Orianna (Moon) Andrews
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Orianna Russell (Moon) Andrews (1834 - 1883)

Orianna Russell "Orie" Andrews formerly Moon
Born in Scottsville, Albemarle, Virginia, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 28 Nov 1861 in Albemarle, Virginia, United Statesmap
[children unknown]
Died at age 49 in Scottsville, Albemarle, Virginia, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 20 Aug 2021
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Biography

Flag of Virginia
Native Virginian
Orianna volunteered as a trained physician and surgeon, for the Confederacy during the Civil War, supervising wards at the local hospital, turning university buildings into hospital units, and serving as both nurse and, although not officially allowed, a surgeon. Honored for eternity:
In Memoriam

Orianna was born 11 Aug 1834 at the family estate known as Viewmont in Albemarle County, Virginia. She was the second of seven children and the oldest of five daughters born to Edward Harris Moon (a farmer) and Orianna "Anna" Maria Barclay.

16-year-old Orianna (shown as Oraannaa) appears in the 1850 Census with her family in Albemarle, Virginia. A Baptist Minister, J H Fox, is in their household, possibly as a boarder : [1]

HouseholdRoleSexAge
Edward H MoonHeadM45
Ann M MoonWifeF41
Thomas MoonSonM19
Oraanna MoonDaughter
Isaac MoonSonM14
Charlotte MoonDaughterF10
Sarah MoonDaughterF6
Mary MoonDaughterF2
J H FoxOtherM33

Orianna chose to attend Troy Female Seminary, a preparatory school in New York. After graduating, she announced that she wanted to follow in her brother's footsteps and become a doctor. Her parents were supportive of this decision.

She studied medicine at the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania (later Woman's College of Pennsylvania) in Philadelphia from 1854 to 1857. In 1856 Orianna submitted her thesis on the relation between cardiac and pulmonary disease. She graduated as a Doctor of Medicine on 28 Feb 1857. At the time, she was one of 38 women who had received medical degrees in the United States. After graduation, she went to Europe to spend another year on her medical studies. While abroad, she too an extended trip to Jerusalem with her missionary uncle James Turner Barclay.

As the Civil War broke out, Orianna was determined to use her skills in the war effort, despite the fact that only men were permitted to serve as surgeons. She was just 27 years old when she was recruited by the Confederacy and hurried to Charlottesville to volunteer her services when the wounded started pouring into the town. She supervised a ward in the local hospital and began to turn university buildings into hospital units.

Although doctors who worked beside Orianna respected her medical skills and dedication (in 1913 letter written by Dr. Peter Winston who ran the ward next to her), there were still those who believed that "no woman ought to dream of entering the ranks of the medical profession", even those like Orianna who demonstrated "high character and fine intelligence". (Dr. Edward Warren, medical inspector of the Army of Northern Virginia)

Following the Battle of Bull Run, Orianna was called in as a additional surgeon to examine the brother of Dr. John Summerfield Andrews, himself a commissioned surgeon. Unfortunately, John's brother died, however this was the beginning of a lasting relationship.

Orianna married Dr. John Summerfield Andrews on 28 Nov 1861. [2]They worked together treating the wounded until the fall of the Confederacy. The couple continued practicing medicine together (although the Census records don't indicate this) in Tennessee, and then in Scottsville Virginia where they established a hospital. Orianna and John had at least eight sons:

  1. Henry Horton (1862-1863)
  2. James Barkley (1863-1938)
  3. William Luther (1865-1936)
  4. Edward Moon (1871-1871)
  5. Samuel Bryant (1872-1951)
  6. Isaac Moon (1874-1924)
  7. Owen Merriweather (1875-1967)
  8. Frank Moon (1880-1965)

The family was in Hardin, Tennessee in 1870: [3]

HouseholdSexAgeBirthplaceOccupation
John L AndrewsM31TennesseePhysician
Orie AndrewsF35VirginiaKeeping house
James B AndrewsM6Virginia
William T AndrewsM5Virginia

and in Slate River, Buckingham, Virginia in 1880: [4]

HouseholdRoleSexAgeBirthplaceOccupation
John S AndrewsHeadM42TennesseePhysician
Orie M AndrewsWifeF45VirginiaKeeping house
James B AndrewsSonM16VirginiaWorks on farm
William L AndrewsSonM15VirginiaWorks on farm
Sam Bryant AndrewsSonM7Virginia
Isaac M AndrewsSonM6Virginia
Owen M AndrewsSonM4Virginia
Frank M AndrewsSonM0Virginia
Robert KiddServantM22Virginialaborer

She passed away 26 Dec 1883 of ovarian cancer in Scottsville, Albermarle, Virginia and was buried in Scottsville Cemetery in Scottsville.[5]

Sources

  1. 1850 Census: "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M88L-J2Z : 23 December 2020), Oraanna Moon in household of Edward H Moon, Albemarle, Virginia, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  2. Marriage: "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6DR2-YYG5 : 28 June 2022), Ora R. Moon in entry for Jno. S. Andrews, 22 Nov 1861; citing Marriage, Virginia, United States, Circuit court clerk offices, Virginia.
  3. 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870", citing Page: 18; Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 32; FHL microfilm: 000553033; Record number: 6858, FamilySearch Record: MDDQ-HH7 (accessed 10 January 2023) FamilySearch Image: S3HY-6S83-GMS Image number 00193, Orie Andrews (35) in Hardin, Tennessee, United States. Born in Virginia.
  4. 1880 Census: "United States Census, 1880", citing enumeration district ED 38, sheet , NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm , FamilySearch Record: MCPL-YT3 (accessed 10 January 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YBC-NRQ Image number 00812, Orie M Andrews (45), wife, Keeping House, in household of Jno. S. Andrews (42) in District 6 Slate River, Buckingham, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia, United States.
  5. Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18373392/oriana-russell-andrews: accessed 10 January 2023), memorial page for Dr Oriana Russell “Orie” Moon Andrews (11 Aug 1834–26 Dec 1883), Find A Grave: Memorial #18373392, citing Scottsville Cemetery, Scottsville, Albemarle County, Virginia, USA; Maintained by B&JAndrews1945 (contributor 47525492).
  • Monumental inscription. Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum, Altadena, California. 1883 (b. 1834) MOON, Dr. Orie Russell. Photographed by: Find A Grave contributor Mike, ID 46775771.
See also:
  • "On The Field of Mercy", Mercedes Graf, (Amherst, New York, Humanity Books, 2010), Archive.org (Internet Archive), Orianna Russell Moon (Andrews), pages 55-57
  • "Orianna Andrews," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, (accessed January 9, 2023).
  • "Q44205354," Wikidata, (accessed January 9, 2023).
  • Orianna Moon Andrews., History of American Women Colonial Women - 18th-19th Century Women - Civil War Women. Orianna Moon Andrews.
  • Jennifer Davis McDaid, "Oriana Russell Moon Andrews (1834–1883)," Dictionary of Virginia Biography, Library of Virginia (1998– ), published 2016 (, [accessed January 10, 2023]).
  • "Virginia, County Marriage Records, 1771-1989", citing Marriage, Albemarle, Virginia, United States, Circuit court clerk offices, Virginia, FamilySearch Record: 66HX-5BCT (accessed 11 January 2023) FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9BK-1SWK-4 Image number 00568, Are R Moon (25) marriage to Jno S Andrews (25) on 28 Nov 1861 in Albemarle, Virginia, United States.
  • "United States Census, 1860", citing Page: 48; Affiliate Publication Number: M653; Affiliate Film Number: 1331; FHL microfilm: 805331; Record number: 8210, FamilySearch Record: M4BB-BTQ (accessed 10 January 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9BSC-9SB2 Image number 00214, Oriana Moon (26) in St Annes Parish, Albemarle, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia.

Acknowledgements

  • Gravesite photo posted with permission of Find A Grave contributor Mike, ID 46775771 as noted in email response to request to use his image on WikiTree: "Yes, you may use my image".




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