John Maiden1

b. 16 January 1797, d. 20 May 1862
John Maiden (artifacts digitally removed)
photo courtesy Joanna Owens
FatherJames Maiden1
MotherTheodocia Lee1
Birth16 Jan 1797 John Maiden was born on 16 Jan 1797 in Rockingham County, Virginia.1 
Marr Bond11 Mar 1817 He and Susanna Landis were issued a marriage bond on 11 Mar 1817 in Augusta County, Virginia.2 
Residence John and Susanna spent the bulk of their married lives living in Botetourt County, Virginia. Of their 11 children who lived to adulthood (9 sons, 2 daughters), the first few were born in Augusta County but the family appears to have settled in Botetourt County between 1822 and 1824. There John farmed, ran an inn, and was employed as a cooper. However in 1843 the couple moved further south, settling in Washington County on Mobley (later Maiden) Creek.3,4,5 
Residence  There the couple built a brick home on a rise at the intersection of present day Shortsville (#703) and Fudge (#741) Roads.6 
Land  John purchased several tracts of land when he moved to Washington County. The first parcel, consisting of 108 1/4 acres was purchased from James Fitzpatrick in May 1843 for $100. The second, larger tract, consisted of 3 smaller parcels, totalling a little over 440 acres. It was purchased for $2,300 from Jeremiah Gardner on 18 February, 1847 and included a mill house.7,8  
Widowed28 Mar 1850  Susanna died just a few years later. 
Cens-185029 Jul 1850  The 1850 census enumeration for Washington County recorded John in July of that year. He was farming land which, consistent with what he had paid a few years earlier, was valued at $2,400. John was also providing a home for his younger children who were listed with him as: Henry (20), George (16), Morgan (13) and Noah (6). John's sons Daniel and Samuel were enumerated as the adjacent households.9 
Cens-186027 Jun 1860  Ten years later John's land had increased in value to $11,000. Only sons Lewis [Noah] and George were still enumerated in John's household. However, 6 other sons [all but James] were recorded as the neighboring households. John's daughter Eliza and her second husband John Caldwell also lived nearby.10 
  Many of John and Susanna's children continued to farm in the area, enough so that the creek on which they lived became known as Maiden Creek. However not all of John and Susanna's children became farmers; John himself operated a mill in Washington County in addition to farming his land. Two sons became ministers. The three youngest sons attended Emory and Henry College; two going on to become teachers. This belief in the importance of religion and education was passed down to later generations.11 
Death20 May 1862 John died on 20 May 1862 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 65.12 
Will-Recd26 May 1862  John's will, written in February 1857, was probated in court on 26 May 1862 . He had instructed that his children were to share his land equally; if that was not possible it was to be sold and the proceeds divided equally. John stated that he owned 5 slaves who were to be divided among his heirs at their value. The will seems to imply that John expected and anticipated that his children would be able to amicably divide his estate. He also left a specific bequest of $500 to his youngest son Noah which was to be invested. The interest created was to fund Noah's education; he would receive the principal when he arrived at legal age. The will named Henry A. Maiden [son] and John L. Caldwell [son-in-law] as executors.13 
  John did not live to see the impact of the Civil War on his family; the actions at Harper's Ferry occured just a few days after John's death. One son joined the 4th Virginia Infantry. Four sons joined the 48th Virginia Infantry, as did 3 grandsons, including one who died in prison. The husband of a granddaughter also joined the 48th, and also died in prison. Other family members served in local units. And like so many families, not all members fought for the Confederacy. John's granddaughter Elizabeth and her husband Samuel Brougham settled in East Tennessee, where many families supported the Union. Samuel joined the 2nd Tennessee Infantry, USA and was killed in action. Elizabeth died the following year living a small daughter who was then raised by Elizabeth's parents back in Virginia.14 
Land-Sell17 Feb 1863  A series of deeds executed in Washington County court in February, 1863 describe the manner in which John's land was divided among his children. At the end of the day various parcels of the original tract belonged to William, John M., Samuel, Morgan, George, Noah and Henry Maiden, and John and Eliza [Maiden] Caldwell.15 
  Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, in her excellent book, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families, concludes that John and Susanna's brick home sat on Morgan's share of the family land. She notes that in February 1864 Morgan and his wife sold a 6 acre tract that included the house to John and Eliza [Maiden] Caldwell. Mrs. Rollins also notes that eventually the home came into possession of the John Foster family.16 

Research Comment:

Maiden family researchers indicate that John and Susanna had 3 additional children besides those listed below. They include a daughter Ellen who died at age 2, a daughter Nancy who died as an infant while the family was in Botetourt County, and a stillborn son who was born in Washington County.17
Several of John and Susanna's children intermarried with members of the Butt family. Eldest son William married Rebecca Butt; eldest daughter Eliza married Rebecca's brother Richard Butt. Son Henry married, as his second wife, Mary Margaret Kelly, daughter of Margaret (Butt) Kelly, herself another sibling to Rebecca and Richard. And son Samuel married Sarah Butt, who was not a sibling to Rebecca, Richard and Margaret, but was no doubt related to them in some manner. Several of John and Susanna's grandchildren and/or great grandchildren married cousins, further tangling the family relationships.

Related Links and Images:

John and Susanna's big brick house built about 1847-48. Click on camera icon for larger image18
The 1850 Washington Co., Virginia census listed John as the head of household number 121. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Susanna Landis b. 6 May 1799, d. 28 Mar 1850
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Maiden and Susanna Landis
Last Edited5 Nov 2013

Citations

  1. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 580.
  2. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 580. Mrs. Rollins in turn acknowleges Mrs. Lee Fox of Santa Cruz, CA who located the marriage bond in the basement of the Augusta Co., VA courthouse.
  3. [S16] The date on which the family moved to Botetourt County is stated to be 1825 in a family history compiled by Julius, Margaret O. and John Britton, descendants of John and Susanna's son James. They also state that James was born before the family moved to Botetourt County. However, according to James's headstone he was born in Feb. 1823 and his marriage record states that he was born in Botetourt County, suggesting either the family moved prior to Feb. 1823 or the information about James's place or date of birth is inaccurate.
  4. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 583. Mrs. Rollins concludes John and Susanna moved to Botetourt Co. in late 1824 with 4 children. She uses 21 Feb. 1823 for James's date of birth but says he was born in Augusta County. She cites, in general, the above mentioned book Brittons - Maidens and Related Families for her information on James. It is also possible she based her conclusion on the fact that John purchased a tract of land in Botetourt Co. on Dec. 23, 1824 (citing Botetourt Co. DB 19:930-1).
  5. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 588. Mrs. Rollins notes that on 4 March 1843 John Maiden sold his Botetourt Co. land.
  6. [S23] Joanna (Maiden) Owens, "John and Susanna (Landis) Maiden" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 231.
  7. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 590. Mrs. Rollins cites Washington Co. VA Deed Book 16:200-1.
  8. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 588. Mrs. Rollins cites Washington Co. VA Deed Book 18:366-7.
  9. [S367] John Maiden household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., District 67, p. after 76 stamped, dwelling 121, family 121, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2007, image 18 of 289. Household includes: John Maiden, 52, farmer, real estate valued at $2,400; Henry 20; George 16; Morgan 13; Noah L. 6; all b. VA.
  10. [S234] John Maiden Sr. household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., The Western district, p. 433 (added script), dwelling 482, family 471, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2007, image 71 of 361. Household includes: John Maiden Sr., 61, farmer, land val: $11,000; pers. prop: $5,000; Lewis, 22; George, 14; all b. VA.
  11. [S23] Joanna (Maiden) Owens, "John and Susanna (Landis) Maiden" in Families of Washington Co. and Bristol, VA, p. 231. Joanna cites, in general: The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families by Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins as well as census and family records.
  12. [S1853] James Franklin Maiden, family data. The New Testament (Family Bible). Philadelphia: Jesper Harding, 1852.
  13. [S1874] John Maiden will (recorded 1862), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 15: 369. The will was dated 23 Feb. 1857 and recorded 26 May 1862. Henry A. Maiden and John L. Caldwell, the executors posted bond of $16,000.
  14. [S16] The sons who served with the 48th Virginia Infantry were Samuel, George, Morgan and Noah. James's widow also claimed that he served in the 48th but her pension record indicates that he was part of the 4th Virginia Infantry.
  15. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 596. Mrs. Rollins cites Washington Co. VA Deed Book 26:1-11.
  16. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 598. Mrs. Rollins cites Washington Co. VA Deed Book 32: 385; also DB 25: 568-9.
  17. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 600.
  18. [S1376] Photo courtesy of Joanna Owens.
  19. [S1859] Sarah Finch Maiden Rollins, The Maiden Family of Virginia and Allied Families 1623-1991, p. 596. Many items cited in Mrs. Rollin's work establish the names of John and Susanna Maiden's children who survived to adulthood, including Washington Co. VA Deed Book 26:1-11 which includes the partition of John's land after his death.
  20. [S1727] Mary Ann Leedy, Missouri state death certificate no. 39184 (1913). Personal information provided by J.F. Leedy.