Mary Ellen Buchanan

b. 3 September 1822, d. December 1896
FatherJames Buchanan1,2 b. 7 Apr 1781, d. 1 Dec 1829
MotherNancy Ryburn1 b. 3 Jan 1795, d. 9 Apr 1874
Birth3 Sep 1822 Mary Ellen Buchanan was born on 3 Sep 1822 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Marriage2 Nov 1845 She married Mahlon S. Susong, son of Jacob Susong, on 2 Nov 1845 in Washington County, Virginia.4 
Cens-185018 Sep 1850 Five years after their marriage Mahlon and Mary Ellen were enumerated on the 1850 census living near Mary's mother and sister in Washington County, Virginia. Also recorded on the census were three Mahlon children: Nancy 4, Margaret 2, and James, 6 months. In addition, two adults, William Houlstone 24, and Catherine Hoskins (?) 24, were living with the family.5 
  Daughter Margaret died in the years between the 1850 and 1860 census enumeration, but three other daughters (Louisa, Amanda and Minerva) were born during this time. Mahlon's brother, Jacob, age 45, had also joined the family. A later census record would indicate that Jacob was maimed or crippled. 
Land-Quit8 Jun 1859 In the summer of 1859 Mary Ellen and Mahlon quit claimed their interest in 194 1/2 acres on Baker's Creek in Washington County to Mary Ellen's siblings. On the same day the siblings quit claimed to Mahlon an adjacent 44 acre tract which included 6 acres set aside for the dower rights of Mary Ellen's mother, Nancy. The entire tract originally belonged to Mary Ellen's father James Buchanan.6,7 
Cens-18608 Oct 1860 The following year Mahlon reported owning real estate valued at over $10,000.8 
Cens-187026 Jul 1870 The 1870 census added the information that the family was living in the Goodson township area of Washington County.9 
Cens-188012 Jun 1880  By 1880, Mahlon was 68 and Mary was 58. Seven of their children, ranging from Nancy, age 30, to Jacob, age 16, were still living at home with them.10 
DeathDec 1896 Mary died of lagrippe in Dec 1896 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 74. Old death records discovered in the courthouse attic in Washington County list the exact date as the 28th, but her cemetery stone clearly says she died on the 10th.11,12 
Burial She was buried at Susong Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Probate Recd1 Feb 1897 It does not appear that Mary Ellen wrote a will before her death, but her estate was settled on February 1, 1897, along with that of her husband Mahlon who had also died in December 1896. Mary Ellen's settlement listed assets of cash and notes totaling over $15,000, including a note held on "Beattie" in the amount of $5,623, and almost $8,000 in cash. After paying the typical settlement costs, the balance was divided among her four living children: Nannie B. Delaney, Minerva J. Robinson, J.B. Susong and J. O. Susong. They each received just under $4,000 in cash from her estate.13 

Related Links and Images:

Mary's headstone
Other interments in Susong Cemetery

Family

Mahlon S. Susong b. 13 Mar 1812, d. 1 Dec 1896
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited27 Jul 2013

Citations

  1. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 9. James and Nancy Ryburn Buchanan's children were: Jackson, Jane (Jane died when small), Amanda, Menerva, Elen, Sarah Ann, Martha, Evadna.
  2. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 27. Nancy Buchanan named guardian of Jackson D., Amanda, Minerva, Mary E., Sarah Ann, Martha and Avadna James Buchanan, orphans of James Buchanan, deceased. Bond: $1,200. Sureties: Beatie Ryburn, William Davis, Robert B. Edmondson and Jacob Merchant.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 398. Mary E. Susong, 3 Sept 1822-10 Dec. 1896, age 74y 3m 7d.
  4. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 59. Abstract reads: Mahlon S. Susong and Ellen M. Buchanan, marr 2 Nov. 1845 by James King.
  5. [S367] Mahlon Susong household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th district, p. 166b (stamped), dwelling 1441, family 1441, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 198 of 289. Recorded data includes: Mahlon Susong 38, farmer, owns real estate valued at $1,480; Mary 28; Nancy 4; Margaret 2; James 6/12; William Houlstone 24 (b. TN); Catharine H__kins 24 (b. TN); all others b. VA.
  6. [S1337] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 25: 169. Two quit claim deeds, both dated 8 June 1859 and recorded 26 Nov. 1860, isolated 44 acres to Mahlong and Mary E. (Buchanan) Susong. The remaining 194.5 acres was deeded to Jackson Buchanan, Evadna (Buchanan) and Edward Stoffle, Martha Zimmerman, Sarah A. Buchanan, and Amanda (Buchanan) and George Worley.
  7. [S1342] Buchanan (later Buchanan's heirs) vs Johnston's heirs, Wythe Co., Virginia Superior Court of Chancery, no. 1837-16-SC.
  8. [S234] Malan Susong household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 705 (added script), dwelling 2494, family 2432, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 341 of 361. Reported data includes: Malan Susong, 48, farmer, owns real estate valued at $10,700 and personal property of $3,700; Mary 38; Nancy 13; James 10; Louisa 8; Amanda 6; Minerva 3; Jacob Susong 45; all b. VA.
  9. [S635] Malon Susong household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Goodson township, p. 123b (stamped), dwelling 632, family 653, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2002, image 246 of 426. Recorded data includes: Malon Susong, 57, farmer, owns real estate of $5,000 & person. prop of $1,000; Mary E. 45; Nancy 24 [?]; James, 19, laborer; Lousia 17, domestic; Amanda 15, domestic; Minerva 13; Martha 10; Jacob 6; Jacob H., 55, farmer; Jack 19, b. Georgia; all others b. VA.
  10. [S162] Malong Susong household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., town of Goodson, ED 85, page 35 (97C stamped), dwelling 195, family 231, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 35 of 66. Malong Susong, 68, farmer, father b. PA; Mary E. 58, wife; Nancy 30, dau; James 28, son; Lois 26, dau; Amanda 24, dau; Mannerva 22, dau; Martha E. 18, dau; Jacob 16, son; Jacob H., 65, brother, maimed or crippled; Sarah Merchant, 80, sister, father b. PA; all b. VA; all parents b. VA except as noted.
  11. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 398. Mary E. Susong, 3 Sept 1822-10 Dec. 1896, age 74y 3m 7d. This date of death is consistent with the age and date of birth as stated but disagrees with the transcribed county death record. A photo taken by Carolyn Ryburn in Jul 2003 clearly shows the date of death as 10 Dec.
  12. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry 2397. Mary E. Susong, d. 28 Dec. 1896 of lagrippe at age 74, born Washington Co. VA, no parents or spouse stated, information provided by J.R. Robinson, son-in-law.
  13. [S714] Mary Ellen Susong settlement of estate (1897), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 25: 398.
  14. [S2205] Jack Hockett, compiler, "Washington County, Virginia and Smyth County Virginia Abstracted Death Records 1912-1915" (unpublished manuscript; microfilm records viewed at the Library of Virginia, Jan. 2009), Mrs. Nannie (Susong) Delaney entry (provides mother's maiden name).
  15. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 398. Margaret B. Susong, d/o M.S. & M.E. Susong, d. 10 Dec. 1853, age 5y 11m 2d.
  16. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry 2395: Louisa R. Susong, d. 31 Jul 1896 of consumptire at age 44y, parents M.S. & Mary E. Susong, born Washington Co. VA, single, information provided by J.R. Robinson, bro-in-law.
  17. [S3] Moore and Stephens, Washington Co., VA Birth and Death Records, p. 140. Amanda A. Susong, b. 7 Jul 1854 to Mahlen and Mary E. Susong.
  18. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 31, 106. Transcription reads: Mattie E. Susong, 22, sgl, b. & resid Wash. Co., VA, d/o M.S. & W. E. Susong AND A. M. Ely, 25, sgl, b. Lee Co., VA, resid WCV, merchant, s/o Andrew & Ester Ely; marr 18 Mar 1885 by G. A. Caldwell.