Elizabeth Armstrong Clark1

b. 5 April 1833, d. 1 July 1919
FatherCapt. John B. Clark2,3,1 b. 9 Aug 1785, d. Feb 1869
MotherMary Beattie3,1 b. 10 Nov 1794, d. 30 Jun 1858
Birth5 Apr 1833 Elizabeth Armstrong Clark was born on 5 Apr 1833.4,1 
Court Record6 May 1858 On 6 May 1858 Elizabeth's parents, wishing to dispose of their estate during their lifetime, executed a deed whereby they transfered the family lands to Elizabeth's brothers James and John. Elizabeth was to receive a $500 legacy, but it was not payable if she remained on the farm and was supported by her siblings. The settlement records for the agreement show that she received the $500 around the time of her marriage to James; or more accurately, the payment was made to James O. Ryburn and wife.3,5 
Cens-18601860  Elizabeth's mother died shortly after the 1858 agreement was written. Two years later Elizabeth was recorded on the 1860 census as a 25 year old woman living in the household of John Clark [her father].6 
Marriage27 May 1869 She married James Orr Ryburn, son of Mathew Ryburn and Martha Orr, on 27 May 1869.2 
27 May 1869 She was 36 and he was 48. They were second cousins. James had been previously married to Elizabeth's first cousin Margaret Beattie. 
Cens-1870Oct 1870 Following her marriage, Elizabeth assumed the responsibility for raising her cousin's 3 children, who were enumerated in 1870 as William 10, Isabella 8, and Ellen 6. William Ryburn, her husband's youngest brother, was also a part of the household.7 
Cens-18801880  By 1880 she and James had added 4 children of their own: Margaret, Lucy, James and John. Elizabeth's sister, Ellen Clark also lived with them as did a servant.8 
WidowedJan 1881 Elizabeth was widowed less than a year after the birth of her last child. 
Cens-Sum  The census records recorded after James's death show Elizabeth listed as the head of the household. Her daughter Margaret and son John continued to live with her as adults, as did Elizabeth's sister, Ellen. Daughter Lucy married in 1897 and son James died in 1898 in a railroad accident.9,10 
Death1 Jul 1919 Elizabeth died on 1 Jul 1919 at age 86.4,11 
Burial She was buried in the Shugart-Ryburn square at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 

Research Comment:

Elizabeth left a collection of notes recording family names and relationships which are cited throughout this database as "Lizzie Ryburn's Notes."12

Related Links and Images:

Elizabeth's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

James Orr Ryburn b. 30 May 1820, d. 12 Jan 1881
Children
ChartsDescendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited1 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 46. This information is from transcribed lists of birth, death and marriage dates for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark and their children.
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 318. James O. Ryburn, 25y, wid, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o Mathew & Mgt Ryburn AND Elizabeth Clark, 23y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John & Mary Clark; 27 May 1869. [The ages given for both James (25) and Elizabeth (23) on the marriage record cannot be correct].
  3. [S721] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 24: 146. On 6 May 1858 John Clark and Mary his wife to James and John B. Clark, their sons. Also mentions three daughters: Elizabeth A. Clark, Eleanor G. Clark and Martha H. Ryburn. In addition refers to land left to John Clark by James Clark, his father.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 187. Elizabeth A. Ryburn, 5 Apr 1833-1 Jul 1819.
  5. [S707] Account of James and John B. Clark with John Clark (1877), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 19: 354. Lists the payments made to John M. Preston, as well as various legacies directed by the agreement dated 6 May 1858.
  6. [S234] John Clark household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., The Western District, p. 461 (added script), dwelling 696, family 675, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 99 of 361. Enumeration includes: John Clark, 74, blacksmith, owns land val at $10,000, pers. prop of $3,000; John B., 23, farmer; Elizabeth, 25, housekeeper; Ellen, 17, seamstress; all b. VA.
  7. [S635] James Ryburn household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. 203 (stamped), dwelling 271, family 288, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 405 of 426. Recorded data includes: James Ryburn, 50, farmer, owns real estate valued at $5,000; Elizabeth 38, keeping house; William 10; Isabella 8; Ellen 6; William 36, farmer; all b. VA.
  8. [S165] James Ryburn household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 51 (78A stamped), dwelling 442, family 445, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 51 of 54. James Ryburn, 60, farmer; Elizabeth, wife, 45; Jennie, 19, dau; Margaret, 9, dau; Lucy, 7, dau; James, 5, son; John, 4/12, son; Thomas Smith, 12, servant; Ellen Clark, sister-in-law, 35; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  9. [S237] Elizabeth Ryburn household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring Precinct, ED 116, sheet 6A, dwelling 85, family 93, viewed online at Ancestry.com, 2002, image 11 of 36. Elizabeth Ryburn (Hd) 78, wid, 4 child/ 3 living; Maggie (dau) 38, sgl; John C. (son) 30, farmer; Ellen Clark (sister) 60, sgl; all b. VA.
  10. [S574] Elizabeth Ryburn household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 6A, dwelling 87, family 91, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 11 of 70. Elizabeth Ryburn, 67, widow, b. Apr. 1833, mother of 4 children, 3 living; Margaret, dau, 29, b. Feb. 1871; John, son, 20, b. March 1880; Ellen Clark, sister, 58, b. July 1841; all b. VA; Elizabeth and Ellen's father b. Pennsylvania.
  11. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 70-85.
  12. [S11] "Family notes of Mrs. Lizzie Ryburn."
  13. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 102-6.
  14. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 97. John W. Ryan, 26, b. Montgomery Co. VA, living Montgomery Co., s/o Robert R. & Virginia K. Ryan, telegraph operator AND Lucy G. Ryburn, 24, d/o Jas O. & Elizabeth Ryburn; 21 Dec. 1897.