Rosannah T. Buchanan1,2

b. 8 January 1822 or 8 March 1824, d. 20 September 1894
FatherJohn Buchanan3 b. 1784, d. 14 Sep 1858
MotherMary Ryburn4,5 b. 2 Apr 1785, d. 5 May 1858
Birth8 Jan 1822 or 8 Mar 1824 Rosannah T. Buchanan was born on 8 Jan 1822 or 8 Mar 1824 in Virginia. Rosannah's headstone has been transcribed twice with completely different views as to her date of birth. Her reported age on various census records does not shed light on the question (1850: 2_ [not clear], 1860:30, 1870:46, 1880: 55).1,6,7 
Name Other  There does not appear to be one consistent spelling of Rosannah's name in the records created during her lifetime. Besides Rosannah it appears as Roseanna, Roseannah, Rosanna and Rose A. 
Marriage10 Jul 1848 She married Ezra C. Witten, son of James Witten and Rebecca (?), on 10 Jul 1848 in Smyth County, Virginia.8 
Cens-Sum Rosannah and Ezra were married in Smyth County but seem to have quickly settled on a farm in Tazewell County. From 1850 to 1870 they were enumerated on federal census records with their growing family which included eight children by 1865.9,10,11 
Cens-188018 Jun 1880 By the time the 1880 census was recorded Rosannah was widowed. Still living at home with her and running the farm were her sons James, John, Robert, William and Harvey, as well as her daughters Rebecca and Sarah.12 
Heir1878 Rosannah Buchanan Witten was one of the heirs of James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan, who were her uncles through the line of her deceased father, John Buchanan. Over a span of ten years, from 1876 to 1886, she received $582 from their estate, which was roughly equivalent to that received by each of her siblings, as well as a large number of cousins or their heirs.13,14 
Death20 Sep 1894 Rosannah died of flux on 20 Sep 1894 in Tazewell County.1,15,6 
Burial She was buried at Witten Cemetery in Tazewell County, Virginia.16,1 

Family

Ezra C. Witten b. 12 Mar 1824, d. 3 Jun 1876
Children
  • Mary E. Witten9 (circa 1849 - )
  • James A. Witten12 (circa 1851 - )
  • John B. Witten12 (circa 1854 - )
  • Robert B. Witten12 (circa 1856 - )
  • Rebecca Anne Witten12 (6 Dec 1857 - 22 Jun 1938)
  • Sarah T. Witten12 (circa 1860 - )
  • William Witten12 (circa 1864 - )
  • Harvey P. Witten12 (circa 1864 - )
ChartsDescendants of John Buchanan and Ann Ryburn
Descendants of William Ryburn and Mary (?)
Last Edited9 May 2008

Citations

  1. [S1639] Rose Brown Peery and Betty T Hollowell, Tazewell Co., Virginia - Some Old Cemeteries, p. 96. Single stone reported to read: Ezra C. Witten, b. Mar 12, 1824 - d. Jun. 3, 1876, age 52y 2m & 21d; also: Rosannah T. Witten, b. Jan. 8, 1822 - d. Sep. 20, 1894, age 72y 8m & 28d. The authors note that an older smaller stone was also in place for Ezra with the same dates and age.
  2. [S709] Mathew, James and Robert Buchanan settlement (recorded 1879), Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 20: 184. Ben K. Buchanan, as executor, entered an intermediary settlement which provided an extensive list of heirs.
  3. [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.
  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.
  5. [S1145] Ruth Boyd Wilson and Thurman Robert Wilson, Tazewell County Death Register 1872-1896, p. 177, citing 1894 Death Register reports, line 77; parents listed as John and Mary Buckhannan.
  6. [S1146] Ruth Boyd Wilson and Thurman Robert Wilson, Tazewell County Cemeteries Vol. 2, p. 48. The entry for Roseannah reports her stone to state: Roseannah T. Witten, March 8, 1824 - Sept. 20, 1876, 52y 8m 28d, however she was recorded on the 1880 census so date of death cannot be correct; also the date of birth conflicts with another reading of her headstone.
  7. [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; states b. abt 1822.
  8. [S45] John Vogt and William Kethley Jr., Smyth Co. VA Marriages 1832-50, p. 46. Abstract reads: Ezra Whitten & Rosanna T. Buchanan, 10 Jul 1848.
  9. [S929] Ezra C. Witten household, 1870 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Maiden Spring township, page 262b (stamped), dwelling 51, family 51; National Archives micropublication M 593, roll 1680, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 8 of 93. Enumeration recorded: Ezra C. Witten, 46, farmer, owns real estate valued at $1,500, pers. prop at $500; Roseanna, 46; James, 18, farm laborer; Mary E. 21; John B., 16 (?); Rebecca A., 11; Sallie, 10; William, 6; Harry, 6; all b. VA; Preston Hayes, 22, b. TN, school teacher.
  10. [S930] Ezra Witten household, 1860 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Western District, page 821 (script), dwelling 909, family 894; National Archives micropublication M 653, roll 1381, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul. 2004, image 25 of 104. Enumeration recorded: Ezra Witten, 36, farmer, owns real estate valued at $360, personal property of $2,890; Rose A., 30; Mary E., 10; James, 8; John, 6; Robert, 4; Rebecca, 2; Sally, 3/12; Alexander Buchanan, 25, farm laborer, owns personal property of $102; all born VA.
  11. [S1013] Ezra Witten household, 1850 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Western District 62, page 73 (added script), dwelling 485, family 485; National Archives micropublication M432, roll 979, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Oct. 2004, image 73 of 213. Enumeration includes: Ezra Witten, 26, farmer, b. VA; Rosanna, 2_, b. VA; Mary E. 1, b. VA.
  12. [S933] Rosana Witten household, 1880 U.S. census, Tazewell County, Virginia, population schedule, Maiden Spring District, Enumeration District (ED) 90, page 295a (stamped), dwelling 351, family 351; National Archives micropublication T-9, roll 1393, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jul 2004, image 41 of 55. Enumeration reports: Rosana Witten, 55, widowed; James A., son, 29, farmer; John B, son, 26, farmer; Robert B., son, 24, farmer; Rebecca A., dau, 22; Sarah T., dau, 20; William, son, 16, farmer; Harvey P., son, 16, works on farm; Henry (?) Holly, no relationship stated, black, 37, male, marr; Martha Holly. wife, 33, bl, keeping house; Henry Holly, son, 16, bl, works on farm; Lizzie, dau, bl, 13; all born VA; all parents b. VA.
  13. [S1015] Washington Co., Virginia probate records for James, Mathew and Robert Buchanan.
  14. [S7] Conclusions based on analysis of James Buchanan probate papers.
  15. [S1145] Ruth Boyd Wilson and Thurman Robert Wilson, Tazewell County Death Register 1872-1896, p. 177, citing 1894 Death Register reports, line 77; information provided by Wm Witten, son.
  16. [S1146] Ruth Boyd Wilson and Thurman Robert Wilson, Tazewell County Cemeteries Vol. 2, p. 48. The entry for Roseannah reports her stone to state: Roseannah T. Witten, March 8, 1824 - Sept. 20, 1876, 52y 8m 28d, however she was recorded on the 1880 census so date of death cannot be correct.