Virginia C. Watson1

b. circa 1836, d. 12 February 1873
BirthCircacirca 1836 Virginia C. Watson was probably born in Albermarle County, Virginia, circa 1836 although her entry in the Washington County death register listed her place of birth as the city of Richmond.2,1 
  She was from a prominent southern family; her uncle having served as a senator from Mississippi in the Confederate Senate. Virginia herself served as an assistant treasurer in the Treasury Department of the Confederate government. During the war years Virginia resided at the Ballard Exchange Hotel in Richmond with her sister and brother-in-law, Col. William Fry. When Federal Army officials took over Richmond she told them she would be "a Rebel when eternity turned gray".1 
Marriage1865 She married James Monroe Byars, son of Col. William Byars and Elizabeth Beattie, in 1865 at the Ballard-Exchange Hotel in Richmond, Virginia.1 
Residence  Virginia and James returned to Washington County and settled on James's land, which he called "Hard Bargain". But Virginia fell in love with the view of the mountains to the south and renamed the property "Southern View". James remodeled an old stone structure on the property which then provided them with a comfortable and lovely home.1 
Death12 Feb 1873 Virginia died from childbirth on 12 Feb 1873 in Washington County, Virginia.2 
ChildDeath13 Feb 1873  Her infant son died the following day.3 
Burial  Virginia was originally interred in the orchard at Southern View. However, about 1891 her remains were removed to Richmond by her son, J. Cloyd Byars and reinterred in Hollywood Cemetery, as had been her wish.1 

Related Links and Images:

Ft. Kilmackronen, at one time owned by Virginia and James and known as Southern View4

Family

James Monroe Byars b. abt 1826, d. 1897
Children
Last Edited4 Oct 2013

Citations

  1. [S956] J. Cloyd Byars, "Fort Kilmackronen", Historical Society of Washington County, Virginia Bulletin #10 (July 1943).
  2. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry #316 reads: Virginia C. Byars, d. 12 Feb. 1873 at Washington Co., from child birth at age 37, b. Richmond, VA, consort of James Byars, rept by James M. Byars; district: Glade Spring twp.
  3. [S12] D.E. Brown, Unfiled Death Records of Washington Co. VA, entry #311 reads: ___ Byars, white male, d. 13 Feb. 1873 at one day of age, child of J.M. & V.C. Byars, reported by James M. Byars, Glade Spring district.
  4. [S1376] Photo courtesy of The Library of Virginia.
  5. [S635] J.M. Byars household, 1870 U.S. cens, Washington Co., Virginia, pop. sched., Glade Spring township, p. 78 (stamped), dwelling 340, family 345, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2004, image 49 or 49. The enumeration reads: J.M. Byars, 44, b. VA, farmer, owns land valued at $35,000 and personal property of $10,000; V.C. Byars (f), 30, b. VA, keeping house; Wm W., 3. b. VA; J.C. 1, b. Va (both male); also 2 laborers.
  6. [S163] J.M. Byars household, 1880 U.S. Cens., Washington Co., VA, pop. sched., Glade Spring district, ED 94, p. 57 (stamped), dwelling 71, family 72. Jul 2007, image 9 of 54. Household includes: J.M. Byars, 54, marr, farmer; Mary A., wife, 40; Nannie C. Moon, niece, 19; J. Cloyd Byars, son, 11; Aileen Byars, 9, dau; Mary Crocket, 21, governess; also 5 non relatives, including 3 servants.