Margaret Wilson Buchanan1

b. 20 March 1812, d. 27 August 1883
Margaret (Buchanan) Crenshaw (cropped)
photo courtesy Carolyn Ryburn
FatherJohn Buchanan2 b. 1784, d. 14 Sep 1858
MotherMary Ryburn1,3 b. 2 Apr 1785, d. 5 May 1858
Birth20 Mar 1812 Margaret Wilson Buchanan was born on 20 Mar 1812.4 
Marriage21 Mar 1844 She married George Sanders Crenshaw, son of Joseph William Crenshaw and Rebecca Moore, on 21 Mar 1844 in Smyth County, Virginia.5 
 Following their marriage Margaret and George moved into a home Margaret's father had built years earlier for his sister Mary Buchanan Fullen. It was located at Quarry [Rich Valley area of Smyth County near Saltville] and was known as the Andy Fullen house. 
Cens-185019 Jul 1850 Six years after their marriage George and Margaret were recorded on the 1850 federal census for Smyth County with the first four of their six children. Interestingly, the youngest daughter, born in 1858, who would appear in all later records as "America Virginia", was enumerated on this census as "Oregon S."6 
Legatee20 Jun 1858 Margaret's father wrote his will in June of 1858, dividing his assets among his children.2 
  Three days later a family disagreement resulted in Margaret's husband George shooting her sister's husband Alexander Ward. It was later ruled an act of self defense.7 
Cens-Sum George and Margaret continued to live in the Rich Valley area of Smyth County until sometime shortly after the 1870 census was recorded.8,9 
Migrationbefore Sep 1873  By 1873, when their son William married, they had moved to neighboring Washington County where they lived in the Chestnut Ridge area.10 
Cens-188016 Jun 1880  There they were enumerated in 1880, along with daughter Sallie, age 32, and son James and his new wife.11 
Heir Following the death of her uncle, James Buchanan in 1876, Margaret began to receive annual payments from the estate of James and his two brothers, which eventually totaled about $560.12 
Description  According to descendants, Margaret was blind in the later years of her life. Her uncle, James Buchanan, was also listed as blind on the 1870 census at which time he was 81.13,14  
Death27 Aug 1883 Margaret died on 27 Aug 1883 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 71.4,1 
Burial She was buried at Rock Spring Cemetery in Washington County.4 

Related Links and Images:

Newspaper article about shooting incident between George Crenshaw and Alexander Ward. Click camera icon for larger image15
Margaret's headstone (before and after cleaning)
Other interments in Rock Spring Cemetery

Family

George Sanders Crenshaw b. 20 Jul 1818, d. 10 Mar 1891
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited19 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S1584] Peggy Lester, "Descendants of George Sanders Crenshaw and Margaret Wilson Buchanan", report dated 10 Oct. 2006. Peggy is the great granddaughter of George and Margaret (Buchanan) Crenshaw.
  2. [S849] John Buchanan will (recorded 1858), Smyth Co., Virginia Will Book 3: 123. John's will was dated 20 June 1858 and recorded 21 Sept. 1858.
  3. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 209. Trimble cites records belonging to Miss Mary Sewell Helvey as his source for information on the family of John Buchanan and Mary Ryburn.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 206. Transcription of stone reads: Margaret W. Crenshaw, w/o Geo S. Crenshaw, 20 Mar 1812 - 27 Aug 1883.
  5. [S45] John Vogt and William Kethley Jr., Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1832-50, p. 18. Transcription reads: George S. Crenshaw & Margaret Buchanan, 21 March 1844.
  6. [S465] Geo S. Crenshaw household, 1850 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sched., 60th District, p. 163 (stamped), dwelling 99, family 101, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 15 of 169. Enumeration reads: Geo S. Crenshaw, 31, farmer; Mgt, 32; Mary E. 5; Sarah R. 3; Oregon S. 2; John B. 5/12; Campbell Davidson, 14; all b. VA.
  7. [S932] Lester, "Descendants of Alexander Ward and Mary Buchanan". Peggy cites as her source for the information about Alexander's death "The Richmond Whig and Public Advisor", dated July 2, 1858, a copy of which she obtained from the Virginia State Library.
  8. [S576] George S. Cranshaw household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford post office, p. 878 (following 877 script), dwelling 100, family 100, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 18 of 191. Enumeration reads: George S. Cranshaw, 43, farmer, personal real estate of $500; Margaret W., 47; Mary E., 15; Sally R., 13; America V., 11; John B., 10; Wellington [sic] J., 8; James C., 6; all b. VA.
  9. [S1006] Geo S. Crenshaw household, 1870 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley township, p. 82b (stamped), dwelling 448, family 448, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 68 of 90. Enumeration reads: Geo S. Crenshaw, 51, farmer, owns $750 real estate; Margaret, 57; Mary E.A.R., 25; Sarah E.O.S., 24; America _.O.S., 22; John B., 20; Joseph W., 18; James C., 16; all born VA.
  10. [S23] Virginia Crenshaw Moore, "George Sanders Crenshaw" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 123. Ms Moore is the great granddaughter of Margaret Buchanan and George Crenshaw.
  11. [S165] George Crenshaw household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 38B, dwelling 338, family 348, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, October 2004, image 38 of 63. Enumeration includes: George Crenshaw, 62, marr, no occup; Margaret, 67, wife; Sallie, 32, dau, sgl; James, 26, son, marr 1 yr; Mary, 21, dau-in-law, marr 1 yr; all persons b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  12. [S1015] Washington Co., Virginia probate records for James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan.
  13. [S635] Mathew Buckhanon household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., District 1, Abingdon post office, p. 184b (stamped), dwelling 27, family 29, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 4 of 44. Enumeration reads Mathew Buckhanon (?), 88, retired farmer, owns land valued at $13,800; James, 81, retired farmer; Robert, 78, retired farmer; Jane B., 44, keeping house; Sallie P. Page, 42, asst housekeeper; Susan R (middle initial not clear and last name not stipulated), 35, asst housekeeper; all b. VA; Note: James is described as "blind."
  14. [S928] Peggy Lester, "America Crenshaw Booth," e-mail to D. Powell, 2 Nov. 2006. Peggy is the greatgranddaughter of Margaret (Buchanan) Crenshaw.
  15. [S1376] Image courtesy of Peggy (Stringer) Lester.
  16. [S1886] Jack Hockett, "Washington County, Virginia Death Records", New River Notes (http://www.newrivernotes.com/hockett/wcvdeaths.htm : accessed Dec. 2007). Data for Sallie Rebecca Crenshaw.
  17. [S1886] Jack Hockett, "Washington County, Virginia Death Records", New River Notes (http://www.newrivernotes.com/hockett/wcvdeaths.htm : accessed Dec. 2007). Data for James Campbell Crenshaw.