Mary "Polly" Dunn1

b. circa 1800, d. before November 1868
FatherWilliam Dunn2 d. 1819
MotherLydia Musgrave d. aft 1819
Birthcirca 1800 Mary "Polly" Dunn was born circa 1800.1 
Devisee14 Jan 1819  Polly was about 19 years old when her father wrote his will. In it he left her a share of the family plantation as well as a bed, furniture and a saddle. She also participated in the distribution of her father's slaves.2 
Marriage18 Jun 1820 She married Caleb Logan, son of James Logan and Barbara (?), on 18 Jun 1820.3 
Land-Sell23 Sep 1843  In Sept. 1843 Caleb and Mary sold their interest in her father's land to Jonas Smyth [probably Mary's brother-in-law]. Mary's other siblings who held shares also sold [except Lydia Dunn who married Jonas Smyth in 1832]. The transaction may have been precipitated by the impending move to Missouri of Mary's brother William who had been living on the land.4 
Land-Sell22 Jan 1844  A few months later, in Jan. 1844, Caleb and Mary sold Jonas Smyth the 61 acres Caleb received from the division of his fathers land.5 
Cens-18506 Aug 1850  Caleb and Mary were enumerated living in Washington County when the 1850 federal census was recorded. Living with them were Licineas (28), Eliza (21), Rebecka (19), James W. (17), Mary C. (15), Adaline (13) and Dorcas (11). Caleb's nephew, James S. Logan, lived on an adjacent property.6 
Cens-186028 Jun 1860  In 1860 three children were still living at home: Mary, Adaline and Dorcas. Also living with Caleb and Mary was their grandson, James Smith, age 4 [his mother, Eliza (Logan) Smith had died in 1857]. Caleb and Mary's land was valued that year at $8,000 and they owned personal property worth $10,000.7 
Cens-1860- Slave10 Jun 1860  The personal property, at least in part, reflected the value of the 9 slaves that helped work the family farm.8 
Widowed12 Oct 1860  Caleb died on 12 Oct 1860. 
Court Record28 Nov 1860  The following month Mary went into court and renounced the terms of Caleb's will, which in actuality did not mention her at all. She asked the court to appoint persons to assign her dower portion of the estate (typically a one third share).9 
Deathbefore Nov 1868 Mary died before Nov 1868 at which time an entry for the sale of her personal property was made in the probate record of her deceased husband Caleb.10 

Family

Caleb Logan b. 16 Jun 1789, d. 12 Oct 1860
Children
Last Edited21 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S87] "Dunn Family Reunion Booklet," compiled for the 3rd Dunn Family Reunion, 7 Aug. 1988 by Eva Dunn Counts, Knoxville, TN, p. 16. Family group sheet for Mary (Polly) Dunn and Caleb Logan.
  2. [S131] William Dunn will (1819), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 4: 284. Will mentions wife Lydia, daughter Elizabeth Logan, wife of Wm S. Logan, daughters Rebecca, Polly, Jane and Lydia Dunn and sons Samuel, John and William Dunn; also grandson William D. Logan.
  3. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 37.
  4. [S2524] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 16, 1842-1844, abstracting WCV Deed Bk 16: 386.
  5. [S2524] Jack Hockett, Washington Co., Virginia Deed Book 16, 1842-1844, abstracting WCV Deed Bk 16: 419.
  6. [S367] Caleb Logan household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 88 (stamped), dwelling 295, family 295, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 41 of 289. Caleb Logan, 61, farmer, owns real estate valued at $1,487; Mary 50; Licineas 28; Eliza 21; Rebecka 19; Jas W. 17; Mary C. 15; Adaline 13; Dorcas 11; all b. VA.
  7. [S234] Caleb Logan household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 436, dwelling 502, family 490, viewed online at Ancestry.com, March 2003, image 74 of 361. The census recorded: Caleb, 71, farmer, owns real estate $8,000, pers prop $10,000; Mary 50; Mary 22 seamstress; Adaline 20, spinster; Dorcas 18, weaver; also James W. Smith 4; all b. VA.
  8. [S1308] Caleb Logan, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 458 (stamped), line 15, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 9 slaves including: 3 males (16, 8, 3) and 5 females (30, 28, 10, 10, 7, and 1) also 1 slave house.
  9. [S851] Mary Logan renouncement of husband's will (1860), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 15: 130. Document, dated 28 Nov. 1860, was witnessed by Wm Skinner and John C. Smyth.
  10. [S827] Caleb Logan settlement (1884), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 21: 349. Settlement covers time frame from Nov. 1861 to Oct. 1882.
  11. [S30] Audrey Honegger, "William Dunn/Lydia Musgrave Family," e-mail to Diana Powell, 11 Jan 2001.
  12. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 215. Licineus T. Logan 44 y, widow, b & resid Wash. Co. VA, farmer, s/o Caleb & Mary Logan and Eveline Davenport, 26y, single, d/o Thomas and Nancy Davenport; 19 Sept 1866.
  13. [S30] Audrey Honegger, "Smyth Questions," e-mail to Diana Powell, 11 Jan 2001.
  14. [S632] "Selected Death Records Mostly From Washington Co., Virginia", Holston Pastfinder, Volume 21, Number 82: p. 11. The record is reported as: Mary Catherine Garrett, widowed, b. VA, 1 June 1832 (?), 90y 6m 28d, d/o Caleb Logan, b. VA and Mary Dunn, b. VA, d. 30 Dec. 1922, buried Walnut Grove Cem. Note: "accidental falling in hall way."
  15. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 343. John Chesterfield Smyth, 28, single, farmer, s/o Jonas & Lydia D. Smyth and Adaline Missouri Logan, 23, single, d/o Caleb & Mary Logan; 10 Aug 1862.
  16. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 215. Lafayette Logan, 24y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, farmer, s/o James S. & Rebecca Logan AND Dorcas A. Logan, 27y, sgl, b. Coffee Co. TN, resid WCV, d/o Caleb & Polly Logan; 31 Jul 1867.