Eliza Margaret "Pink" Dunn1

b. 3 May 1834, d. 26 March 1852

 
Eliza Margaret "Pink" (Dunn) Jones (early 1852)
photo courtesy Carolyn Ryburn

FatherDr. Samuel Dunn2 b. 18 Feb 1805, d. 27 Nov 1888
MotherJane Beattie Ryburn Edmiston2 b. 24 Aug 1807, d. 23 May 1861
Eliza Margaret "Pink" Dunn|b. 3 May 1834\nd. 26 Mar 1852|p2893.htm|Dr. Samuel Dunn|b. 18 Feb 1805\nd. 27 Nov 1888|p2278.htm|Jane Beattie Ryburn Edmiston|b. 24 Aug 1807\nd. 23 May 1861|p2274.htm|William Dunn|d. 1819||Lydia Musgrave|d. a 1819||Thomas Edmiston|b. 4 Aug 1773\nd. 25 Oct 1822|p1797.htm|Margaret Buchanan|b. 29 Dec 1778\nd. 19 Feb 1853|p1717.htm|

Birth3 May 1834 Eliza Margaret "Pink" Dunn was born on 3 May 1834 in Washington County, Virginia.2,3 
Childhood Eliza, who was known in the family as "Pink", grew up in Washington County, Virginia, in the old log house off Forest Hills Drive which had originally belonged to her grandmother Margaret Buchanan Edmondson. Eliza was the second daughter in a family of 9 children who were born over a span of 21 years, ranging from 1830 to 1851.4 
  Eliza was known to possess an intelligent mind and a sweet disposition.3 
Marriage15 Jan 1852 She married her distant cousin William E. Jones, son of Robert Jones and Catherine Moffett Edmiston, on 15 Jan 1852.2,3 
15 Jan 1852 She was 17 and he was about 28. 
Anecdote William was originally from Washington County. He was serving as a lieutenant with the U.S. Mounted Rifles in the Oregon Territory but returned home on furlough for the wedding. After their marriage the couple left for his new assignment in West Texas.5 
Anecdote20 Mar 1852 The couple boarded the steamship Independence in New Orleans on March, 20, 1852. Its destination was Indianola, Texas.6 
Anecdote  Five days later the Independence attempted to enter Cavallo Pass, a narrow opening at the entrance to Matagorda Bay (see maps below). The ship struck a sandbar and became stranded. As the ship began to take on water requests for outside help were made. The ship only had 4 lifeboats and an early attempt to launch one resulted in its complete loss. A second lifeboat was lowered containing Eliza and 4 other women, as well as 1 male passenger and 3 crewmen. The boat capsized almost immediately in the rough waters. Another lifeboat attempted a rescue but was unsuccessful. Eventually 3 of the men were rescued, but all of the women drowned. Eliza was wearing her wedding gown which was no doubt of a heavy fabric; this may have contributed to the tragedy.7 
Death26 Mar 1852 Eliza died on 26 Mar 1852 in Texas at age 17.2,3 
Anecdote  William wrote his mother-in-law, Jane B.R. Dunn about Eliza's death. Carolyn Ryburn, Eliza's great great niece reports that the beautiful letter reflects a great sadness, almost hopelessness, at Eliza's loss.8 
Anecdote  William also wrote Florence Dunn, Eliza's older sister. He enclosed a map showing the exact location of the shipwreck, as well as the place where Eliza's body washed ashore. She was buried one half mile from the village of Calhoun, Texas. William added a note that although the map showed the name of the village as Calhoun, it had changed to Paluria. In a later letter to Eliza's family he indicated her body would be shipped home sometime in 1855.9,10 
 William continued on to his new post but became disillusioned with military life and resigned from the army in 1857, returning to Virginia to live. When the Civil War broke out he organized the Washington County Mounted Rifles. He eventually became a Brigadier General although his disposition earned him the nickname "Grumble Jones". William never remarried. He was killed in 1864 at the Battle of Piedmont.5 
Burial  Eliza is reported to be buried in Old Glade Spring Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia.3 
Related Links and Images
 
Click here for photos and more information on the old Dunn log house where Eliza grew up 
  Eliza was wearing the same broach on the day of her death as is visible in the photo at the top of this page. The broach helped to identify her body.10 
  Eliza's birth entry in the Bible of her sister Emily (3rd image); also Emily's notation of Pink's marriage and death (4th image) 11
 
This is an image of the map William Jones sent to Pink's family back home in Virginia. It shows, in his handwriting, the location of the shipwreck, the place where Pink's body was found and her initial place of burial.12
  The arrow on this modern map of Texas shows the location of Cavallo Pass, the same point indicated on William's map as the site of the ship wreck.
 Eliza's headstone. Second image shows detail of lengthy inscription.
 Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery 

Last Edited14 Feb 2010

Citations

  1. [S87] "Dunn Reunion booklet", p. 24. Family group sheet for Samuel Dunn and Jane Beattie Ryburn Edmondson.
  2. [S65] Emily Dunn Bible.
  3. [S1601] "Glade Spring Presbyterian Church - Washington County", Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly Vol 15, #4 (Oct. 1977), Ancestry.com (http://www.Ancestry.com : Nov. 2006). This reading, done in 1949 by Mr. Beverley Fleet, reported the writing on Eliza's stone as: "Sacred to the Memory of Mrs. Eliza M. the Wife of Lieut. W.E. Jones, U.S. Mid. Rifles. She was born on the 3rd of May 1834 in Washington County, Virginia, was married on the 15th of Jan. 1852 and was drowned on the 26th of March of the same year when attempting to land from the wreck of the Steam Ship Independence at Pass Caballo, Texas. She was personally beautiful, had a sweet disposition and an intellect uncommonly brilliant. The early death of so hopeful a sister, child & wife left her friends, parents & her husband in unspeakable sorrow."
  4. [S367] Dr. Dunn household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 88b (stamped), dwelling 308, family 308, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 42 of 289. Dr. Dunn 43, physician, owns real estate valued at $3,420; cont p. 89: Jane Dunn 40; Florence 19; Thomas 17; Margaret 15; Emily 13; William 11; Sarah 9; Robert 5 and Catherine 2; all b. VA.
  5. [S1301] James Buchanan Ballard, "The Death of Eliza Dunn Jones", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, No. 34 (1997): 3-10.
  6. [S1301] James Buchanan Ballard, "The Death of Eliza Dunn Jones", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, No. 34 (1997): 3-10. Mr. Ballard cites: Brown, John Henry, Indianola Bulletin, Vol 1, No. 8, April 1, 1852.
  7. [S1301] James Buchanan Ballard, "The Death of Eliza Dunn Jones", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin Series II, No. 34 (1997): 3-10. Mr. Ballard cites: Eldridge, Indianola Letter & Indianola Bulletin. Charles Eldridge was a passenger on the Independence. He wrote a personal account of the wreck in a letter to friends (Indianola Letter) which is held by the Univ. of Texas Archives at Austin. His report of the tragedy also appeared in the Indianola Bulletin newspaper account.
  8. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 15 Nov. 2000.
  9. [S97] "Mitchell's Map of Texas."
  10. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 11 May 2001.
  11. [S1376] Bible images courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
  12. [S1376] Map image courtesy of Carolyn Ryburn.
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