Lydia Upchurch

1782 - 1849

Lydia Upchurch was the daughter of George Upchurch and Rachel Bethshares. By 1810, she was married and had started a family with husband Jefferson Dishman.

Lydia was born in 1782 in Virginia and died in 1849 in Kentucky.

Census Data, Marriage, and Relocation to Kentucky

Lydia was likely a member of her father’s household in the 1790 and 1800 Iredell county, North Carolina census. According to these records, in 1790 Lydia was living with her parents and 4 brothers, and in 1800 she was living with her parents and 3 brothers.

Lydia and her husband, Jefferson, were presumed to be married circa 1802.

Sometime between 1810 and 1820, the couple had relocated their family west to Wayne county, Kentucky’s Cumberland region. In the 1820 census, 9 children were listed.

The 1830 census records the Dishman family living in Morgan county, Tennessee, a few miles south of Wayne. A few years later, Lydia's husband Jefferson would be the recipient of multiple land purchases and grants bringing the family back to Wayne county. By the 1840 census, Lydia and Jefferson were still residing in Wayne county and had only 1 adult child still living with them.

Land Grants, Purchases, and Sales

Lydia's husband, Jefferson, participated in many land deals over his lifetime, but Lydia was only directly involved in a few.

In 1845, Lydia's husband Jefferson acquired 75 acres on the headwaters of Otter Creek from Thomas Jones. The following year, this property was sold on the Monticello courthouse steps to Thomas Jones due to an unpaid loan for a previous land purchase. Jones then sold the land to Micajah Phillips, who then sold it to Jefferson and Lydia’s son, Moses. Moses eventually sold the land to his uncle, John Upchurch, for the sum of $134.10. In 1847, Lydia and Jefferson officially relinquished their rights the disputed property.

In 1848, Lydia’s brother John conveyed some land to Lydia and her heirs. Her heirs were listed as Cathrine Jane Dishman and Jefferson Dishman. There’s a bit of debate on who these heirs could be. Some argue these listed “children” are actually her grandchildren, while others assert the land documents are correct in listing Catherine and Jefferson as her actual children.

The last record we have of Lydia Dishman is in a Kentucky land grant for 87 acres on Otter creek in March of 1849. We assume she died that same year.

Oral Histories

Family legends suggest the Dishman household was known to host large square dances in their Wayne county homes.

Death & Burial

Lydia is reportedly buried in Dishman Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Family Relationships

  • George Upchurchcirca 1757 - circa 1830
    father
  • Rachel Bethsharescirca 1763 - circa 1830
    mother
    • Lydia Upchurch
    • + Jefferson Dishman1776-80 - 1847
      spouse / partner
      • Mary Dishman1803 - 1883
        daughter
      • Sinah Dishman1805 - after 1870
        daughter
      • Archibald Dishman1806 - 1879
        son
      • Asahel Dishmancirca 1808 - after 1850
        son
      • Thomas Dishmancirca 1809 - 1850
        son
      • Milas Dishmancirca 1811 - after 1880
        son
      • Marcus Dishmancirca 1810 - 1893-94
        son
      • Elender Dishman1814 - 1876
        daughter
      • Moses Dishmancirca 1817 - 1864
        son
      • Joseph Dishmancirca 1820 - circa 1904
        son
      • Burrel Dishman1820 - 1901
        son
      • Cathrine Dishmancirca 1822 - circa 1916
        daughter