Lydia (Plybon) Divers (abt. 1804 - aft. 1882)

Born about 14 Apr 1804 in Franklin County, Virginia, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Divers — married 12 Oct 1830 in Franklin County, Virginia

Descendants

Died after 28 Jul 1882 after about age 78 in Franklin County, Virginia, USA

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Biography

Lydia Plybon was born 14 April 1804. The census records and her pension application all support 1803. But some researchers report the date was 14 April 1804. No source is available for 1804.

Lydia was the youngest daughter of John and Rebecca Plybon (Rebecca's maiden name is unproven). Her son, Ransom Plybon, was born on 23 Dec 1823, but she didn't marry her only husband, Thomas Divers, until 1830. She would have been about 20 years old when Ransom was born. He was born out of wedlock and his father was John Wesley Pasley (1797-1872). Both John and Lydia went on to marry other people: Lydia married Thomas Divers and John married Susannah Lumsden. The source of this information is direct descendants. John Wesley Pasley was the son of Robert Pasley and Sallie Forbes. They lived in Franklin County, Virginia.

She married Thomas Divers October 12, 1830 in Franklin County, Va., son of Christopher Divers and Lucy Smith.He was born March 14, 1796, and died November 12, 1848. Thomas Divers was the son of Christopher Divers and Lucy Smith.

Lydia lived on for another 30 plus years, ran the family farm, and apparently did that pretty well. Lydia was also a slaveowner. She apparently acquired slaves when her husband died but based on the demographics from the census returns, she must have bought or sold at least one slave herself.

Children of Lydia Plybon and Thomas Divers are:

1. Rebecca Divers, b. 1831; d. Abt. 1897; married Daniel Perdue
2. Christopher Divers, b. 1833, d. 1850
3. Dewitt C. Divers, b. December 05, 1835; d. May 15, 1884, Franklin Co., VA
4. Ann Elizabeth Divers, b. May 01, 1839, Franklin County, Va.; d. April 11, 1909; married Tyree T. Dillon
5. Thomas C. Divers, b. September 11, 1840; d. December 16, 1905; married Sarah Perdue
6. Sarah L. Divers, b. September 28, 1842; d. July 06, 1879; married William H. Hamner
7. Isabella Divers, b. November 01, 1845; d. January 13, 1914; married Reed Sink
8. Nancy C. Divers, b. 1848; married Henry C. Ridgeway

Thomas Divers had been a landowner when he died intestate. His land records are still being investigated. Lydia was a major buyer at Thomas' estate sale. Ransom Plybon was a buyer also and rented a portion of Thomas' land.

In 1878, Lydia appIied for a federal pension for her husband's service in the War of 1812. The information derived from that file: Lydia Divers was 75 years old at the time of her application; She married Thomas 12 October 1830, marriage performed by Moses Greer; Thomas died 12 November 1848; Thomas enlisted 29 March 1814 as a Private in Capt. William Jones Virginia Militia; Thomas was discharged 22 June 1814. Thomas re-enlisted, as a Private, 30 January 1815 in Capt. Eli Ferguson’s Co. of VA. Militia. Thomas was discharged 21 February 1815.

Lydia passed away around 1883. She was buried with husband Thomas in the Divers Cemetery on Inglewood Road near Burnt Chimney. Note that the FAG Memorial cited below has a photo of Lydia's tombstone but the inscriptions are totally illegible. The Memorial says she died 28 July 1882, which may be unlikely since she was a pensioner in 1883.

Stories

Family lore says that Lydia's first child, Ransom Plybon, was fathered by John Pasley. But John and Lydia never married. Each went on to marry others. The story says that John said some unkind things in the neighborhood about Lydia. As a result, Lydia refused to marry him.

Sources

• Franklin County, Virginia Marriage Bonds, 1828-1831, FHL Film #1977994; Know all men by these Presents that we Thomas Divers and John Starky are held and firmly bound unto John Floyd Esq. Governor of the State of Virginia in the sum of One hundred and fifty Dollars to the payment whereof we bind ourselves and each of us ___ of our heirs &c jointly and severally firmly by these Presents Sealed with our seals and dated this 12th day of October 1830. The Condition of the above Obligation is such that whereas the above bound Thomas Divers hath this day obtained from the Clerk of the County Court of Franklin a license for his intermarriage with Lydia Plyborne of said County. Now if there shall be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage then this Obligation to be void else remain in full force and virtue. Witness [Signed] Thos. Divers, John his mark Starky

• Marriage Bonds of Franklin County, Virginia, 1786-1858, by Marshall Wingfield, p. 75, Divers, Thos. and Lydia Plyborne, Oct. 12, 1830, surety John Starkey

• 1840 Federal Census, Franklin County, Virginia; Thomas Divers, 3101001/120001; 3 males <5; 1 male 5-9; 1 male 15-19 (probably Ransom Plybon, b. 1823); 1 male 40-49; 1 female <5; 2 females 5-9; 1 female 30-39 (Lydia Plybon Divers); 4 slaves

• Franklin County, Virginia Will Book 7, p. 188-191; The Sale Book of Thomas Divers Decd made this 9 November 1849.[Includes multi-page list of items sold for total of $782.75. Lydia Divers recorded numerous times as a buyer, also Ransom Plyborn]; p. 190, “To keeping one negro child Jane for the year 1850 at the lowest bidder, $9.25 by Lydia Divers.”; p. 191, “The rent of the land of the hears [sic] of Thomas Divers Decd at the highest bidder, Rented by Ransom Plybon $20.00”; p. 191, At a Court held for Franklin County the 5th day of August 1850 This List of sales of the estate of Thomas Divers Decd was returned and ordered to be recorded.

• 10 September 1850 United States Federal Census Non-Population Schedule; Franklin County, VA; Lydia Davis [sic] owned 300 acres of improved land and 200 acres of unimproved land. Her farm's cash worth was valued at $1600.

• 10 September 1850 Federal Census Franklin County, Virginia; Household 424/423; Lydia Divers, 47, Farmer, Real estate value $1600; Rebecca F. Divers, 18; Christopher Divers, 16; Deweitt Divers, 15; Ann E. Divers, 11; Thomas Divers, 10; Sarah L. Divers, 8; Isabella Divers, 5; Nancy K., Divers, 1

• 1850 Federal Census, Slave Schedules, Franklin County, Virginia; Lydia Daver [sic]; four slaves: 1 black male age 16; 1 black male, age 10; 1 black female, age 5; 1 black male, age 3

• 26 July 1860 Federal Census, Franklin County, Virginia; Household 528/571; Lydia Divers, 25, real estate value $1000, personal property value $3600. Note: Lydia's age given incorrectly, she would have been about 57.

• 1860 Federal Census, Slave Schedules, Franklin County, Virginia; Lydia Divers, 1 black male age 56, 1 black male age 26

• 28 July 1870 Federal Census, Franklin County, Virginia, Gills Creek; Household 61/62, Lydia Divers, 67, keeps house, real estate value $1200, can't read/write; Dewitt Divers, 34, farmer; Isbell Sink, 24, keeps house; Reed Sink, 23, farm laborer; Daniel Divers, 85, without occupation

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 31, p. 122 (FHL Film 8579327, Image 782); 20 January 1872, Lydia Divers to her children: Rebecca Frances Perdue, D. C. Divers (son), Isabella Sink, Nancy C. Ridgeway and Sarah L. Hamner, 180 acres beginning at a poplar on a branch in Dillon’s line, N62E 94 poles to a white oak, N22E 175 poles to a white oak, N55W 57 poles to a red oak, S68W 180 poles to a white oak, S43W 25 poles to pointers off the dividing line, S36E 92 poles to the head of the branch and down the branch as it meanders to the beginning.

• Franklin County, Virginia Deed Book 31, p. 123 (FHL Film 8579327, Image 783); 20 January 1872, Daniel Perdue and Rebecca F., his wife, D. C. (Dewitt) Divers, Tyree T. Dillon and Ann E., his wife, Thomas C. Divers and Sarah, his wife, Reed Sink and Isabella, his wife, Henry C. Ridgeway and Nancy C., his wife and William H. Hamner to William H. Hamner, 180 acres beginning at a poplar on a branch in Dillon’s line, N62E 94 poles to a white oak, N22E 175 poles to a white oak, N55W 57 poles to a red oak, S68W 180 poles to a white oak, S43W 25 poles to pointers off the dividing line, S36E 92 poles to the head of the branch and down the branch as it meanders to the beginning.

• 14/15 June 1880 Federal Census, Franklin County, Virginia, 104 Enumeration District; Lydia Divers, 77, was recorded as a widowed mother-in-law in the household of Henry C. Ridgeway, her son-in-law. Note: The census record indicated Lydia's parents were both born in Pennsylvania. This is probably incorrect and was more likely Bedford Co., VA.

• Fold3.com; On 4 April 1878, Lydia Divers applied for a pension for War of 1812 service by her deceased husband, Thomas Divers (W. C. 8911).

• Franklin County, Virginia: A History, by Marshall Wingfield, p. 149; The author provides a list of “United States Pensioners” in 1883, along with their Post Office address and the cause for which pensioned. Lydia Divers is listed at Taylor’s Store, and pensioned for the War of 1812.

• Library of Virginia Chancery Court Database, Franklin County Case #1898-044, George Divers vs. Heirs of William R. Divers; Images 54-57 contain plats of land owned by George Divers and his wife, Frances. Those lands were surveyed in 1886 and the surveys mention an adjoining neighbor, Lydia Divers. The land was on Gills Creek on the road to Taylor’s Store.

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123313047/lydia-divers; Note FAG is unsourced and tombstone photo is totally illegible.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Chris Rose for creating WikiTree profile Divers-19 through the import of Rose Family Tree.ged on Dec 5, 2013. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Chris and others.