Elizabeth Beattie1

b. 26 December 1784, d. 26 November 1834 or 26 November 1835
FatherWilliam Beattie2,1,3 b. bet 1760 - 1762, d. 4 Apr 1860
MotherMary Allison2,1 b. 1763, d. 16 Apr 1830
Birth26 Dec 1784 Elizabeth Beattie was born on 26 Dec 1784.2,4 
Marriage26 Feb 1807 She married Col. William Byars, son of John Byars and Elizabeth Thomasson, on 26 Feb 1807 in Washington County, Virginia.5 
Residence  During the early years of their marriage William and Elizabeth lived in a log house known as Brook Hall which had been built years earlier by James Dysart.6 
Residence  William made his money operating a grist mill and a distillery. The profits were used to expand his land holdings and to purchase slaves (he owned 47 by 1830). In the late 1820s he built an immense estate which he also called Brook Hall. The 8,800 square foot home consisted of 26 rooms, including a ballroom. There were several unique features including a suite of rooms built for the colonel's daughters that could only be accessed through a hidden stairway. The house sat 3 stories tall and included a basement.7,8,9,10 
Legatee14 Oct 1834  Elizabeth's father, William Beattie, wrote his will on October 14th, 1834 leaving her one dollar.3 
Death26 Nov 1834 or 26 Nov 1835 Elizabeth died on 26 Nov 1834 or 26 Nov 1835. Elizabeth's original stone says she died Nov. 26, 1834, however her entry on the large Col. Wm Byars monument uses Nov. 26, 1835.11 
Burial She was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4 

Related Links and Images:

The first Brook Hall, built by James Dysart and his wife Nancy Beattie; also owned by William Byars and wife Elizabeth Beattie12
The second Brook Hall, built by William Byars and Elizabeth Beattie; also owned by their daughter Amanda Ernest13
Elizabeth's original headstone
Elizabeth's original stone to the left of the larger Byars monument; second image shows Elizabeth's inscription on larger monument
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Col. William Byars b. 13 Nov 1776 or 18 Nov 1776, d. 14 Feb 1866
Children
Last Edited10 Sep 2013

Citations

  1. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 34. Peggie cites an interview conducted in 1948 with Margaret Breckenridge Ryburn, a great granddaughter of John Beattie and Ellen Gilmore.
  2. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 102-6.
  3. [S851] William Beattie will (recorded 1860), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 15: 33. William's will was written on 14 Oct. 1834 with a codicil added on 14 Jul 1849. It was not recorded in court until 28 May 1860. The will was originally witnessed by Samuel Dunn, James Porterfield and Beattie Ryburn. However, by the time the will was recorded only Samuel Dunn was living. James C. Porterfield and Arthur D. Hutton testified that they were well acquainted with the handwriting of these two witnesses. Madison Beattie took the oath of executor with a bond of $2,000.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175. Transcription reads: Elizabeth Byars, Consort of Col. Wm Byars, 26 Dec. 1784 - 26 Nov. 1835, age 50y 11m.
  5. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 5.
  6. [S956] J. Cloyd Byars, "Fort Kilmackronen", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin #10 (July 1943): 1-15.
  7. [S952] "Historical Houses of Washington County, Virginia", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, #6 (Spring, 1968): 25. Article on Brook Hall authored by Mr. Jerry Simpson and originally published in the Washington County News in May, 1965.
  8. [S578] William Byars household, 1830 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 230 stamped, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jun 2009, image 12 of 150. William Byars HH: 1 male under 5; 1 male 10-15; 1 male 15-20; 2 males 20-30; 1 male 50-60; 1 female 5-10; 1 female 10-15; 1 female 15-20; 1 female 20-30 and 1 female 40-50; 47 slaves.
  9. [S2640] "Brook Hall Final Nomination Form", 1997, digital image, Virginia Department of Historic Resources - Historic Registers (http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register.htm : Apr 2011).
  10. [S16] Research submitted with the Brook Hall Natl Register of Historic Places registration form noted that between 1829 and 1830, the 615 acre parcel Byars purchased from Dysart experienced a substantial increase in tax base related to the buildings on the property (Washington Co. Land Tax Records viewed at Richmond). This suggests Brook Hall was probably completed abt 1830.
  11. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175. This source lists two entries for Elizabeth. One states she died 26 Nov. 1835 and the other listed the year as 1834.
  12. [S1376] Photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia.
  13. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  14. [S852] William Byars will (1866), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 16: 406. The will was written 6 May 1858 with a codicil added March 31, 1862. It was recorded 26 March 1866.
  15. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 175. Transcription reads: Littleton Byars, inf s/o Col. Wm & Elizabeth Byars, 14 Jun 1809 - 19 May 1814, age 4y 11m 5d.
  16. [S1876] Elizabeth (Byars) Hall Bible.