Mathew Hay Buchanan1

b. 9 March 1817, d. 5 October 1900
FatherWilliam Buchanan2,3,1 b. 24 Sep 1787, d. 29 Mar 1846
MotherJane Keys1 b. 15 Feb 1786, d. 9 Apr 1871
Birth9 Mar 1817 Mathew Hay Buchanan was born on 9 Mar 1817 on the family estate about 12 miles east of Abingdon in Washington County, Virginia.4,3 
Devisee30 Jan 1846  Mathew's father left him an interest in the plantation known as the Spear Place when he wrote his will in early 1846. In addition, he received a share of William's shariffship [?] but was required to pay his mother $50.00 for it. He, along with his siblings also inherited over 5,000 acres of land in Johnston County, Tennessee. Mathew and his brother Benjamin were named William's executors.2 
Guardian28 Feb 1848  Two years after his father's death Mathew was named guardian of his youngest brother John.5 
Cens-185011 Jul 1850  In 1850 Mathew resided at "The Washington House" which appears to have been a boarding house in Abingdon. His occupation was listed as "sheriff."6 
Public Serv  He held that position for many years.7,8 
MarriageOct 1851 He married Elizabeth Goode, daughter of John Goode and Ann Cochran Findlay, in Oct 1851 in Washington County.9,10,11 
  Mathew's older brother Benjamin had married Elizabeth's younger sister Rachel in 1843.12 
Cens-18609 Jun 1860  Just prior to the Civil War Mathew's lands were valued at $10,000 and his personal property at $12,000.13 
Cens-1860- Slave10 Jun 1860  This included the value of the 3 slaves Mathew owned in 1860.14 
Cens-18702 Oct 1870  In 1870 Mathew owned land valued at $2,000 and was enumerated as a farmer. Mathew and Elizabeth's household that year included 5 of their own children (Betty, Robert, Maggie, Thomas and Rachel) as well as Ann Buchanan, 55, and listed after her by the enumerator, Sally Buchanan, 14.15 
Residence  The family is believed to have lived near Clinchburg in Washington County.7,16,17 
Death5 Oct 1900 Mathew died on 5 Oct 1900 at age 83.4 
Burial He was buried at Mahanaim Cemetery in Washington County.4 
  None of Mathew and Elizabeth's 6 children married. Five of their children are buried with them at Mahanaim Cemetery in Washington County, including daughter Rachel who died of typhoid at age 25 in 1891. A son John K. (no doubt named for Mathew's younger brother John K. who died in 1852), died in infancy in 1855.18,19 

Research Comment:

I have not been able to identify Ann Buchanan (55) and Sally Buchanan (14) living with Mathew in 1870.
Mathew recorded what he knew of the Buchanan family history from memory in Jan. 1889. In the 1920s his son Thomas shared these notes with Jean Keys Buchanan who incorporated them into a manuscript she compiled with the assistance of another cousin, Rachel Goode Buchanan.

Related Links and Images:

The 1850 census listed M.H. Buchanan as a member of household number 2057. Follow the link to see who lived nearby.

Family

Elizabeth Goode b. 1 Dec 1824, d. 27 Nov 1901
Children
Last Edited21 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S2272] Jean Keys Buchanan, The Buchanans, manuscript, 1928.
  2. [S112] William Buchanan will, Washington Co. WB 10: 89-91, FHL mf 034359.
  3. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 705.
  4. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 144. M. Hay Buchanan, 9 Mar 1817 - 5 Oct. 1900.
  5. [S28] Gerald H. Clark, Guardian Bonds Washington Co., VA, p. 41. Feb. 28, 1848: Mathew H. Buchanan named guardian of John K. Buchanan, orphan of William Buchanan, deceased; bond: $400; surety: Andrew E. Buchanan.
  6. [S367] John C. Cummings household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon, p. 201 stamped, dwelling 2057, family 2057, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2009, image 285 of 289. Household includes: John C. Cummings, 43, Proprietor of W. [Washington] House, real estate valued at $2,161; Ann 30; Sarah V. 11; Mary J. 8; Daniel L. 5; Rhoda A.C. 2; Sarah J. Lynch 21; Arthur C. Cummings 25, lawyer, real estate valued at $2,023; Chas S. Bekem 43, lawyer; William P. Hutcherson 22; Leonida Baugh 33, editor; John H. Baltzell 25, clerk; David G. Thomas 23, Clerk; Wm K. Heiskell 36, sheriff, real estate valued at $5,000; M.H. Buchanan 30, sheriff; David L. Clark 26, portrait painter; P.C. Johnson 55, lawyer; J.A. Miller 26, druggist; Christopher Martin 34, mu, free; Jerry Craft 46, black, free; all b. VA.
  7. [S5] Elizabeth Kelly Allison, Early Southwest Virginia Families, p. 58.
  8. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 706.
  9. [S52] Letter, Carolyn Ryburn to Diana Powell, 18 March, 2002. Ms Ryburn cites Washington Co. Marriage Register A-C and Index through 1902, p. 27: Mathew H. Buchanan marr Elizabeth Goode, Oct. 30, 1851.
  10. [S1198] Virgil Lewis, "Residents of Washington County," in Virginia and Virginians, p. 705; this source uses Oct. 31, 1851.
  11. [S4] D.E. Brown, Marriages of Washington Co., VA 1781-1853, p. 8. Mathew H. Buchanan and Elizabeth Goode; 30 Oct. 1851 by Joseph Haskew.
  12. [S367] Benjamin K. Buchanan household, 1850 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon, p. after p. 211 stamped, dwelling 2073, family 2073, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2009, image 2 of 9. Household includes: Benjamin K. Buchanan, 34, merchant; Rachel 24; William 4; John 2; Elizabeth Goode 25; Francis Findlay 16, clark; all b. VA.
  13. [S234] Matthew H. Buchanan household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Western District, p. after 393 added script, dwelling 200, family 200, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2009, image 30 of 361. Household includes: Matthew H. Buchanan, 43, farmer, owns land: $10,000 and pers. prop: $12,000; Elizabeth, 33; Betty, 7; Robert, 2; John Hockett, 22, farm laborer; all b. VA.
  14. [S1308] Mathew H. Buchanan, owner, 1860 U.S. census, Washington Co., Virginia, slave schedule, p. 457 (stamped), line 12, viewed online at Ancestry.com. 3 slaves listed: 2 females (24 and 12y), 1 male (37y).
  15. [S635] M Buchanan household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 3rd Division, p. after 213 stamped, dwelling 194, family 194, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2009, image 18 of 18. Household includes: M. Buchanan, 52, farmer, owns land val at $2,000 and pers. prop. of $100; Eliza, 45, Betty, 17; Robert, 13, Maggie, 10; Thomas 6, Rachel, 4; Ann, 55; Sally, 14; all b. VA.
  16. [S165] M. H. Buchanan household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville District, ED 99, page 41 (229A stamped), dwelling 358, family 368, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 41 of 63. M. H. Buchanan, 63, farmer; Elizabeth, 55, wife; Bettie H., 26, dau; Robt. D., 22, son; Maggie K., 19, dau; Thomas F., 16, son; Rachel B., 14, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  17. [S634] Mathew H. Buchanan household, 1900 U.S. cens., Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Saltville district, ED 122, sheet 17A (p. 307 stamped), dwelling 218, family 218, viewed online at Ancestry.com, May 2009, image 49 of 89. Household includes: Mathew H. Buchanan, 83, b. March 1817, marr 48 yrs, farmer; Elizabeth, wife, 75, marr 48 yrs, mother of 6 children, 4 are living; Bettie H., dau, 47, b. Jan. 1853; Robert G., son, 42, b. Sept. 1857; Margaret K., 39, b. Aug. 1860; Thomas F., son, 36, b. Oct. 1863; all b. VA.
  18. [S1344] Notification re the estate of Jean Buchanan, dec'd, The Journal Virginian, Oct. 11, 1962.
  19. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry # 289: Rachel B. Buchanan died Mar 23 1891 in Washington Co. VA of typhoid fever at age 25y 3m, parents M.H. & Elizabeth Buchanan, single, reported by M.H. Buchanan, father.
  20. [S2169] Donald Helton, compiler, "Washington County Virginia Abstracted Death Records 1912-1939" (manuscript shared by author), p. 102. Record abstracted as: Betty Haskew Buchanan, 85y 8m 13d, b. Jan. 13, 1853 WCV, d. Sept. 27, 1938, sgl, d/o M.H. Buchanan, b. WCV and Elizabeth Goode, b. WCV.
  21. [S2266] Tom Colley, "Compendia," e-mail to Diana Powell, 4 May 2009.