853 Margaret died on 19 Feb 1853 at age 74.14,2 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.14 
 Margaret's third great granddaughter, Carolyn Ryburn, writes the following: "Margaret is buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery beside the first pine tree down the hill from the side of the Presbyterian Church. The tombstone is light brown stone which is broken into three pieces, two of which are against the trunk of the tree. Part of the stone has the following on it:
                         In Memory Of
                          Margaret
                         Consort of
                      __ as Edmondson
                     _____ 29, 1778"
                    
By the summer of 1990 the bottom third of the stone was gone. Carolyn had a small replacement stone set which contains the same information.15 
  Interestingly, at the time of Thomas's death in 1822 the family surname was typically spelled Edmiston, which is the spelling on Thomas's headstone. However, by 1853 most family members used "Edmondson" - hence the spelling on Margaret's stone. 

Related Links and Images:

Margaret's signature from her deposition in Beaty et al vs Clark et al (1821). For details of the lawsuit, including Margarets's deposition, see the Chancery page11
Click here for more information (and pictures) of the home Margaret's son Robert built on the land Margaret inherited from her father Robert Buchanan. Margaret lived in this home during the last years of her life16
Margaret's niece, Mary Jane B. (Davis) Moffett left a journal that included information on the Ryburn and Beattie families. See Mary Jane's Journal to view images. There is also Buchanan information
Margaret's new stone at Old Glade Spring Cemetery (set by Carolyn Ryburn).
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed Margaret as a member of household number 2023. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Thomas Edmiston b. 4 Aug 1773, d. 25 Oct 1822
Children
Last Edited13 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 1. .."my grandmother's maiden name was Jane Beaty married Robert Buchanan of Augusta County VA. He died and she afterward married grandfather Ryburn, she only had one child by Buchanan - Margaret Buchanan.
  2. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; Mr. Colley cites the Washington County Death Register for the year 1853 originally held by the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics and viewed as Library of Virginia microfilm reel #30; entry states: Margaret Edmondson, d. 19 Feb 1853, age 74y 2m 15d, cause not given, d/o Robert & Jane Buchanan, consort of Thomas Edmondson, reported by son, Robert B. Edmondson.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 179. Margaret Edmondson, Consort of Thomas Edmondson, 29 Dec. 1778 - 19 Feb. 1853, age 74y 1m 20d. The date of birth on Margaret's stone has been confirmed to read 29 Dec. rather than the 27 Dec. reported in a descendant's Bible.
  4. [S2352] Document containing names and dates of birth for children of Robert Buchanan Edmiston and Nancy Dysart Beattie; entries in handwriting of their daughter, Mary Elizabeth Beattie (Edmondson) Dickenson (1827-1896); also information on other family members. The entry reads: "Margaret Buchanan daughter[entry is below that of Robert Buchanan] Dec. 29th 1778."
  5. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The Bible included a page with family information apparently copied from other sources. The entries include: "Margaret Buchanan born Dec 27 [sic], 1778."
  6. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 5. William Beatie named guardian of Margaret Buchanan, orphan of Robert Buchanan, deceased. Bond: 600 pounds. Surety: James Duffey.
  7. [S1046] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 1: 201-202. Two deeds dated 17 May, 1791: William Beattie, guardian of Margaret Buchanan, to Hugh Johnson for 5 pounds, 360 acres; also Hugh Johnson to William Beattie, guardian of Margaret Buchanan for 5 pounds, 350 acres on the Middle Fork of the Holston River.
  8. [S1046] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 1: 92. The Washington Co. court ordered the land be partitioned on 10 June 1788. The partition document was recorded 1 Aug 1788.
  9. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 18; grooms name given as Thomas Edmiston, a spelling variation commonly used by the family.
  10. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 8.
  11. [S1039] Deposition of Margaret Edmiston in case of Beaty et al vs Clark et al; Wythe Co., Virginia Superior Ct. of Chancery no. 1821-04-SC. Margaret was a witness for the defendants. Her deposition was taken on 10 March 1821 at the home of John Stewart in Washington Co., Virginia.
  12. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 179. Thomas Edmiston, d. 25 Oct. 1822, age 49y, 2m 21d.
  13. [S367] R.B. Edmondson household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 207 (stamped), dwelling 2023, family 2023, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2005, image 279 of 289. Enumeration includes: R. B. Edmondson, 49, farmer; Thos B. E., 20, farmer; William B., 12; Margaret, 72; Nancy D. 42; Margaret B. 16; Virginia 14; Martin V. 10; Patterson Mountain, 21, blacksmith; all b. VA.
  14. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 179. Margaret Edmondson, Consort of Thomas Edmondson, 29 Dec. 1778 - 19 Feb. 1853, age 74y 1m 20d.
  15. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "Margaret Buchanan family group sheet."
  16. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.