Lavinia Martha Ann Ryburn1

b. 7 August 1847, d. 8 December 1912
FatherWilliam McNeal Ryburn2 b. 1 Dec 1814, d. 16 Jul 1891
MotherJane Beattie B. Fullen3,4 b. 23 Aug 1815, d. bef 1859
Birth7 Aug 1847 Lavinia Martha Ann Ryburn was born on 7 Aug 1847 in Washington County, Virginia.1,5 
Name Other Lavinia appears to have been known by various combinations of her name and/or initials over the years. Various records list her as Ada Vine, Louisa M., Martha Lavinia, M. L. and M. L. M. Ryan.6,7,8,3,9,10 
Marriage19 Apr 1870 She married Boman Green Ryan, son of White G. Ryan and Mary Jane Barnett, on 19 Apr 1870 in Washington County, Virginia.3,11 
Cens-187029 Sep 1870 A few months after their marriage Boman and Lavinia were enumerated on the 1870 census living in Glade Spring township, Washington County, Virginia. Boman was employed as a station agent. An 18 year old male, identified as J. F. Ryan was also living with them (probably Boman's brother J.T. Ryan).12 
Migration Sometime after Boman wrote his will in Washington County on February 10th, 1879, Boman and Lavinia moved from Glade Spring to Summers County, West Virginia where his father, and brothers Joseph and Charles, were living. 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  There they were recorded on the 1880 census in the home of Boman's father and stepmother less than two weeks before Boman died. Boman's occcupation was listed as a railroad clerk, and it was noted that he suffered from consumption.8,13 
WidowedJun 1880  His death later that June left Lavinia a widow at age thirty-two. 
Cens-190023 Jun 1900 Following Boman's death, Lavinia returned to Washington County. She was enumerated in Glade Spring in 1900 living with her cousin Elizabeth (Byars) Hall and Elizabeth's son. A niece, Bertha Carmack and a nephew, Mack Byars were also in the home [known as Cave Springs]. Lavinia reported that she was the mother of three children, none of whom were living.10 
Cens-19101910  By 1910 Elizabeth had died and Lavinia was living in the home of her nephew Harry Humes Carmack. She was recorded that year as the mother of four children, all of whom were reported to be living [disagrees with Boman's will and info reported by Lavinia in 1900]. Lavinia was sixty-two years old.14 
 Lavinia inherited land or money from several family members during her years of widowhood. 
Devisee10 Feb 1879  Boman's will left her a share of land in Summers and Raleigh Counties, West Virginia.15 
Devisee28 Mar 1891  Her father's will, written in 1891 left her a share of his Locus Cove land. 
Heir  She was also an heir of her uncles, Robert, Mathew and James Buchanan, whose estate was divided among a large number of relatives. Lavinia received $119 over a ten year period from their estate.16 
Legatee30 Jun 1906 And her cousin, Elizabeth Hall, with whom Lavinia had been living, remembered her in 1906 with a gift of $250. 
Death8 Dec 1912 Lavinia died on 8 Dec 1912 at Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia, of bronchitis. She also suffered from cardiac complications and acute congestion of the larynx.4 
Burial She was buried at Glade Spring, Washington County, Virginia, probably in Old Glade Spring Cemetery, where a broken marker lies near the headstone of her husband Boman.17 

Research Comment:

There is no record of a will for Lavinia (Ryburn) Ryan at the Washington County Courthouse. She stated in 1910 that she had living children but I doubt that this is correct. It would appear from Boman's will that any children born to them died in infancy. We know they were living in Washington County, Virginia in 1870 immediately after their marriage, and in Summers County, West Virginia just prior to Boman's death, but we do not know whether they spent the intervening years entirely in Virginia. Therefore any children might have been born in either Virginia or West Virginia. Boman was buried in Old Glade Spring Cemetery, Washington County and the wording of his will: "tombstones at the graves of myself and children" might imply that the children were also buried there. If so, there are no markers visible for them at this time.

Related Links and Images:

The home known as Cave Springs where Lavinia lived for a time with her cousin Elizabeth Hall
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Descendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited14 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S831] William Mc Ryburn Bible. "Lavinia Martha Ann Ryburn was born August 7th 1847."
  2. [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.
  3. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 317. B.G. Ryan, 24y, sgl, b. Montgomery Co. VA, resid Washington Co. VA, tel. operator, s/o W.G. & M.J. Ryan AND M.L.M. Ryburn, 23y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o William M. & J. Ryburn; 19 Apr 1870.
  4. [S462] Lauvenia [sic] Ryan, Commonwealth of Virginia death certificate no. 14852 (1912). The informant was her physician, Dr. A. Horne.
  5. [S462] Lauvenia [sic] Ryan, Commonwealth of Virginia death certificate no. 14852 (1912). The informant, Lavinia's physician, Dr. A. Horne, incorrectly listed her date of birth as Aug. 1846.
  6. [S830] Elizabeth Hall Will (1906), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 29 (D): 173. Elizabeth's will, dated June 30th 1906, was recorded July 19th, 1906.
  7. [S38] Waverly Wilson Barbe, 1850 Annotated Washington Co. Census, p. 77. Source of middle names not given.
  8. [S649] White G. Ryan household, 1880 U.S. cens., Summers Co., W. Virginia, pop sched., Jumping Branch District, ED 136, page 17 (192A stamped), dwelling 131, family 133, viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 19 of 37. White G. Ryan, 64, farmer; Ellen E., 51, wife, b. VA; Bertie E., grandson, 5. b. W VA, parents b. VA; Boman G., 34, b. VA, son, railroad clerk, suffering from consumption; Louisa M., 32, dau-in-law, b. VA; Joseph, 36, son, farmer, b. VA; Minerva, 38, dau-in-law, b. WVA; Jame P. , 3, grandson, b. W VA; Wm B. Fink, 28, hired, blacksmith, b. W VA.
  9. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 58.
  10. [S574] Elizabeth Hall household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 108, sheet 20A (p. 80 stamped), dwelling 357, family 364, viewed online at Genealogy.com, April 2003, image 39 of 70. Elizabeth Hall, 61, b. Nov. 1838, widowed, mother of one child who is living; William, 38, son, b. Feb. 1862, farm laborer; Vene Ryan, boarder, 52, b. Aug. 1847, widow, mother of 3 children, none living; Bertha Carmack, servant (?), 23, Jan 1877; Mark Cato, servant, 19, b. Feb. 1881, houseboy; Mack Byars, nephew, 32, sgl, Feb. 1868, farm laborer; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  11. [S831] William Mc Ryburn Bible. "Lavinia M. A. Ryburn & Boman G. Ryan were married April 19th 1870."
  12. [S635] B. G. Ryan household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring Township, p. 75 (stamped), dwelling 299, family 303, viewed online at Ancestry.com, April 2004, image 43 of 49. Data includes: B.G. Ryan, 24, depot agent, owns real estate valued at $1,000, personal property valued at $100; M. L. (f), 22; J. F., 18; all b. VA.
  13. [S16] It is possible Boman's father was living in the same general area where the family had resided prior to returning to Montgomery County during the Civil War. Jumping Branch District, Summers County had been part of Mercer County prior to 1871, and was recorded as such on the 1870 census (see 1870 census entry for Joseph William Ryan).
  14. [S237] Harry Carmack household, 1910 U.S. cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring Precinct, ED 116, sheet 14B, dwelling 268, family 279, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  15. [S267] Boman Ryan will (1881), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 20: 373.
  16. [S1015] Washington Co., Virginia probate records for James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan.
  17. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 18 March, 2002. Carolyn noted the base of a broken marker near Boman Ryan's marker in Old Glade Spring Cemetery. It appears this might be Lavinia's since her death cert. said she was buried in Glade Spring.