Malissa Martha McConnell Scott1

b. 24 June 1852, d. 18 June 1922
Malissa (Scott) Ryan (cropped)
courtesy S. Law & H. Kiefner
FatherRobert Scott2 b. 22 Jun 1801, d. 17 Sep 1886
MotherMartha Scott3 b. 14 Nov 1817, d. 4 Jun 1853
Birth24 Jun 1852 Malissa Martha McConnell Scott was born on 24 Jun 1852 in Washington County, Virginia.3 
  Although almost all records recorded her name as Malissa, the 1860 census used Martha. A photo held by a family member is labeled Martha Malissa McConnell Scott-Ryan.4,1 
Marriage11 Sep 1873 She married John Thomas Ryan, son of White G. Ryan and Mary Jane Barnett, on 11 Sep 1873 in Johnson County, Tennessee.5 
Cens-18807 Jun 1880  In 1880 John and Malissa lived in Abingdon (Washington County) where John farmed. Two daughters, Mary, age 6, and Carrie E., age 1, were also part of the household.6 
Legatee12 Jul 1883  Malissa's aunt, Sarah Edmondson remembered her when she wrote her will in 1883. She gifted Malissa with $50, as well as a small linen table cloth.7 
Land-Buy26 Jan 1891  On 26 Jan 1891 John bought 217 acres situated eight miles southeast of Abingdon near the turnpike road. The land had been previously owned by Robert Scott, deceased. John's place of residence was given as Montgomery County, Virginia.8 
Land-Sell16 Jul 1895  Four years later John and Malissa sold the land for $2,830. On this record they were described as "of Washington County, Virginia."9 
Cens-19001900 The 1900 census enumerated Malissa living with her daughter Mary, Mary's husband, John Shufflebarger, and their three children in Montgomery County, Virginia. Malissa stated that she had been married 27 years and was the mother of 5 children, 4 of whom were living. Malissa's youngest child, 10 year old John was enumerated with her.10 
  Two of Malissa's older children, Robert and Betty (Carrie E.) lived with Whitley and Mollie Ryburn in 1900. Mollie (Ryan) Ryburn was the sister of the children's father, John T. Ryan. 
  Malissa's husband John (if he was still her husband) appears to have been living in Johnson County, Tennessee in 1900 where he was enumerated with a wife and child. They stated that they had been married 8 years; the child was 8. At least on the surface, this seems to conflict with the 1895 Washington County deed whereby John Ryan and Malissa M. "his wife" sold the land John purchased in 1891 from her father's estate. 
Migrationbetween 1900 and 1910  Sometime between the census dates of 1900 and 1910, Melissa and her son Robert and daughter Bettie moved from Virginia to Portsmouth, Ohio. 
Cens-19101910 When the 1910 census of that community was recorded, Melissa was living at 518 Highland Ave, in Portsmouth. She stated that she was a fifty-seven year old widow and that of the five children born to her only three were still living.11 [son John died in 1905] 
Cens-19201920  Ten years later she was still living with Robert and Bettie in Portsmouth, but they had moved to 1822 11th Street.12 
  By 1920 Malissa's widowed sister Elizabeth was living with her daughter Mattie on McClellan Ave. in Portsmouth. Malissa and Elizabeth were joined by their sister Mary Jane for a portrait prior to Malissa's death in 1922 (a 4th sister died in 1888).13 
Death18 Jun 1922 Malissa died on 18 Jun 1922 of Addison's Disease in Portsmouth, Scioto County, Ohio, at age 69.3 
Burial She was buried at Bethel Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.14 

Related Links and Images:

Malissa's headstone
Other interments in Bethel Cemetery

Family

John Thomas Ryan b. 18 Jan 1854, d. 30 Apr 1924
Children
Last Edited2 May 2011

Citations

  1. [S861] Sandra Law, "Malissa," e-mail to D. Powell, 5 Aug. 2008.
  2. [S366] Robert Scott will (written 1885 - recorded 1886), Washington Co., VA Will Book 22: 313.
  3. [S368] Malissa M. Ryan, Ohio state death Certificate no. 35351 (1922). Malissa died 18 June 1922 at Portsmouth, Scioto Co. of Addisons disease of 2 yrs duration. Bettie Ryan provided the following info for her mother: b. June 24, 1852 to Robert and Martha Scott in Washington Co., VA; widow of John T. Ryan.
  4. [S234] Robert Scott household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., The Western District, p. 487 (script), dwelling 907, family 870, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  5. [S870] Carolyn Ryburn, "Ryans," e-mail to D. Powell, 19 Feb. 2008. Carolyn cites abstracted marriage records of Johnson Co., TN.
  6. [S162] John T. Ryan household, 1880 U.S. Census, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Abingdon District, ED 93, page 11 (30C stamped), dwelling 96, family 96, viewed online at www.Ancestry.com, April 2003, image 11 of 32. John T. Ryan, farmer, 26; Malissa M., 27, wife; Mary M., 6, dau; Carrie E., 1, dau; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  7. [S711] Sarah Edmondson will (recorded 1886), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 22: 247. Sarah's will was written in 1883 and recorded in court on 24 May 1886. Since the will did not name an executor, the distributees asked that M.M. Morris be appointed administrator.
  8. [S910] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 46: 471.
  9. [S911] Washington Co., Virginia, Deed Book 55: 150. John T. Ryan and Malissa M. Ryan, his wife to Thomas, Ira J. and Timothy Debusk for $2,830.
  10. [S1349] John P. Shufflebarger household, 1900 U.S. cens., Montgomery Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Christiansburg district, ED 68, sheet 4B, dwelling 83, family 84, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2005, image 8 of 35. Enumeration includes: John P. Shufflebarger, 32, b. Nov. 1868, VA, marr 6 years, RR engineer; Mary L., wife, 25, b. Jul 1874, VA, mother of 4 children, 3 living; Maggie, dau, 6, b. Aug. 1894; Guy W., son, 2, b. Jul 1897 VA; Cathlen, dau, 7/12, b. Nov. 1899; all parents b. VA; Malisse Ryon, mother-in-law, 47, b. June 1852 VA, married, marr 27 yrs, mother of 5 children, 4 living; John W. Ryon, bro-in-law, 10, b. July 1890 VA; all parents b. VA.
  11. [S235] Malissa Ryan household, 1910 U.S. cens., Scioto Co., OH, pop. sched., Portsmouth, ED 156, sheet 28A, dwelling 261, family 265, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  12. [S236] Melissa Ryan household, 1920 U.S. cens., Scioto Co., OH, pop. sched., Portsmouth, ED 155, sheet 1A, dwelling 6, family 6, viewed online at Ancestry.com.
  13. [S16] The photo of the 3 sisters can be seen by clicking on the camera icon below Elizabeth's photo at the top of this page. Below the oval of the frame is the inscription "Harris Art Gallery" Portsmouth O.
  14. [S365] Photographed May 2002 by Carolyn Ryburn. Stone reads: Malissa M. Ryan June 24, 1852 - June 18, 1922. The word "Mother" is inscribed at the top and "Ryan" on the base of the stone tombstone, Bethel Cemetery, Washington County, Virginia.
  15. [S147] Virginia Old Birth Index, p. 62. Mary L. Ryan, born to John T. and M.M. Ryan, Jul 26, 1874 in Washington Co.
  16. [S235] Malissa Ryan household, 1910 U.S. cens., Scioto Co., OH, pop. sched., Portsmouth, ED 156, sheet 28A, dwelling 261, family 265, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Spring 2002. Daughter's name is recorded as Bettie.
  17. [S236] Melissa Ryan household, 1920 U.S. cens., Scioto Co., OH, pop. sched., Portsmouth, ED 155, sheet 1A, dwelling 6, family 6, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Spring 2002. Daughter is listed as Betty.
  18. [S368] Robert W. Ryan, Ohio state death Certificate no. 034955 (1957). Robert died 17 May 1957 at 3101 Scioto Trail, Portsmouth, Ohio of pneumonia and an abdominal aneurysm. He also suffered from generalized arterioslerosis. Additional information provided by Mrs. Robert W. Ryan for Rbt: b. Jan 30, 1881 in Abingdon VA to John T. Ryan (Robert was originally typed in but then crossed out) and Malissa Scott. He worked as a railroad conductor [date of birth is in error].