Ellen Gilmer Clark1

b. 4 July 1841, d. 9 March 1913
FatherCapt. John B. Clark2,3,4 b. 9 Aug 1785, d. Feb 1869
MotherMary Beattie2,3,4 b. 10 Nov 1794, d. 30 Jun 1858
Birth4 Jul 1841 Ellen Gilmer Clark was born on 4 Jul 1841 in Virginia.2,5 
6 May 1858 On 6 May 1858 Ellen's parents executed an agreement with her brothers James and John that turned the family lands over to the 2 younger men who then commited themselves to pay certain obligations. Part of the agreement stated: ..."also to pay to our two daughters Elizabeth & Elanor [sic] Clark five hundred dollars cash, the said legacy is not to be Paid so long as the said Elizabeth A. & Elenor G. Clark remain in the family and receive their support from the farm, nor is any interest to be paid thereon as long as they so remain". An accounting of the agreement was recorded in Washington County court in 1877. Ellen's sister Elizabeth, having married, received her $500. There were no payments recorded for Ellen.3,6 
Cens-18601860  Ellen was only 16 when the above mentioned agreement was executed. Her mother died shortly thereafter. In 1860 the census recorded Ellen and her older siblings John and Elizabeth living with their father.7 
Cens-187027 Sep 1870  The elder John Clark died in 1869. The following year the younger John, who had married in the intervening years, was enumerated as the head of the household which was described as being in Glade Spring township. His wife and infant son (another John) were also present.8 
Cens-Sum Ellen's sister Elizabeth married just before the 1870 census was enumerated. Ellen eventually made her home with Elizabeth and Elizabeth's husband James Ryburn who also lived in the Glade Spring area of Washington County. James died in 1881, leaving Elizabeth with 4 young children. Ellen no doubt helped her sister raise the children. Ellen herself did not marry.9,10,11,12 
Land-Sell1894  In late Dec. 1894 Ellen's brother John and his wife Dollie decided to sell the land they had received from John and Ellen's parents and on which they had been living. Since Ellen would no longer benefit from the farm, she was entitled to the $500 stipulated in the original agreement between her parents and her brothers. The land was sold in 3 parcels, with Ellen releasing her interest in exchange for $434 in notes held against the buyers.13 
Will14 Jun 1888 Ellen wrote her will 25 years before her death. She left her sister Martha Ryburn $50 and appointed Martha's husband Mathew as her executor. The balance of Ellen's estate was left to her sister Elizabeth. Both Martha and her husband were deceased by the time Ellen's will was recorded.14 
Death9 Mar 1913 Ellen died on 9 Mar 1913 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 71.15,16,17 
Burial She was buried in the Shugart-Ryburn square at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia, with her sister Elizabeth Ryburn and other family members.2 

Related Links and Images:

John, Dollie and Ellen Clark signatures (1894)
Ellen's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
ChartsDescendants of James Clark and Isabella Breckenridge
Last Edited14 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 47. This information is from transcribed lists of birth, death and marriage dates for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark, their children, and related family members.
  2. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. Ellen G. Clark, d/o Capt. John & Mary Beattie Clark, 4 Jul 1841-9 Mar 1913.
  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. [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.
  5. [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), Ellen Gilmer Clark entry.
  6. [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.
  7. [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.
  8. [S635] J.B. Clark household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 72 (stamped), dwelling 261, family 267, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2007, image 37 of 49. Enumeration includes: J.B. Clark, 34, farmer, owns land val at $4,300, pers. prop of $800; Dolly 24; J.H., (m) 2/12; E. G., (f), 23, no occup; all b. VA.
  9. [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.
  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. [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.
  12. [S11] "Family notes of Mrs. Lizzie Ryburn."
  13. [S2826] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 51: 190, 211, 433.
  14. [S961] Ellen G. Clark (recorded 1913), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 31: 104. The will was dated 14 June 1888 and recorded 24 March 1913. It was witnessed by J.S. Buchanan and J.K. Rambo and named M.R. Ryburn as executor. When the will was recorded all three men were deceased; the court appointed J.C. Ryburn as administrator.
  15. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 177. Ellen G. Clark, d/o Capt. John & Mary Beattie Clark, 4 Jul 1841-9 Mar 1913.
  16. [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), Ellen Gilmer Clark entry (died 31 March 1913).
  17. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 47. This information is from transcribed lists of birth, death and marriage dates for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark, their children, and related family members. It states that Ellen died 3 March 1913.