Mary Jane Ward1

b. circa 1838
FatherAlexander Ward2 b. 19 Apr 1805, d. 23 Jun 1858
MotherMary Brandon Buchanan1,2 b. abt 1810, d. 6 Mar 1892
Birthcirca 1838 Mary Jane Ward was probably born circa 1838 in Virginia.3 
  Although the census recorded closest to Mary's birth states that she was 10 years old, it is not consistent with her age on later census records or with the birth pattern of her siblings.4 
Cens-185022 Jul 1850  In 1850 Mary and her two younger siblings were living with their grandparents, John and Mary Buchanan in Smyth County, Virginia.4 
  The location of Mary's parents at the time is not known. 
Fath-Death23 Jun 1858  Mary's father died in June 1858, following a disagreement with Mary's uncle, George Crenshaw. 
Cens-18609 Jun 1860  Mary was enumerated at the age of 21, living with her mother and 3 younger siblings in Smyth County.1 
Marriage16 Sep 1860 She married Thompson Shepherd on 16 Sep 1860 in Smyth County, Virginia.2 
Cens-187015 Jul 1870 The 1870 census recorded Mary and Thompson ten years after their marriage. Their home was in Smyth County, where Thompson worked as a farm laborer. Four children were also enumerated: "Reely" [Aurelia], Laura E., Mathew K. and Ellen J. Frances Shepherd, age 54, was also listed, as were 2 farm workers.3 
  Thompson may have died in the years just prior to the 1880 census as Mary was enumerated as widowed or divorced in 1880. Their youngest child, Steven, was born about 1878. 
Cens-188023 Jun 1880  Living with Mary in 1880 were daughters Aurelia (enumerated as Amelia), Laura and Ellen, as well as sons Samuel and Stephen. Mary's eldest son, 13 year old Mathew, was living with another couple and working as a laborer.5,6 
Cens-19006 Jun 1900  In 1900 Samuel was recorded as the head of the family. He was 27, single, and stated that he was a farmer. The census clarified that Mary at 66 was a widow. It also stated that she was the mother of 6 children, all of whom were living. Samuel's sister Aurelia, who had not married, was also a member of the household.7 
Cens-19103 May 1910  Ten years later Mary was again listed as the head of her own household. This census recorded her as the mother of 7 children, of whom 6 were living [other records suggest she was actually the mother of 8 children, 2 of whom died young]. Daughter Aurelia was living with her and was employed as a seamstress. Son Mathew was enumerated as the adjacent household.8 

Family

Thompson Shepherd b. abt 1836
Children
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited6 Jun 2008

Citations

  1. [S576] Mary B. Ward household, 1860 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., 7 Mile Ford post office, p. 876 (following 875 script), dwelling 85, family 85, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 16 of 201. Enumeration reads: Mary B. Ward, 50, personal property $600; Mary Jane, 21; Sarah F., 20; James F., 18; Mathew T., 13; all born VA.
  2. [S60] Thomas Hockett and Shelia Steele Hunt, Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1851-1891 & 1860 Census, p. 149. Record abstracted as: Thompson R. Shepord [Shepherd], 26, s/o Frances AND Mary J. Ward, 22, d/o Alex and Mary B., marr: 16 Sept. 1860.
  3. [S1006] T.R. Shepherd household, 1870 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley Township, p. 63 (stamped), dwelling 195, family 195, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Dec. 2006, image 29 of 90. Enumeration includes: T. R. [?] Shepherd, 3_, farm laborer; Mary J., 32; Reely, 8; cont. top next page: Laura J., 6; Mathew K., 4; Ellen J., 2; Frances, 54 (f), retired housekeeper; Tate Wm, 15, black, works on farm; Taylor M., 17, black, works on farm; all b. VA.
  4. [S465] John Buchanan household, 1850 U.S. cens, Smyth Co., VA, pop. sched., p. 165b, dwelling 132, family 134, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2002, image 20 of 169. Enumeration records: John Buchanan 65 farmer, real estate $3,000; Mary 65; Ann 42; Jane 36; Sarah 34; Alexander 22; Mary I or J. Ward 10; Sarah F. Ward 8; James F. Ward 7; Jesse Davis 50 Black; all born Virginia.
  5. [S521] Mary Shepherd household, 1880 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop sched., 84th District, ED 84, page 48D, dwelling 416, family 443, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 45 of 52. Enumeration includes: Mary Shepherd, 45, wid or div, keeping house; Amelia, 20, dau; Laura, 16, dau; Ellen, 21, dau; Samuel, son; Stephen, 2, son; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  6. [S521] Hamil Poston household, 1880 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop sched., 84th District, ED 84, page 46B, dwelling 416, family 443, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 43 of 52. Enumeration includes: Hamil Poston, 30, laborer; Elizabeth, 28, wife; also 4 children; Mathew Shepherd, 13, laborer; all b. VA.
  7. [S682] Sa__ Sheppard household, 1900 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Rich Valley District, ED 84, sheet 6A (p. 88 stamped), dwelling 82, family 83, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 11 of 50. Enumeration includes: Sa__ [written over] Sheppard, 27, b. May 1873, sgl, farmer, rents farm; Mary J., mother. 66, b. Jan. 1834, wd, mother 6 children, all living; Arelia, sister, 40, b. Oct. 1859; all b. VA; all parents b. VA.
  8. [S1138] Mary J. Shepherd household, 1910 U.S. cens., Smyth Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Saltville precinct, ED 87, sheet 17B, dwelling 263, family 296, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2006, image 34 of 44. Enumeration includes: Mary J. Shepherd, 73, wid, mother 7 children, 6 living, b. VA, parents b. VA, no occupation, owns home, not a farm; Aurelia V., dau, 45, sgl, b. TN, parents b. VA, seamstress at home.
  9. [S8] Hockett and Hunt, 1891-1902 Marriages of Washington Co. VA, p. 100. Record abstracted as: Mathew Sheppard, 31, b. Smyth Co. VA, living Smyth Co., s/o Thomp & Mary A. Sheppard, farmer AND Mary Pennington, 25, d/o Wm & __ Pennington, marr: 21 Sept. 1899.
  10. [S1020] Thomas Hockett and Shelia Steele Hunt, Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1892-1905, p. 60. Record abstracted as: Saml Hayton, 21, b. Washington Co., VA, s/o John Hayton, farmer AND Ellen Shepherd, 21, c/o Mary Shepperd, marr 29 Dec. 1892.
  11. [S1742] Judy B. Anderson, Virginia Connections - A Genealogical History of the Thompson-Ward Family, p. 393 citing Smyth Co. Birth Register, p. 58, #87.
  12. [S1742] Judy B. Anderson, Virginia Connections - A Genealogical History of the Thompson-Ward Family, p. 394 citing Smyth Co. Birth Register, p. 62, #91.