William McNeal Ryburn1

b. 1 December 1814, d. 16 July 1891
FatherBeattie Ryburn2,3 b. 11 Nov 1790, d. 3 May 1851
MotherJane Ryburn2,4 b. abt 1795, d. 1830
Birth1 Dec 1814 William McNeal Ryburn was born on 1 Dec 1814.5 
 William was probably named in honor of his uncle, William McNeill, who married Beattie Ryburn's sister Mary, in 1804. William McNeill's name appears under several spellings in the early records, including McNeal.6 
MarriageMar 1837 He married his second cousin Jane Beattie B. Fullen, daughter of Andrew E. Fullen and Mary Buchanan, on either March 8th or 9th, 1837 in Washington County, Virginia.7,8 
Guardian1839 Two years after his marriage to Jane, William was named guardian of her younger sister, Isabella Fullen.9 
  Jane and Isabella's parents were both deceased. 
Cens-18401840 In their first years together William and Jane appear to have lived with William's father and stepmother.10 
Cens-18509 Aug 1850  But by 1850 they had established their own household on neighboring property in the vicinity of Glade Spring in Washington County. There the census taker enumerated William, age 34, Jane, age 33, and their children Mary, America, Adalaid and Levinia. Their son, Whitley Fullen Ryburn was born the month after the census taker visited the family. William's occupation, on this and all later census records, was listed as "farmer."11 
Fath-Death3 May 1851 William's father died on May 3rd, 1851 . By the terms of his will Beattie inherited all his father's lands; he was to pay his four sisters each $500. Beattie also named William as his exectuor but when the will was recorded in court William refused to execute and Robert Edmondson was appointed in his place.3 
Land26 May 1851 On May 26, 1851, when the will was recorded Beattie's widow, William's stepmother, received her dower share in Beattie's lands. She received a little over 70 acres which included all the buildings. However William was to have the house he occupied, as well as the south half of the old barns and other items.12 
Land-Sell29 Jan 1859 On 29 Jan 1859 William sold 3 acres that had been part of his father's farm to James Buchanan for $300.13 
Land-Buy31 Jan 1859 Two days later William bought a 4 3/4 acre parcel of land near the Glade Spring Depot and near his own stable. One side paralleled the Saltworks Railroad.14 
Cens-18601860 When the 1860 census was enumerated the makeup of William's family had changed significantly. His wife, Jane, had apparently died in the intervening years as she was not listed with the family. Mary, the eldest daughter, had married in 1858 and been widowed shortly thereafter. By 1860 she was again living at home where she undoubtedly was helping her father with her younger siblings.15 
Cens-1860- Agric  The 1860 census also included an agricultural schedule. William's entry listed him as the owner of 150 acres of improved land and 107 acres of unimproved land. He grew wheat, Indian corn and oats, and raised horses, cows and pigs. Unlike many of his neighbors he did not raise sheep or grow Irish potatoes.16 
 At some point after 1860 Hattie Flourney joined the household as a housekeeper. 
Marriage2 Jun 1870 He married second Harriet T. Flournoy, daughter of John J. Flourney and Permelia W. (?), on 2 Jun 1870 in Washington County, Virginia. He was 55 and she was 27.17,18 
Cens-18703 Oct 1870  The official census date in 1870 was June 1st which was the day before their wedding. However, the census taker did not make it to their home until early October. Following the census rules, he enumerated the household as it stood on census day, June first, which meant that William and Hattie's marriage was not indicated in the census statistics.19,20 
Cens-1880Jun 1880 Ten years later they were recorded living near Glade Spring with their four young children, Pamelia, James, Lucy and William. William Sr. was 65 years old.21 
Residence  The family residence was located near what is now Old Mill Road, however in the days William and his family lived there the road did not exist. The home was accessed via a lane that ran out to Glade Spring - Saltville Rd. (alternately called Saltville Rd. or the Saltville Turnpike; now called Forest Hill Drive).22,23 
Land-Sell26 Nov 1888  In 1888 William and Hattie sold 18 acres to Mrs. Phoebe Smyth. The land was between the Saltville Rd and the railroad. Ironically, William's grandson, Edward, would later buy back the same land and live on it himself.24 
  William donated a portion of his land holdings for the purpose of establishing the cemetery where he was later buried. 
Will28 Mar 1891 William wrote his will on March 28th, 1891, about four months before his death. In it he left his "home place" to his wife Hattie and her four children who he named as Mittie, Battie, Lucie (Lucy in a later reference) and William Ryburn. He also left William a half interest in his Locus Cove land. The remaining half interest was to be divided among William's "other five children" who he again named: America Buchanan, Mary Jane Byars, Addlode [sic] Carmack, Lavina [sic] Ryan, and W. F. Ryburn.25 
Death16 Jul 1891 William died on 16 Jul 1891 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 76 of rheumatism.26 
Burial He was buried in Old Baptist Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia.27 

Related Links and Images:

William's headstone
Other interments in Old Baptist Cemetery
Deed to James S. Buchanan
Deed from Lilburn and Rachel Porterfield
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed William as the head of household number 359. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family 1

Jane Beattie B. Fullen b. 23 Aug 1815, d. bef 1859
Children

Family 2

Harriet T. Flournoy b. 14 Feb 1844, d. 1919
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited30 Jan 2013

Citations

  1. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 6 May 2004.
  2. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 9. Beaty and Jane had 5 children - William, Jane, Martha, Amanda and Sarah.
  3. [S653] Beatie Ryburn will (1851), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 12: 94. The will was dated 30 Apr 1851 and recorded in court on 26 May 1851. Witnesses were R.B. Edmondson, Robert Clark, and James O. Ryburn.
  4. [S537] Hutton Family Data, authored by Dr. J. B. Hutton. J. B. Hutton was the grandson of Beattie Ryburn and Jane Ryburn.
  5. [S831] William Mc Ryburn Bible. "William McRyburn was born December 1st 1814."
  6. [S995] Jill K. Garrett, Maury Co., Tennessee Historical Sketches, p. 254. Chapter 18 contains the memoirs of Caroline Nicholson (1811-1894) which were published in the Maury Democrat.
  7. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 52. William M. Ryburn and Jane B. B. Fullen, 8 Mar 1837; minister: Alexander McEwen.
  8. [S831] William Mc Ryburn Bible. "Wm Mc Ryburn and Jane B. B. Fullen was married March 9th 1837."
  9. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 32. William M. Ryburn named guardian of Isabella Louisa Fullen, orphan of Andrew E. Fullen, deceased. Bond: $3,000. Sureties: James C. Hayter and Beatie Ryburn.
  10. [S679] Beattie Ryburn household, 1840 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 243, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Beattie Ryburn, head of household; 1 male 20-30 (probably William), 1 male 40-50; 1 female under 5 (probably Mary Jane, dau of William and Jane), 3 females 10-15, 1 female 15-20, 1 female 20-30 (probably Jane), 1 female 50-60; also 3 male slaves: 1 (10-24), 1 (24-36), 1 (55-100).
  11. [S367] Wm Mc Ryburn household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 92 (stamped), dwelling 359, family 359, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 49 of 289. Wm Mc Ryburn, 34, farmer; Jane 33; America 8; Adalaid 6; Levinia 3; Mar 10; all b. VA.
  12. [S720] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 20: 402. Pursuant to an order of the court dated 26 May 1851, the commissioners assigned dower in the lands of Beatie Ryburn to his wife Mary which contained 70 acres, 1 rod and 29 poles. Also the liberty of any timber that she needed from the south end. Whereas all the buildings were on the dower of the widow, Wm M. Ryburn was assigned the house he occupied and the liberty of the spring in common with the widow, as well as the south half of the old barn and other items. Commissioners were John Buchanan, Robert Clark and Arthur Hutton. The dower assignment was ordered to be recorded 27 Nov. 1851.
  13. [S1045] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 24: 299. Deed dated Jan. 29, 1859 and recorded 17 Feb. 1859. William Ryburn (Jane not mentioned) to James Buchanan.
  14. [S1045] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 24: 300. Deed recorded 17 Feb. 1859.
  15. [S234] William McRyburn household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 445 (added script), dwelling 575, family 562, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 83 of 361. Reported data includes: William McRyburn, 45, farmer, owns real estate valued at $12,000, personal prop of $1,000; Mary J. Dorsey, 21, housekeeper; America Ryburn 19, seamstress; cont. on following page: Adelaide (Ryburn) 17, spinster; Lavinia 12; Whitley 10; all born Virginia.
  16. [S1311] William McRyburn landowner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, agricultural sched., Gladespring Post Office, p. 9, line 39.
  17. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 318. William M. Ryburn, 55y, widow, s/o Beatie and Jane Ryburn AND Hattie J. Flournoy, 27y, single, d/o John and Permelia Flournoy; 3 June 1870 [the date as viewed in the Washington Co. Marriage register, 1 Dec. 2001 on FHL mf# 0034389, was actually 2 June 1870].
  18. [S831] William Mc Ryburn Bible. "Wm Mc Ryburn and Hattie T. Flournoy were married June 2nd 1870."
  19. [S16] It is interesting to note that William's son Whitley and his wife Mollie were also married in the Summer of 1870, after the official census date of June 1st. Yet the same census enumerator who visited the combined families in October, and who did not indicate that William and Hattie were married as of June 1st, indicated that Whitley and Mollie were married, despite the fact that their wedding did not take place until August and therefore should not have been recorded. Was it not widely known that William and Hattie had married?.
  20. [S635] William McRyburn household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. 188 (stamped), dwelling 76, family 83, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 375 of 426. Data includes: Wm McRyburn [Ryburn], 55, farmer, owns real estate valued at $5,000, personal prop of $250; Hattie 27, keeping house; all born Virginia. Note: two other families were recorded in the same dwelling: Whitley and Molly McRyburn and David and Addie Carmack.
  21. [S165] William McRyburn household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 26 (65B stamped), dwelling 227, family 229, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 26 of 54. William McRyburn, 65, farmer; Harriet, 37, wife; Pamelia, 7, dau; James B., 6, son; Lucy B., 4, dau; William L.D., 2, son; Fullen B. Smith, servant, 12, black; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  22. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 28 Oct. 2000, 15 Nov. 2000; also sheet diagram of Ryburn homes on Forest Hill Drive in Glade Spring.
  23. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 3 Sept. 2003. The lane that accessed the William McNeal Ryburn home in the 1800s is still used to access the property from Forest Hill Drive today.
  24. [S716] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 45: 351. Wm M. Ryburn and Hattie his wife sell 18 acres and 76 rods to Mrs. Phoebe Smyth for $923.75 on 26 Nov. 1888. The land was described as on the west side of Glade Spring; corners were James Crow, W.F. Ryburn; also south side of Saltville Public Road was mentioned. The deed was recorded the same day.
  25. [S713] William McNeal will (1891), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 24: 132. William's will, dated 28 March 1891 and recorded 21 Sept. 1891 was witnessed by Wm Delp and Samuel Terrill. He asked the court to name his executor.
  26. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry 2118. William McRyburn, d. 16 Jul 1891 Washington Co. VA, of rheumatism, at 76y 7m, born WCV, farmer, informant Mrs. H.T. Ryburn, wife.
  27. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 170. Transcription reads: William McRyburn, 1814-1891.
  28. [S831] William Mc Ryburn Bible. "John B. Ryburn was born January 20th 1838."