Ellen Eliza Lansdown1

b. 25 December 1835, d. 10 October 1911
FatherGeorge Lansdown
MotherAnna Cole Thomas2 b. 23 Nov 1825, d. Sep 1840
Birth25 Dec 1835 Ellen Eliza Lansdown was born on 25 Dec 1835 in Marion, Smyth, Virginia.1,3,4 
Marriage20 May 1856 She married Thomas Edmondson Gardner, son of Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmiston, on 20 May 1856 near 7 Mile Ford in Smyth County, Virginia.5 
28 May 1859  On May 28, 1859 Ellen's sister Jennie Lansdown presented her with a new Bible. Jennie inscribed it:
Dear Sister
I present this Book of Books to you with the earnest desire that you may search it diligently and may the Lord our God direct you into paths of peace...


In the years to come Ellen and/or Thomas (and others) would preserve the family's birth, marriage and death records in this Bible, including information for generations who had preceded them. 
Cens-186013 Jun 1860 Thomas's parent left Virginia for Texas at some point during the 1850s. Ellen and Thomas did not join his parents in Texas but remained in Virginia. There they were recorded living in Smyth County in 1860 with the first 2 of the 10 children who would eventually be born to them. Thomas, at age 32, stated that he was the manager of a "salt works estate". He owned personal property valued at $12,250. Ellen was 32. Also living with them was 21 year old Virginia Lansdown who owned real estate valued at over $4,000 and personal property of $5,000.6 
Cens-18703 Oct 1870  Ellen and Thomas were enumerated again in 1870. By then they were living in Washington County where Thomas was farming. He owned real estate valued at $6,000 and personal property of $1,200. Four children , all born following the 1860 census were also listed: Anna (8), Elvira [Edwin] (6), Hattie (3) and Rosa (1).7 
  Thomas and Ellen's two eldest children, Margaret and William, had both died in October 1865. 
Cens-188023 Jun 1880 The 1880 census clarified that Thomas and Ellen lived in the Saltville District of Washington County. Seven children were still at home, including 5 born following the 1870 census: Sarah (10), Mary (8), Thomas (5), George (2) and an infant boy listed simply as "baby" [later named Graham].8 
Cens-19009 Jun 1900 By 1900 Ellen and Thomas had returned to Smyth County where they were enumerated living in Marion. Thomas, at 72, no longer listed an occupation. Ellen stated that she was the mother of 10 children, 3 of whom were no longer living [daughter Hattie died in 1892]. Two daughters, Virginia and Mary, had not married and were living at home with their parents as was Graham (19), the youngest child.9 
  Son George had married the previous Fall; he and his wife were enumerated as the adjacent household.10 
Widowed23 Feb 1903  Thomas died in 1903. 
Cens-1910May 1910 The 1910 census found 74 year old Ellen living in Seven Mile Ford with her two unmarried daughters and her youngest son Graham, who at age 28 [actually 30] was also single. In addition, Ellen's 9 year old granddaughter, Clara Horton was present.11 
  Clara was most likely the daughter of Ellen's daughter Anna, who died in 1908. Another Horton child, Mary Ella, was enumerated with Ellen's son Edwin Gardner in 1910 in California.12 
Death10 Oct 1911 Ellen died on 10 Oct 1911 at age 75.3,13 
Burial She was buried in the Gardner-Dickenson Square at Old Glade Spring Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.3 

Related Links and Images:

Thomas and Ellen's home south of Saltville; photographed in 1950.
Thomas and Ellen's home was indicated on the 1890 Boyd map for Washington County
Ellen's side of Gardner monument
Other interments in Old Glade Spring Cemetery

Family

Thomas Edmondson Gardner b. 7 Jul 1827, d. 23 Feb 1903
Children
Last Edited4 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The second entry on the "Birth" page reads: Ellen Eliza Lansdown was Born the 25th day of December 1835 in Smyth Co. Va.
  2. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. Tucked in the Bible was a pedigree chart for Graham Lansdowne Gardner (b. 1880), son of Ellen Eliza Lansdowne. The chart lists Ellen's parents as George Thompson Lansdown and Anna Cole Thomas.
  3. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 180. Stone reported to read: Ellen E. Gardner, w/o Thomas E. Gardner, 25 Dec. 1835-10 Oct. 1911.
  4. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 723.
  5. [S60] Thomas Hockett and Shelia Steele Hunt, Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1851-1891 & 1860 Census, p. 63. Record reported as: Thos E. Gardner, 28, b. Washington Co., VA, s/o Jeremiah & Margaret Gardner & Ellen E. Lansdown, 20, d/o George and Ann; marr: 20 May 1856.
  6. [S576] Thomas E. Gardener [sic] household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford Post Office, p. 20 (original script), dwelling 122, family 122, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 22 of 191. Enumeration includes: Thomas E. Gardener, 32, manager of salt works estate, owns pers. prop. of $12,250; Ellen E., 24; Margaret V., 3; William P. 6/12; Virginia A. Lansdown, 21, owns real estate of $4,200 and pers. prop of $5,000; all b. VA.
  7. [S635] Thos E. Gardner household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 1st Division, p. 187 (following page), dwelling 70, family 77, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 10 of 44. Thos E. Gardner, 43, farmer, owns real estate of $6,000, pers. prop of $1,200; Ellen E., 35; Anna T., 8; Elvira L., 6; Hattie V., 3; Rosa 1; all b. VA.
  8. [S163] Thomas Gardener [sic] household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, p. 234 (D) stamped, dwelling 455, family 467. Aug. 2006, image 52 of 63. Enumeration includes: Thomas Gardener, 52, marr, farmer; Ellen E., wife, 44, marr; Anna T., dau, 18; Edwin L., son, 16, farm laborer; Hattie J., dau, 13; Sarah V., dau, 10; Marry E., dau, 8; Thomas E., son, 5; George M., son, 2; Baby, son b. Apr; Mary Washington, 21, black, servant; all b. VA.
  9. [S682] Thomas Gardner household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Marion, ED 82, sheet 14B, dwelling 250, family 265, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 28 of 32. Enumeration includes: Thomas Gardner, b. Jul 1827, 72, marr 43 [?] yrs, b. VA, father b. NY, mother b. VA, no occup listed; Ellen E., wife, 64, b. Dec. 1835, marr 4_ yrs, mother 10 children, 7 living; Virginia, dau, 26, b. Sept. 1873; Ma__, dau, 24, b. Sept. 1875; Graham, son, 19, b. Apr 1880, day laborer; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  10. [S682] George Gardner household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Marion, ED 82, sheet 14B, dwelling 251, family 266, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 28 of 32. Enumeration includes: George Gardner, 22, b. Mch 1878, marr 6/12, farm laborer; Lula, wife, 22, b. Oct. 1872, no children; both b. VA, parents b. VA.
  11. [S1138] Ellen E. Gardner household, 1910 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Seven Mile Ford, ED 82, sheet 8A (p. 56 stamped), dwelling 136, family 137, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2006, image 15 of 21. Enumeration includes: Ellen E. Gardner, 74, wid, mother 10 children, 6 living, Virginia, dau, 52, sgl; Mamie, dau, 30, sgl; Graham, son, 28, sgl; Clarra Horton, 9, granddaughter; all b. VA, all parents b. VA.
  12. [S1560] Edwin L. Gardner household, 1910 U.S. cens., Ventura Co., California, pop. sched., Ventura township, ED 214, sheet 9A (p. 123 stamped), dwelling 131, family 134, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 17 of 26. Enumeration includes: Edwin L. Gardner, 45, marr #1, marr 21 yrs, farmer, owns farm, b. VA, father b. VA, mother b. MO; Laura A., wife, 41, marr #1, marr 21 yrs, mother 3 children, all living, b. VA, parents b. VA; Eugene, son, 20; Laurence, son, 14; Alton, son, 4; Mary Ella Horton, niece, 12; all b. VA and all parents b. VA.
  13. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The Deaths records page includes this entry: Ellen Eliza Gardner wife of Thomas E. Gardner Departed this life the 19th of Oct. 1911 aged 75 yrs 9 mos 14 days.
  14. [S2981] Ellen Eliza (Lansdown) and Thomas Edmondson Gardner Family Bible, The New Testament (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1859); held in 2012 by the Smyth-Bland Regional Library, Marion, VA. The "Birth" page entries begin with Thomas Edmondson Gardner and Ellen Eliza Lansdown followed by entries for 10 children. The first 6 entries appear to be in the same script; the script on later entries varies.