John Byars1

b. 8 August 1811, d. 19 August 1890
FatherCol. William Byars2,1 b. 13 Nov 1776 or 18 Nov 1776, d. 14 Feb 1866
MotherElizabeth Beattie2,1 b. 26 Dec 1784, d. 26 Nov 1834 or 26 Nov 1865
John Byars|b. 8 Aug 1811\nd. 19 Aug 1890|p2436.htm|Col. William Byars|b. 13 Nov 1776 or 18 Nov 1776\nd. 14 Feb 1866|p2435.htm|Elizabeth Beattie|b. 26 Dec 1784\nd. 26 Nov 1834 or 26 Nov 1865|p2434.htm|John Byars|b. 16 Mar 1732\nd. 1781||Elizabeth Thomasson|b. 27 Feb 1735\nd. 12 Oct 1823||William Beattie|b. bet 1760 - 1762\nd. 4 Apr 1860|p1976.htm|Mary Allison|b. 1763\nd. 16 Apr 1830|p1977.htm|
Birth8 Aug 1811 John Byars was born on his father's estate, Brook Hall Farm, in Washington County, Virginia, on 8 Aug 1811.3,4,5 
Marriage24 Oct 1836 He married his second cousin Jane Beattie Ryburn, daughter of Beattie Ryburn and Jane Ryburn, on 24 Oct 1836 near Glade Spring, in Washington County, with Rev. Alexander McEwen presiding.6,7 
Cens-18509 Aug 1850 John, Jane and their two daughters were enumerated on the 1850 census of Washington County living near Jane's father Beattie Ryburn.8 
Residence  By 1860 John and Jane appear to have moved to their new home, known as Cave Springs, where they would live for the next 30+ years. The home sat on land owned by John's father, Col. William Byars. The brick structure contained 14 beautiful, high-ceilinged rooms, eight of which had their own fireplaces. There were many additional out-buildings, including slave quarters. A long road led up to the house; John was known to drive it in a carriage lined in velvet and drawn by a team of white horses. Years later, the home was remembered as a showcase. It sat just west of Brook Hall, where the widowed Col. Byars resided. [see link below for photos and additional information on Cave Springs].9,10 
Cens-18601860  The 1860 census enumerated John and Jane as Col. Byar's neighbors. John was not listed as the owner of the property on which he was living, but he was listed as the owner of personal property worth over $10,000, which included 13 slaves. However Col. Byars real estate holdings were valued at almost $85,000 and his personal property was listed at $41,500. These were both very large amounts for the time and neighborhood.11,12 
Cens-1860- Agric  The 1860 agricultural schedule provides additional information about Cave Springs. The farm consisted of 150 acres of improved land and 90 acres unimproved; it was valued at $10,000. The livestock, valued at $5,625, consisted of 5 horses, 10 mules, 13 cows, 6 oxen, 110 other cattle, 20 sheep and 75 swine. In the previous year the land produced (among other things) 150 bushels of wheat, 80 bushels of rye, 2,000 bushels of Indian corn, 1,000 bushels of oats, 24 pounds of wool, 500 pounds of butter, 20 tons of hay and 30 gallons of molasses.13 
  The makeup of John and Jane's family had changed in the years between the 1850 and 1860 census enumerations. Daughter Sarah died in 1856 at age 9 and daughter Elizabeth married John Hall. In 1860 the young couple were also enumerated living at Cave Springs. 
Devisee1866 Col. William Byars died in 1866. His will, written in May 1858 bequeathed John a portion of Brook Hall Farm [Cave Springs]. Col. Byars also left John a farm William had purchased from John Eakin with the stipulation that on John Byar's death it was to pass to John's nephew, James Ernest.2 
Cens-187027 Sep 1870 The 1870 census enumeration included John and Jane, along with Elizabeth and John Hall, and 9 year old William Hall. Oddly, John Hall and not John Byars was listed as the head of the household and the property owner (owns real estate valued at $17,300 and personal property valued at $2,000).14 
  This census may not accurately reflect who was the head of the household or who owned the land. 
Cens-188026 Jun 1880 In 1880, John Byars was enumerated as the head of the household which was no doubt a more accurate representation. John was 69; his occupation was listed as "farmer". Jane was 60. John and Elizabeth Hall and their 17 year old son William were again part of the household. A servant was also present, as was 50 year old Ann Eliza Nye.15 
  Ann Eliza was John's first cousin once removed, the daughter of Arthur Byars and Susannah Blessing. 
Death19 Aug 1890 John died on 19 Aug 1890 at age 79.3,1 
Burial He was buried at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

John's death entry in Elizabeth's Bible 16
John's birth entry in the Bible of his daughter Elizabeth16
John spent the early years of his childhood at Brook Hall, his parents first home to bear that name. Later they built a beautiful home across the road and also called it Brook Hall
John and Jane's home known as Cave Springs; also owned by their daughter Elizabeth Hall
John's headstone
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery
The 1850 census listed John as the head of household number 354. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Jane Beattie Ryburn b. 6 Jun 1819, d. 8 May 1897
Children
ChartsDescendants (with their spouses) of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Descendants (with their spouses) of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited21 Nov 2011

Citations

  1. [S1876] Elizabeth (Byars) Hall Bible.
  2. [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.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 176. John Byars, 8 Aug 1811-19 Aug 1890, age 79y 11d.
  4. [S1876] Elizabeth (Byars) Hall Bible. The Bible entry states, "Jno Byars, son of William & Elizabeth Byars was born August the 8th 1811."
  5. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 707. This source states that John was born on his father's estate, Brook Hall Farm, 11 Aug. 1811.
  6. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 7. John Byars and Jane B. Ryburn, 24 Oct. 1836; minister Alexander McEwen.
  7. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 707; this source says marriage was 22 Oct. 1836.
  8. [S367] John Byars household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 91b (stamped), dwelling 354, family 354, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 48 of 289. John Byars, 38 farmer; Jane 30; Elizabeth 11; Sarah 3; all b. VA.
  9. [S1209] Virginia Division of Historic Landmarks, Washington County Survey forms, copies held by the Historical Society of Washington County, Abingdon, Virginia. Vol 6: # 95-205 (Cave Springs), dated 8/9/1992, completed by Vivian Coletti.
  10. [S1593] "Home Near Glade Spring Recalls Past", The Roanoke Times, Sunday, Dec. 7, 1958, page B-10. The author visited Cave Spring and interviewed Miss Mary Byars, stated to be the great-granddaughter of Col. William Byars actually his great grandniece), for this article. Miss Byars owned the home and lived in it at the time the interview was conducted.
  11. [S234] John Byars household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 461 (added script), dwelling 701, family 679, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 99 of 361. Reported data includes: John Byars, 48, b. VA, farmer, owns personal property valued at $10,600; Jane, 41, b. VA; John D. Hall 25, farmer, b. N. J.; Elizabeth Hall 22, b. VA.
  12. [S1308] John Byars, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 10 (original script), line 1, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 13 slaves including 3 adult males and 3 adult females; 2 slave houses.
  13. [S1311] John Byars landowner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, agricultural sched., Glade Spring Post Office, p. 25.
  14. [S635] John D. Hall household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring Township, p. 69b (stamped), dwelling 226, family 233, viewed online at Ancestry.com, June 2003, image 138 of 426. Data includes: John D. Hall, 36, farmer, owns real estate valued at $17,300, personal property at $2,000, born New Jersey; E. M., (f), 30, keeping house; William B., 9; John Byars, 60, farmer; Jane B. 45; C. Boyd, black, cook; all others b. VA.
  15. [S165] John Byars household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring District, ED 94, page 52 (78B stamped), dwelling 450, family 453, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 52 of 54. John Byars, 69, farmer; Jane R. or B., 60, wife; John Hall, 46, son-in-law, farmer; Elizabeth, 47 or 49, dau; William B., 17, son; William Thomas, servant; Ann Eliza Nye, 50, widow; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  16. [S1376] Bible images courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
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