Isabella Louisa Fullen1

b. circa 1828, d. 26 June 1880
FatherAndrew E. Fullen2,1 b. Dec 1786, d. 12 Nov 1828
MotherMary Buchanan2 b. abt 22 Feb 1786, d. 29 Jun 1834
Birthcirca 1828 Isabella Louisa Fullen was born circa 1828 in Virginia estimated from the information on her gravestone.3 
Ward1839 In 1839 Isabella became the ward of her sister's husband, William McNeal Ryburn, following the death of Isabella's father in 1828 and of her mother in 1834.1 
Marriage6 Jan 1848 She married Mathew Ryburn Clark, son of James Clark and Ann Ryburn, on 6 Jan 1848 in Washington County, Virginia.4 
  They were second cousins. 
Land-Sell1 Sep 1848  On Sept. 1, 1849 Mathew and Isabella sold their interest in a 9th share of several tracts that had belonged to Isabella's grandfather James Fullen. They received $60 as Isabella's one fifth part of her deceased father's share.5 
Land-Buy5 Oct 1848  The following month Mathew bought 220 acres on the waters of the North Fork of the Holston River from Rebecca Caywood for $2,500. 
Cens-18505 Aug 1850  A year and a half after their marriage, Mathew and Isabella appeared on the 1850 census together. Mathew was thirty years old and Isabella was twenty-one. Their first child, Robert, was listed as eleven months old.6 
Land-Sell4 May 1858  Mathew and Isabella appear to have suffered a financial set back in the late 1850s. On May 4, 1858 Mathew sold John W. Kreger his 3 tracts of land in trust to secure debts owned Buchanan, Preston and Dickenson.7 
Land-Sell10 Jun 1858  Two months later, in June 1859, Mathew and Isabella sold 80 acres to Ben K. Buchanan for $200. The land was described as near the Valley Road and Saltworks Rd.8 
Contract15 Oct 1858  And on Sept. 23, 1858, Mathew sold much of the family's personal property to Samuel Skinner for $90.94. The list included farm animals, two wagons, and various household items. However 3 weeks later Mathew's father James, along with Mathew Buchanan, repurchased the items and executed a deed loaning them back to Mathew.9  
Land-Sell4 Jun 1859  The following June James also purchased Mathew's remaining 140 acres for $1. James executed a deed in trust such that Mathew and Isabella could continue to live on the land and support their family from the profits of the farm. James also stated that should Mathew die the land was to be conveyed to his children, allowing Isabella her dower share.10 
Cens-Sum  Isabella and Mathew appeared on 3 additional Washington County federal census enumerations during their married lives. Mathew continued to farm. His 1860 census entry listed him as the owner of land worth $6,000 which was probably not entirely accurate. The agricultural schedule recorded the person reponsible for managing a given farm regardless of whether they actually owned it. Mathew was recorded with 100 acres of improved land and 50 acres of unimproved land. The 1870 census, following the Civil War, valued Mathew's holdings at $1,200. The couple's children appeared on census records as expected, with the exception of 1870 where William J. appears to have been recorded as Mary J. and James S. as Dan S. [many Washington Co. households were misrecorded that year]11,12,13 
Heir1878 Isabella was one of the heirs of James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan, her uncles, through the line of her deceased mother, Mary Buchanan Fullen. She received $626 from their estate when it was settled in the late 1870s.14,15 
Death26 Jun 1880 Isabella died on 26 Jun 1880.3 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

Isabella's headstone (identified by location per 1950 era survey of cemetery)
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Mathew Ryburn Clark b. 29 Jan 1819, d. 17 Aug 1886
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Last Edited30 Sep 2012

Citations

  1. [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.
  2. [S23] Joye Boardman, "James Fullen" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 152.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. Isabella L. Clark, w/o M. R. Clark, d. 26 June 1880, age 52y.
  4. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 14.
  5. [S1986] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 18: 40.
  6. [S367] Mathew Clark household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 84b (stamped), dwelling 250, family 250, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 34 of 289. Mathew Clark, 30, farmer, real estate of $2,500; Isabella 21; Robert 11/12; all born VA.
  7. [S1045] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 24: 110.
  8. [S1045] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 24: 371.
  9. [S2846] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 25: 191.
  10. [S1045] Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 24: 359.
  11. [S234] Mathew R. Clark household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 453 (added script), dwelling 633, family 618, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 91 of 361. Reported data includes: Mathew R. Clark, 40, farmer, owns real estate valued at $6,000, personal property at $2,000; Isabella 31; Robert 10; Mary 8; Andrew 7; Fountain 2; all b. VA.
  12. [S635] Mathew Clark household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. 194 (stamped), dwelling 132, family 147, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2003, image 387 of 426. Data includes: Mathew Clark 57, farmer, owns real estate valued at $1,200, pers. prop of $280; Isabella 41, keeping house; Robert 21, laborer; Mary 18; Andy F. 13; Fountain 11; Mary J. 10 (cannot read or write); Dan S. 8; Ryburn 6; Rachel 1; Callahan, Mary 43, domestic; all b. Virginia.
  13. [S165] Mathew R. Clark household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 16 (60D stamped), dwelling 141, family 142, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 16 of 54. Mathew R. Clark, 61, farmer; Isabella L., 52; Andrew F, 22, son, works on farm; Mary, 28, dau, suffering from cronic (?) dia; Fountain B., 21, son; Wm J., 19, son; James S., son, 17, son; Ryburn B., 14, son; Rachel B., 11, daughter; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  14. [S1015] Washington Co., Virginia probate records for James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan.
  15. [S7] Conclusions based on analysis of James Buchanan probate papers.
  16. [S2169] Donald Helton, compiler, "Washington County Virginia Abstracted Death Records 1912-1939" (manuscript shared by author), p. 57; Fountain Beattie Clark entry: b. July 9, 1859 ?, d. Dec. 12, 1926, marr to Mary Horne Clark, s/o Mathew Clark, b. WCV & Isabella Fullen, b. WCV.
  17. [S2169] Donald Helton, compiler, "Washington County Virginia Abstracted Death Records 1912-1939" (manuscript shared by author), p. 70; Rachel Clark entry.