Ann Ryburn

b. 25 April 1756, d. 24 August 1829
FatherMathew Ryburn
MotherMary Galbreath
Baptism25 Apr 1756 Ann Ryburn was baptized on 25 Apr 1756 in Campbeltown, Scotland, according to local parish records, however this is not consistent with the 1761 year of birth suggested for her by the age on her headstone.1 
Anecdote Ann and her brother Mathew Ryburn left Scotland when Mathew was seventeen and Ann was fifteen years old. Their mother had died and their father had remarried, and the two siblings, who were very close, decided to settle with an uncle in Pennsylvania. After a few years in Pennsylvania they traveled down the Valley of Virginia and settled in Washington County, where they both married. They lived only about eight miles apart the remainder of their days.2 
  Ann and Mathew arrived in Washington County in late 1779 or early 1780. Years later Mathew stated that he arrived during the "Hard Winter", a phrase used historically for the winter of 1779-1780.3 
Marriage She married John Buchanan, son of John Buchanan and Margaret (?), in Washington County, Virginia.4 
 Mary Jane Beaty Davis Moffett recorded in her journal, with the help of her mother who was a niece of Ann Ryburn Buchanan, that Ann and John Buchanan "had a large family of children, 11 in number". She listed their names as: Mathew, Margaret, John, Mary, Wm, James, Ann, Robert, Jane, Rosanna, and Ryburn.5 
 In the same journal, Mary Jane Beaty Davis Moffett commented that her mother, Sarah (Ryburn) Davis knew "nothing of the old stock of Buchanons, only old Uncle Johnny that married her only Aunt on her father's side, he married, Ann Ryburn grandfather Ryburn's only sister." She also stated that "there were several families of Buchanons but they were not all connected, the same name but not related." And later in the journal she added, "Mother thinks that Grand Mother's first husband [Robert Buchanan, first husband of Jane Beattie] and Uncle Johnny [John Buchanan, husband of Ann Ryburn] were brothers."6 
  Ann and John were devout Presbyterians whose home was always open to ministers of the gospel. The Rev. Charles Cummings, who was instrumental in the establishment of the Presbyterian Church in southwest Virginia, routinely spend Saturday night with the family as he moved between the churches under his direction.7 
Death24 Aug 1829 Ann died on 24 Aug 1829 at age 73.8 
Burial She was buried at Buchanan Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.8 

Research Comment:

Ann and John had a large number of twins among their descendants (36 at present count). Two of their grandchildren (William C.P. Buchanan, Rosanna Witten) were parents of twins. Eight of their great grandchildren (Mary Jane Durell, America Booth, America Buchanan, Robert Wm McSpadden, William R. Buchanan, Rosa Miriam Clark, Ryburn Clark and Isabella J. Preston) were parents of twins. Five of their 2nd great grandchildren (William Durell, Julia Henderson, James Booth, Beattie Crenshaw, Marion Grant Edmondson) were parents of twins. And at least one of their 3rd great grandchildren (Clyde Stringer) was also the parent of twins. In addition, a 4th great granddaughter gave birth to twins in 1959 and a 5th great granddaughter gave birth to twins in 2006. It is likely there were other, unrecorded twin births before county registration was required and there are probably additional twins in recent generations.

Related Links and Images:

Read about Campbeltown, Scotland; also look for the link to Rod Ryburn's website on the history of the family in Scotland
To read Mary Jane B. (Davis) Moffett's journal see Mary Jane's Journal and in particular note pages 2, 3 and 7
Ann's headstone
Other interments in Buchanan Cemetery

Family

John Buchanan b. 21 Aug 1745 or 22 Aug 1745, d. 19 Nov 1824
Children
Last Edited2 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 150. Anne Buchanan, d. 24 Aug. 1829, age 68y 5m 8d; computes to an approximate date of birth of 17 Mar 1761. Anne's headstone is in remarkably good shape for a stone placed in 1829. That, and the style of the stone suggest that it may not be the original. If so, it is possible the information on the stone is not entirely accurate.
  2. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 7.
  3. [S3268] "Mathew Ryburn deposition dated 27 April 1805", James Dysart vs admr of Hugh Johnston, etc.; Admr of Hugh Johnston, etc. vs James Dysart, Augusta Co., Virginia Ended Chancery Causes 1809-047, index with digital images, Library of Virginia Online, <<http://www.lva.virginia.gov>>. The deposition was taken at the house of Fleming Byars. Mathew stated he arrived during the "Hard Winter" which is known historically as the winter of 1779-1780.
  4. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 7. Date not reported.
  5. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 2.
  6. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 2, 3.
  7. [S2280] "Robert Buchanan", undated memorial article written by H[enry] M. W[hite] [pastor of Glade Spring Presbyterian Church from 1866-1875] and published in an unidentified newspaper.
  8. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 150. Anne Buchanan, d. 24 Aug. 1829, age 68y 5m 8d.
  9. [S2268] Research of Tom Colley, Hanceville, Alabama; Mr. Colley cites the Washington County Death Register for the year 1855 originally held by the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics and viewed as Library of Virginia microfilm reel #30; entry states: Margaret Buchanan, d. 25 Mar 1855, age 74y, cause unknown, d/o John & Ann Buchanan, consort of William Buchanan, reported by son in law, Andrew Edmundson.
  10. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 2. Mary Jane Beaty Davis Moffett stated in her journal that Ann and John Buchanan "had a large family of children, 11 in number." She provided the following names: Mathew, Margaret, John, Mary, William, James, Ann, Robert, Jane, Rosanna, and Ryburn.
  11. [S17] "Smyth Co. Deaths with Washington Co. Births", p. 9. John Buchanan d. 14 Sep. 1858, Rich Valley, cancer, 74y 26d, s/o John and Ann Buchanan, b. WCV, "Mary Ryburn", wife; John A.M. Buchanan, son. This data calculates to a birthdate of 19 Aug. 1784.