Lydia Dunn1

b. 9 April 1808, d. 19 January 1884
FatherWilliam Dunn2 d. 1819
MotherLydia Musgrave3 d. aft 1819
Birth9 Apr 1808 Lydia Dunn was born on 9 Apr 1808 in Washington County, Virginia.4,5 
Devisee14 Jan 1819 Lydia's father William wrote his will on January 14th, 1819, and died shortly thereafter. He left Lydia, who was ten at the time, an equal share of his real and personal estate to include the family plantation, crops and farm animals. She also participated in the distribution of William's slaves.2 
Marriage6 Dec 1832 She married Jonas Smyth, son of John Smyth and Nancy Stewart, on 6 Dec 1832 in Washington County, Virginia.6 
Land-Buy23 Sep 1843  In 1843 Jonas purchased the 4/6 interest of Lydia's siblings in the land left to them in the will of Lydia's father William Dunn in 1819. The tract was in the Rich Valley on the North Fork of the Holston River and contained 211 acres. Lydia inherited an additional sixth share herself. The remaining share had been left to Lydia's sister Jane who married John Moffett in 1831 and was widowed a few years later. 
Court Record28 Feb 1853  In the early 1850s Jane Moffett was commited to the asylum at Staunton. As a result her estate was inventoried and recorded at court. Those records indicate she was carrying a note for $78 on Jonas Smyth. This may indicate she had sold him her 1/6 share of the William Dunn land.7 
Cens-18401840  Jonas's 1840 household included tallies for an adult male and female of the expected ages for he and Lydia as well as tallies for a male between 5 and 9, and a female under 5. This corresponds with the expected ages of the couple's two known children, son John Chesterfield and daughter Leanna Jane. However, a male aged 15-19 is also indicated. Since Lydia and John had only been married 8 years this probably does not represent their child.8 
Cens-18506 Aug 1850  The unidentified male may be the same person as the 19 year old John Smith recorded with the family in 1850. He was probably the son of Jonas's deceased brother Francis Smyth.9 
Cens-186028 Jun 1860  The 1860 Washington County census recorded 55 year old Jonas along with Lydia (52), Chesterfield (25) and Adaline Logan (24), who was employed with the family as a seamstress [she and Chesterfield Smyth married a few years later]. Jonas's land was valued at $5,460; he also owned personal property worth $5,860.10 
Cens-1860- Slave9 Jun 1860  The personal property reflected the families ownership of 6 slaves including a 26 year old male and 5 females (37, 16, 12, 11 and 10y).11 
Cens-187030 Sep 1870 In 1870 Jonas and Lydia were enumerated in Glade Spring township. Their son John Chesterfield, as well as John's wife Adeline and their three children were all in the home. In addition Jonas and Lydia were providing a home for 13 year old L.L. Smith [probably Lycenius Logan Smith, son of Jonas's younger brother William "Buck" Smith]. Also in Jonas's home in 1870 was Lydia's sister Jane Moffett who was no longer hospitalized at Staunton. In addition M.E. Logan [?] was living with the family.12 
Cens-18702 Oct 1870  Interestingly, Jonas and Lydia were enumerated a second time, this time in the Third District (Saltville area). Lydia was listed as Liddie and this time their son John C. was listed adjacent, but as the head of his own household, with his wife and children.13 
Cens-188018 Jun 1880 Ten years later, at the age of 75, Jonas was enumerated in the Saltville District with Lydia who was seventy-two. Chesterfield, Adaline and their children were still living with them, as was a niece, Lydia Smyth. She was the daughter of Jonas's brother John who died in the Civil War.14 
Death19 Jan 1884 Lydia died on 19 Jan 1884 in Washington County, Virginia, at age 75.4,5 
Burial She was buried at Smyth's Chapel Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.4,5 

Research Comment:

Some Smyth family researchers state Jonas and Lydia had an additional son named William but I have not been able to find any evidence that this is correct.1

Related Links and Images:

Lydia's headstone
Other interments in Smyth's Chapel Cemetery

Family

Jonas Smyth b. 15 Feb 1805, d. Nov 1887
Children
Last Edited29 Apr 2011

Citations

  1. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 78. Desc. chart for Jonas Smyth and Lydia Dunn; author unclear.
  2. [S131] William Dunn will (1819), Washington Co., Virginia, Will Book 4: 284. Will mentions wife Lydia, daughter Elizabeth Logan, wife of Wm S. Logan, daughters Rebecca, Polly, Jane and Lydia Dunn and sons Samuel, John and William Dunn; also grandson William D. Logan.
  3. [S30] Audrey Honegger, "William Dunn/Lydia Musgrave Family," e-mail to Diana Powell, 11 Jan 2001.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 163. Stone reads: Lydia Smyth, w/o Jonas Smyth, 9 Apr 1808-19 Jan 1884.
  5. [S13] Aleta Spicer, Smyth, p. 60. List of Persons buried in Tobias Smyth Memorial Chapel (Smyth's Chapel Cemetery).
  6. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 58.
  7. [S653] Appraisal of property of Jane Moffett (1853), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 12: 421. Appraisal was signed by Tobias Smyth, Conrad Fudge and W.P. Milner on 5 Mar 1853.
  8. [S679] Jonas Smith household, 1840 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, p. 46 (original script, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Household includes: 1 male 5-9; 1 male 15-19; 1 male 30-39; 1 female under 5; 1 female 20-29; 1 female slave 10-23.
  9. [S367] Ja__ Smith household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., 67th District, p. 87b, dwelling 292, family 292, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2003, image 40 of 289. Ja__ Smith, 45, farmer, owns real estate valued at $1,700; Lydia 42; page 88: John Smith 19, laborer; John C. 16; Lena J. 14; all b. VA.
  10. [S234] Jonas Smith household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. 437 (added script), dwelling 507, family 495, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug. 2007, image 75 of 361. Household includes: Jonas Smith, 55, farmer, land valued at $5,460, pers. prop $5,860; Lydia, 52; Chesterfield, 25, farmer, owns pers. prop. woth $80; Adaline Logan, 24, seamstress; all b. VA.
  11. [S1308] Jonas Smith, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 458 (stamped), line 24, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 6 slaves including: 1 26 year old male and 5 females (37, 16, 12, 11 and 10y).
  12. [S635] Jonas Smith household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring Township, p. 77b (stamped), dwelling 337, family 342, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug 2007, image 48 of 49. Jonas Smith 65, owns real estate valued at $2,500; Lydia, 62; Jno C. 36, farmer; Adeline 30; Wm D. 7; Henderson 3; (cont. on p. 78) D. L. Smith (f) 2; L.L. Smith (m) 13; Jane Moffat 58; M. E. Logan (f) 21; all b. VA.
  13. [S635] Jonas Smith household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Third Division, p. 213b (stamped), dwelling 195, family 195, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Aug 2007, image 18 of 18. Jonas Smith 65, farmer, owns real estate valued at $2,00; Lydia, 60; both b. VA.
  14. [S165] Jonas Smyth household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 41 (229A stamped), dwelling 356, family 367, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 41 of 63. Jonas Smyth, 75, farmer; Lydia, 72, wife, mother b. PA; Chesterfield, 46, son; Adalina, 45, dau-in-law; William, 16, grandson; Stuart, 14, grandson; Leanna J., 12, granddaughter; Robert, 9, grandson; Mary, 7, granddaughter; Lydia, 19, niece; all b. VA; all other parents b. VA.
  15. [S6] Thomas Colley, Washington Co. VA Marriages 1853-1880, p. 343. John Chesterfield Smyth, 28, single, farmer, s/o Jonas & Lydia D. Smyth and Adaline Missouri Logan, 23, single, d/o Caleb & Mary Logan; 10 Aug 1862.
  16. [S149] Washington Co., VA Marriage Register 1 & 2 (transcribed), p. 276. Licenius Theodor Logan, and Leanah Jane Smyth marr 8 Sept. 1858. He was 36, sgl, born and resid Washington Co., Virginia, s/o Caleb & Mary Logan, farmer; She was 23, sgl, b. & resid WCV, d/o Jonas & Lydia Smyth; E.E. Wiley.