Mathew Robert Buchanan Ryburn1,2

b. 25 July 1831, d. 23 June 1902
FatherMathew Ryburn3,4,5 b. 25 Jun 1797, d. 16 Jun 1836
MotherMartha Orr3,5 b. 29 May 1800, d. 16 Feb 1865
Birth25 Jul 1831 Mathew Robert Buchanan Ryburn was born on 25 Jul 1831 in Washington County, Virginia.1,2 
 According to a collection of notes on the Ryburn family filed at the Historical Society of Washington County Virginia, Mathew's full name was Mathew Robert Buchanan Ryburn. The same information is provided by Peggy Shugart in her manuscript "Ryburn History."6 
Cens-18509 Aug 1850  Mathew's father died when he was five years old and his mother remarried some years later. Mathew then made his home with his older brother James where he was enumerated in 1850.7 
Marriage20 Dec 1855 He married Martha Harvey Clark, daughter of Capt. John B. Clark and Mary Beattie, on 20 Dec 1855 in Washington County, Virginia. They were second cousins.5,8,9 
Cens-18601860 Mathew and Martha were recorded farming in Smyth County, Virginia, when the 1860 census was taken. Also enumerated with them were John C. age 1, Reuben Henderson, age 14 and Charity Sanders, age 12. Reuben was probably the son of Mathew's deceased sister, Minerva, although her son was recorded as Mathew Henderson on the 1850 census.10 
Cens-18802 Jun 1880 By 1880 Mathew and Martha's family had grown to include sons John, age 21 and David, age 12, as well as daughters Lillie, age 17, Nellie, age 9 and Rose, age 7.11 
Widowed13 Oct 1898  Mathew was widowed when Martha died on 13 Oct 1898. 
Cens-19004 Jun 1900  The 1900 census for the Broad Ford precinct of the Rich Valley district of Smyth County was poorly enumerated but does provide a snapshot of Mathew's household. He was recorded as a 68 year old widower who had been married 3 years [not correct]. The next eldest member of the household was listed as a son, Jno Call Ryburn, who was born in June 1859. He was listed as having been married 3 years. In reality, this would have been Mathew's son John Clark Ryburn who had indeed been married 3 years and was enumerated in a separate household, along with his wife and 2 children. The enumeration of Mathew's household also included 4 additional adult children: L. Mattie, 38 [Lillie Martha], D. Buchanan [David Beattie], E. Mary [Nellie M.] and R. J__ [Rosana Jane].

The adjacent household was headed by Mathew's brother-in-law James Clark, whose family members were similarly misrecorded.12 
Death23 Jun 1902 Mathew died on 23 Jun 1902 at age 70.1,2,13 
Burial He was buried at Rich Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Smyth County, Virginia.2 

Related Links and Images:

Mathew's headstone

Family

Martha Harvey Clark b. 30 Nov 1827, d. 13 Oct 1898
Children
ChartsDescendants of Mathew Ryburn and Jane Beattie
Last Edited29 Feb 2012

Citations

  1. [S1830] Typed notes on Ryburn family, "R" Misc. File (folder #82), The Redmond S. and Mary Cole Collection, Family History Library. Sheet includes data credited to John Clark Ryburn of Glade Spring which was reported to be copied from an old bible on Aug. 21, 1930. A bible in the possession of John's sister Maggie Ryburn is also mentioned. It is inferred, but not specifically stated, that this is the bible from which the data was taken. The data pertains to Mathew Ryburn, Martha Orr, and their children.
  2. [S55] Carolyn C. Ryburn, "Mathew Robert Ryburn-Martha Harvey Clark family group sheet". Citing headstone which Carolyn viewed and recorded as follows: Mathew Robert Ryburn born July 25, 1831 - died June 23, 1902 (photograph provided to author).
  3. [S10] "Journal of Mary Jane Beaty (Davis) Moffett", p. 9. Mathew Ryburn Jr. married Patsy Orr, lived & died on the homestead had 5 children: James, Jane, Mary, Mathew, William.
  4. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 33. Claiborne S. Shugart named guardian of Jane B., Minerva C., Mathew B. and William B. Ryburn, orphans of Mathew Ryburn, deceased. Bond: $8,000. Sureties: Moses C. Orr and Arthur Hutton.
  5. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 318. Mathew Ryburn, 24y, sgl, b. & resid Wash. Co. VA, farmer, s/o Mathew and Martha Ryburn AND Martha Harvey Clark, 26y, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o John & Mary Clark; 20 Dec. 1855.
  6. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 3.
  7. [S367] Jas Ryburn household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 92 (stamped), dwelling 357, family 357, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 49 of 289. Jas Ryburn, 30, farmer, owns property valued at $4,200; Margaret 27; Mathew 19; William 14; David 7; Martha 5; Nancy 3; all b. VA.
  8. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 46. This information is from transcribed lists of birth, death and marriage dates for John Clark and Mary Beattie Clark and their children. The list incorrectly lists the date of Martha and Mathew's marriage as 1845.
  9. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 70-85. This source states that Martha Clark married Mathew Robt. Buchanan Clark. However this is in direct conflict with the marriage record. Martha's parents also entered into a deed in which they referred to their daughter, Martha Ryburn. It is likely Martha's surname was inadvertently copied over as Mathew's surname.
  10. [S581] Mathew Rybern household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford Post Office, p. 929, dwelling 432, family 432, viewed online at Genealogy.com, Jan. 2003, image 67 of 189. The record states: Mathew Rybern 28 farmer, real estate $7,000, pers. prop $3,000; Martha H. 32; John C. 1; Reuben Henderson 14; Charity Sanders 12; all b. Virginia.
  11. [S521] M.R. Ryburn household, 1880 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop sched., ED 84, page 4 (77D stamped), dwelling 21, family 21, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Nov. 2002, image 4 of 55. Enumeration includes: M. R. Ryburn 48 farmer; Martha H. 50, wife; John C. 21 son; Lillie 17 dau; David B. 12 son, attending school; Nellie M. 9 dau, attending school; Rose 7 dau, attending school; all born VA and all parents b. VA.
  12. [S682] M. Robert Ryburn household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley district - Broad Ford precinct, ED 84, sheet 1A (p. 110 stamped), dwelling 3, family 3, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2007, image 1 of 27. Household includes: M. Robert Ryburn, 68, wid., marr 3 yrs, b. VA, parents b. VA, farmer, owns home, no mortgage; Jno Call, son, 40, b. June 1859, marr, 3 yrs, salesman in general store; L. Mattie, dau, 38, b. Apr 1862; D. Buchanan, son, 31, b. Jun 1868; E. Mary, dau, 29, b. Oct. 1870; R. J__, dau, 27, b. Apr 1873; all b. VA; all parents b. VA [Note: the middle names are not consistent with other records].
  13. [S140] "Ryburn History," compiled by P. Shugart, p. 3. This record states that Mathew died June 30, 1902 but this disagrees with the information on his gravestone.
  14. [S751] Nancy Ryburn entry, Smyth Co. birth records submitted to the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics: 47, p. 48 (1861). Nancy Ryburn, white, female, born 21 Jan 1861 in Smyth County, VA to Mathew Ryburn, farmer and Martha Ryburn. This record was supplied to the state from the county records and the date is not consistent with that recorded in the original county register.
  15. [S751] May B. Ryburn entry, Smyth Co. birth records submitted to the Virginia Bureau of Vital Statistics: 38, p. 68 (1867). May B. Ryburn, female, born 10 Feb. 1867 in Rich Valley, Smyth Co., Virginia to Mathew R. and Martha H. Ryburn (single birth).