Jane B. Buchanan1

b. 14 January 1814, d. 11 July 1897
FatherJohn Buchanan2 b. 1784, d. 14 Sep 1858
MotherMary Ryburn3 b. 2 Apr 1785, d. 5 May 1858
Birth14 Jan 1814 Jane B. Buchanan was born in Virginia on 14 Jan 1814 according to the date inscribed on her headstone. However the date of death and age information from the same stone calculate to a birth date of Nov. 8, 1814.1,4 
  Jane appears to have been named after her father's sister who died in August 1814 at age 19. 
Cens-185022 Jul 1850 Jane was single and lived at home with her parents when the 1850 census for Smyth County was recorded in July of that year. She was 36.5 
Devisee20 Jun 1858  Jane's father wrote his will on June 20th, 1858. He left Jane and her sister Ann 100 acres of his land, to include the dwelling place. He also directed that they be made equal in personal property to their married siblings.2 
Probate Recd16 Nov 1858  The month after their father's death in October 1858 the land was laid off for the two women and the boundaries recorded.6 
20 Apr 1859  However, Ann died a few months after her father, in the spring of 1859, leaving Jane to inherit the land on her own.7 
Cens-Sum However, Jane did not appear to live on the land in Smyth County. Instead she lived with her uncles, James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan in neighboring Washington County, and ran their household for them.8,9 
Heir  The brothers wrote joint wills in 1871, each leaving Jane $1,000 if she continued to care for them. Following the death of James, the last surviving brother in 1876, the estate was probated. Jane eventually received over $4,000, which included the $3,000 gift from the brothers, as well as her share of a similar gift made to her deceased sister, Sally, and Jane's own share of the brothers' estate.10 
Death11 Jul 1897 Jane died on 11 Jul 1897 in Smyth County, Virginia, at age 83.1 
Will-Recd19 Jul 1897 Jane's own will was recorded on 19 Jul 1897 in Smyth County, Virginia. She left the bulk of her estate to her greatnephew Samuel A. Shepherd with $500 designated for his sister Aurelia Shepherd. They were the grandchildren of Jane's sister Mary Buchanan Ward. Jane's will stated that "Samuel had been very kind to her in her old age". She also left $100 to each of her siblings or their children.11 
Burial She was buried at Buchanan Cemetery in Washington County, Virginia.1 

Related Links and Images:

Jane's will
Jane's headstone (2002 and 2010)
Other interments in Buchanan Cemetery
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited26 Mar 2011

Citations

  1. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 150. Jane B. Buchanan, b. 14 Jan 1814, d. 11 Jan 1897, age 82y 8m 3d. Note that a calculation of Jane's birthdate based on her date of death and age computes to a date of birth of 8 Nov. 1814.
  2. [S849] John Buchanan will (recorded 1858), Smyth Co., Virginia Will Book 3: 123. John's will was dated 20 June 1858 and recorded 21 Sept. 1858.
  3. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 209. Trimble cites records belonging to Miss Mary Sewell Helvey as his source for information on the family of John Buchanan and Mary Ryburn.
  4. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 209. Trimble cites records belonging to Miss Mary Sewell Helvey as his source for information on the family of John Buchanan and Mary Ryburn; source states approximate year of birth as 1814.
  5. [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.
  6. [S849] Ann and Jane Buchanan - Assignment of land (1858), Smyth Co., Virginia Will Book 3: 127. On 16 Nov. 1838 a document was filed describing the boundaries of the two parcels bequeathed by John Buchanan to his two daughters.
  7. [S2] Catherine McConnell, High On A Windy Hill, p. 150. Anne R. G. Buchanan, 2 Dec. 1807-20 Apr. 1859.
  8. [S234] Mathew Buchanan household, 1860 U.S. cens, Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Saltville Post Office, p. 451 (added script), dwelling 622, family 608, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 89 of 361. Enumeration reads: Mathew Buchanan, 77; James Buchanan, 71; Robert Buchanan 67; all farmers, all b. VA, each claims $10,000 real estate and $6,000 personal property; cont. p. 452: Jane P.B. Buchanan, 39, housekeeper, personal property of $1,600, b. VA.
  9. [S635] Mathew Buckhanon household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., District 1, Abingdon post office, p. 184b (stamped), dwelling 27, family 29, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 4 of 44. Enumeration reads Mathew Buckhanon (?), 88, retired farmer, owns land valued at $13,800; James, 81, retired farmer; Robert, 78, retired farmer; Jane B., 44, keeping house; Sallie P. Page, 42, asst housekeeper; Susan R (middle initial not clear and last name not stipulated), 35, asst housekeeper; all b. VA; Note: James is described as "blind."
  10. [S1015] Washington Co., Virginia probate records for James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan.
  11. [S1241] Jane B. Buchanan will (recorded 1897), Smyth County, Virginia Will Book 7: 328.