John Ryburn

b. 24 August 1817, d. 2 October 1864
FatherPatrick Ryburn1 b. 19 May 1790, d. 2 Oct 1845
MotherJane Stewart b. abt 1792, d. 12 Mar 1874
Birth24 Aug 1817 John Ryburn was born on 24 Aug 1817.2 
Marriage7 Mar 1844 He married Jane Mathews McConkey, daughter of John McConkey and Jane Sharp, on 7 Mar 1844 in Washington County, Virginia.3,4 
Cens-185018 Sep 1850 In the years immediately following their marriage John and Jane appear to have lived with her widowed mother, Jane Sharp McConkey (or she with them).5 
Guardian22 Jan 1855 In 1855 John was named guardian of his children John P.S., William J., Samuel W., Margaret M., Sarah J.M. and David K. Ryburn. This was most likely because Jane's mother had died the previous year leaving a share of her estate directly to Jane's children, rather than to Jane.6,7 
Cens-18609 Oct 1860  By 1860 baby David had died but another daughter, Mary Elizabeth had joined the family. John reported that year that he owned land valued at $3,500 and personal property of $1,000.8 
Land10 Oct 1860 John and Jane's land comprised about 400 acres and straddled the boundary between Washington County, Virginia and Sullivan County, Tennessee. An 1880 deed described it as lying on the main road leading from Abingdon [Virginia] to Paperville, Tennessee. The dwelling place appeared to be in Virginia.9 
Religion6 Jun 1852  The family attended church at the Paperville Presbyterian Church in Sullivan County, where records show the baptism of daughter Sarah in 1852.10 
Military5 Aug 1864 When the Civil War broke out John's two oldest sons, though both no more than 18 years old, joined the fight. John Jr. (John Patrick Sharp Ryburn) was injured at the Battle of Stone Rivers, Tennessee in January 1863 and held prisoner for a period. William lost the use of his right arm in September 1864 at Winchester. On August 5, 1864, at age 46, John Sr. enlisted at Abingdon as a private in Company C. of the 13th Battalion of the Virginia Reserves. He was killed less than two months later.3 
Death2 Oct 1864 John died on 2 Oct 1864 during the Battle of Saltville at age 47.3 
Anecdote  Family tradition states that John's body was taken back home to Paperville, Virginia by his son John Jr. for burial. The pistol issued to him was passed down through the Ryburn family and is now in the possession of John's second great grandson, Roger James Ryburn, Sr.11,12 
Probate Recd29 Mar 1866 John's estate settlement was presented at Washington County court on March 29, 1866 by his brother, William Ryburn. It reported the sale of his personal property which took place on Nov. 4th 1864 and also itemized cash on hand including $350 in Confederate money. Payments had been made to various people, some of it in Confederate money. This included Jane M. Ryburn and David O. King who was listed as "guardian."13 
Court Record27 Sep 1880  John's land was apparently sold to Jonathon Hanby and Mary V. Davis on September 27, 1880 by Washington County commisioners as part of the proceedings of a court case styled Worley vs Millard. However, it appears John's heirs may have retained title to the land as part of an agreement reached with the prospective buyers two months later.9 
Probate Recd3 Aug 1904 The final settlement of John's estate apparently dragged on for years as payments to his heirs were recorded as late as August, 1904. At that time a distribution was made by S.W. Ryburn, who was then administrator, to the following heirs: Mary E. Carmack, George M. Rutherford, S. W. Ryburn and W.J. Ryburn. William received twice the share of his siblings and the heirs of John P.S. Ryburn were not mentioned.14 
  Neither were they mentioned in the 1880 agreement, where William also appeared to own twice as much land as his siblings, suggesting perhaps that John P.S. sold his share of his father's estate to his younger brother William. 

Related Links and Images:

John's Civil War pistol. Click on the camera icon for larger image.15
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed John as a member of household number 1415. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Jane Mathews McConkey b. 13 Dec 1809, d. 24 Apr 1892
Children
ChartsDescendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited27 Sep 2012

Citations

  1. [S701] Patrick Ryburn will (1845), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 10: 23. The will was dated 29 Sept. 1845 and recordrd in court 27 Oct. 1845. John Ryburn was named executor with William Graham and Robert Keys witnesses.
  2. [S1141] Roger J. Ryburn, "John Ryburn-Jane Mathews McConkey" family group sheet. Birth date from DAR application submitted by a descendant.
  3. [S917] State of Virginia, "Confederate Pension Rolls, Veterans and Widows", digital images with index, The Library of Virginia (http://www.lva.lib.va.us). Pension application of Jane Ryburn, widow of John Ryburn downloaded July 2004.
  4. [S1205] Hattie King Owen Files, book #28, viewed Sept. 2000. Source consists of pages from a spiral notebook with the name "Mrs. Joseph Graham, O_ze - Iron Station NC" written in the margin. The pages contain a chart focused on descendants of John Sharp, d. 1823. The entry for Jane McConkey says: b. 12-13-1809, d. 1872, marr 3-7-1844; "Mathew" was inserted as a middle name.
  5. [S367] Jane McConkey household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., District 67, p. 164b (stamped), dwelling 1415, family 1415, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 194 of 289. Enumeration includes: Jane McConkey, 77, value real estate: $1,200; John Ryburn 33; Jane 40; John 5; Ma__ (f) 4; (cont. top next page) Saml Ryburn, 2; Margaret 2/12; all b. VA. Note: the female child, Ma__ should have been William J.
  6. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 51. John Ryburn named guardian of John P.S., William J., Samuel W., Margaret M., Sarah J.M., and David K. Ryburn, children of the said John Ryburn and Jane M., his wife. Bond: $500. Surety: William S. Ryburn.
  7. [S745] Jane McConkey will (recorded 1854), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 13: 139. Jane's will was written 6 Oct. 1853 and recorded March 27, 1854. She named her nephew David O. King as her executor.
  8. [S234] John Ryburn household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 717 (added script), dwelling 2586, family 2524, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2005, image 353 of 361. Enumeration reports: John Ryburn, 45, farmer, land value: $3,500, pers prop: $1,000; Jane 48, housekeeper; John 15; William 14; Samuel 13; Margaret 10; Sarah 8; Mary 3; all b. VA.
  9. [S16] Deed filed in an undetermined Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book on 31 Dec. 1888; references sale of land of John Ryburn, dec'd made by commisioners on 27 Sept. 1880 in the cause of Worley vs Millard.
  10. [S1240] Shelby Edwards, transcriber, "Records of the Session in the Congregation at Paperville Presbyterian Church, Sullivan Co., Tennessee, From April 1824", Holston Pastfinder, Volume 15, Number 56: entry states that Sarah Jane McConkey, infant dau of John and Jane Ryburn was baptized June 6, 1852.
  11. [S1141] Roger J. Ryburn, "John Ryburn-Jane Mathews McConkey" family group sheet.
  12. [S915] Roger Ryburn, "W.J. Ryburn," e-mail to D. Powell, 10 Feb. 2005. John's final resting place is not known, but descendants believe he may be buried on his land near Paperville in Washington County/Sullivan County.
  13. [S686] John Ryburn settlement (recorded 1866), Washington Co., VA Will Book 16: 412. Wm S. Ryburn administrator of the estate of John Ryburn filed his account in Feb. 1866; recorded in court 29 March 1866.
  14. [S828] John Ryburn settlement (1904), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 27: 309. S.W. Ryburn administrator.
  15. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Roger Ryburn.
  16. [S723] Mary E. C. Ryburn entry, Washington Co. birth records submitted to the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics: 47, p. 38 (1856). Mary E. C. Ryburn, born 18 March 1856 in Washington Co., Virginia to John and Jane Ryburn (single birth).