Biography

Other than a claim on Find a Grave, there does not seem to be any evidence that Elizabeth Ratchford was the daughter of Thomas and Desire. It is clear that she was related, perhaps she was the daughter of his brother James.

Elizabeth married David Lyons on 25 May 1779 in Cornwallis, Kings, Colony of Nova Scotia.^[1][2] They had the following children: (first five recorded in Cornwallis Township Book)^[3]

• Thomas Ratchford Lyons, b. 3 Mar 1780^[4]
• Elizabeth Wright Lyons, b. 2 May 1782^[5]
• Ruth Lyons, b. 16 Jan 1784^[6]
• John Lyons, b. 13 Dec 1785^[7]
• Mary Lyons, b. 14 Feb 1788^[8]
• Robert Lyons, bp. 5 Jul 1795^[9]
• David Lyons, bp. 5 Jul 1795^[10]
• Ann Ratchford Lyons
• Nancy Lyons
• Martha Lyons
• Joseph Borden Lyons
• Ebenezer Lyons
• William Andrew Lyons

Betsey died on 17 March, 1843 in Lower Perow, Cornwallis, aged 81. She was buried in the Blomidon Houston Beach Cemetery in Blomidon, Kings, Nova Scotia.^[11][12]

Research Notes

• Birth year estimated based on age engraved on gravestone.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 3, FamilySearch Record: 6Z3H-2JGZ (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GBCK-9SBR Image number 00453, Elizabeth Rachford marriage to David Lions on 25 May 1779 in Nova Scotia.
2. ↑ Evans, Township Books p. 66.
3. ↑ Evans, Township Books p. 40.
4. ↑ Birth of son Thomas Ratchford Lyons: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 26, FamilySearch Record: 6ZSR-K52R (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-LBCK-93P9 Image number 00674, Elizabeth's son Thomas Ratchford Lyons birth in Cornwallis, Kings, Nova Scotia.
5. ↑ Birth of daughter Elizabeth Lyons: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 27, FamilySearch Record: 6ZSR-K52B (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-LBCK-93P9 Image number 00674, Elizabeth's daughter Elizabeth Lyons birth in Cornwallis, Kings, Nova Scotia.
6. ↑ Birth of daughter Ruth Lyons: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 28, FamilySearch Record: 6ZSR-K5L9 (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-LBCK-93P9 Image number 00674, Elizabeth's daughter Ruth Lyons birth in Cornwallis, Kings, Nova Scotia.
7. ↑ Birth of son John Lyons: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 29, FamilySearch Record: 6ZSR-K5LQ (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-LBCK-93P9 Image number 00674, Elizabeth's son John Lyons birth in Cornwallis Township, Kings, Nova Scotia.
8. ↑ Birth of daughter Mary Lyons: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 30, FamilySearch Record: 6ZSR-K5L4 (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-LBCK-93P9 Image number 00674, Elizabeth's daughter Mary Lyons birth in Cornwallis, Township, Kings, Nova Scotia.
9. ↑ Baptism of son Robert Lyon: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 24, FamilySearch Record: 6ZZT-DVQN (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-8BCJ-NTG Image number 00851, Betsy Lyon's son Robert Lyon baptism on 5 Jul 1795 in Horton 35, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada.
10. ↑ Baptism of son David Lyon: "Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001," database with images, citing Record number: 25, FamilySearch Record: 6ZZT-DVQK (accessed 3 July 2023) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-8BCJ-NTG Image number 00851, Betsy Lyon's son David Lyon baptism on 5 Jul 1795 in Horton 35, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada.
11. ↑ Obituary: "Elizabeth Lyons," Weekly Chronicle, (Saint John, New Brunswick) 7 April 1843, transcription database, Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, citing Daniel F. Johnson, vol. 10, no. 1354 (accessed 3 Jul 2023) "d. Lower Perow, Cornwallis, 15th March, Elizabeth LYONS widow of David LYONS, age 81."
12. ↑ Memorial: "Find a Grave," database with images, Find A Grave: Memorial #135108193 (accessed 3 July 2023), Memorial page for Elizabeth “Betsey” Ratchford Lyons (1762-17 Mar 1843), citing Blomidon Houston Beach, Blomidon, Kings County, Nova Scotia, Canada; Maintained by Karen P. (contributor 47825759).

• Lorna Woodman Evans, compiler, Township Books Kings County, Nova Scotia: Aylesford, Cornwallis, Horton (Kentville, Nova Scotia: Kings Historical Society, 1996).