Permelia Staples1

b. circa 1821, d. 27 July 1888
BirthCircacirca 1821 Permelia Staples was born in Virginia circa 1821.2,3 
Marriage1842 She married first (?) Hill in 1842.1 
Marriage25 Dec 1866 She married Absalom A. Beattie, son of William Beattie and Mary Allison, on 25 Dec 1866 in Washington County, Virginia. Both the bride and groom were widowed at the time of this marriage.1 
  In the years prior to the Civil War Absalom had been a very successful farmer. However a failed business investment, and the devaluation of Confederate currency (with which he had been paid for goods supplied to the Confederate Army) resulted in the eventual loss of his home and property. 
Cens-18805 Jun 1880  Following the sale of his land Absalom, enumerated as Major A. Beaty, and Permelia (enumerated as Cornelia) lived with his son Robert in Bristol, Sullivan County, Tennessee.4 
WidowedAug 1880  Absalom died in August, 1880. 
  Following Absalom's death, Permelia brought suit against Wm C. Sanders who had purchased Absalom's land from Fayette McMullin. McMullin had represented the land as being free of any dower encumbrance. However the Smyth Co. Chancery Court disagreed and awarded Permelia $220 a year for the remainder of her life. Sanders countered by suing F. Alexander as Fayette McMullin's administrator, charging that McMullin falsely represented the right of Mrs. Beattie to a dower interest in the land. The case made its way to the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals which upheld the decision of the Smyth Co. Circuit Ct. that McMullin's estate was responsible for the monies owned Permelia.5 
Death27 Jul 1888 Permelia died of indigestion on 27 Jul 1888 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
Last Edited17 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 18. Absalom Beatie, 64y, wid, b. & resid Washington Co. VA, farmer, s/o William & Mary Beatie AND Permelia Hill, 45y, wid, b. Henrico Co., VA, resid WCV, d/o William & Susan Staples; 25 Dec. 1866.
  2. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 18. Both the bride and groom had been widowed.
  3. [S86] Fridley, "Washington Co., VA Deaths 1886-1896" online database, <www.Ancestry.com>, Beattie, Permelia, d. 27 Jul 1888 of indigestion at 67 yrs of age; parents not recorded.
  4. [S914] Maj A. Beaty household, 1880 U.S. cens., Sullivan Co., Tennessee, pop sched., Bristol, ED 27, page 15C (p. 523 stamped), dwelling 134, family 137, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Feb. 2013. Household includes: Maj A. Beaty, 78, farmer; Cornelia A., 55, wife; Robert, 37, son, farmer retired; M.A., 30, wife [daughter-in-law]; Nora M., 1, dau [granddaughter]; all b. VA/VA/VA.
  5. [S3066] Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, Virginia Law Review Vol. 9, p. 97, digitized images, Google Books (http://books.google.com : Feb. 2013), The case, styled Alexander vs Sanders, was heard on appeal from the Circuit Court of Smyth County where it was initiated in Sept. 1882 by William C. Sanders.