Peggy Jones was mentioned in the 27 February 1805 will of her father Richard Jones. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 16, pages 385–387.]

In an undated petition from around 1812 or 1813, orators and oratrices Benjamin Jones and Sally Jones and Peggy Jones infants under 21 by Benjamin Jones their next friend, Ambrose Hundley, William Jones and Leonard Jones stated that Benjamin Jones made a gift on 30 August 1808 to his son Richard Jones (father of your orators and oratrices Benjamin, Sally and Peggy), and that Benjamin died in 1812. Ambrose Hundley has bought part of the estate. The children of Benjamin [this is clearly in error and should be Richard] are Benjamin, Joseph, Richard, Thomas, Nancy, Mary Holt, Susanna, Elizabeth, Sarah and Peggy. That Elizabeth has married James Macfarlane. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 22, item 22-M-59.]

The estate of Richard Jones, deceased, in account with Coleman Jones, executor, from 1804 [sic] through 1809 was settled on 16 December 1814 by J. Bohannan, Chas. Hill, Lewis Dix and Carter Croxton. “We acknowledge that we have respectively received of William Jones admr &c of Coleman Jones decd. our proportion of the Thirty six pounds 7/6 (and all Interest due thereon) mentioned in the within settlement,” signed by L Booker, John Jones, James Durham, Joseph his x mark Jones, Thomas Jones, Susanna her x mark Jones, Salley Jones, Peggy C her x mark Jones, and James McFarland. (Lewis Booker may have purchased the interests of other children Benjamin Jones, Richard Jones, and Lewis Holt (husband of Mary Jones). John Jones relationship unclear.) [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 18, pages 102–103.]

On 21 February 1826, a complaint was filed in the Chancery Court of Essex County by orators & oratrices John Minter & Ann his wife, Robt Mann & Susan his wife, Peter Campbell & Mary his wife, Fontaine Wood, and Ambrose, John, Thomas & Sarah Hunley infants under the age of twenty one years by Elizabeth Hundley their Guardian and next friend, & Josiah Ryland, stating that in 1825 Richard Ryland had died intestate leaving no children and petitioning for the division of his estate. Numerous amendments and affidavits were filed during the course of the case. Papers filed state that Richard left heirs Peter Campbell and Mary R. his wife who was Mary Hundley, Ambrose Hundley, Robert Mann (who died between the decree on 19 February 1827 and the division of the estate on 14 June 1827) and Susan D. his wife who was Susan Hundley, Mary and Thomas Wood, children of Fontaine Wood and Anne H. his wife, deceased, who was Anne H. Hundley, Richard Hundley, John Hundley, Thomas Hundley, and Sarah Hundley, the said Mary, Ambrose, Susan, Anne, Richard, John, Thomas and Sarah being children of Ambrose Hundley deceased, Richard Hundley (who lived in Kershaw District, South Carolina) and Absalom Hundley (long removed from Virginia), the said Ambrose, Richard and Absalom children of Ambrose Hundley and Mary his wife who was Mary Ryland, a sister of the full blood to Richard Ryland [although family Bible records indicate otherwise] and who married after the death of Ambrose a James Ferguson and moved to Kershaw District, South Carolina; Mary “Polly” Shelor (or Shetor, the name appearing both ways), Thomas Shelor, Joseph Shelor and Sally Gee who was Sally Shelor, the said Mary, Thomas, Joseph, and Sally being children of Elizabeth Shelor deceased who was married to Jacob Shelor, Thomas Ryland, John Ryland, Hundley Ryland, John Simmons and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Ryland, the said Thomas, John, and Hundley Ryland and Nancy Simmons and Elizabeth Shelor being children of Thomas Ryland deceased, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland; Thomas Jones who died without heir, Robert Jeffries and Elizabeth his wife who was Elizabeth Jones and who had previously married James McFarlane, Richard D. Dunn and Peggy his wife who was Peggy Jones, James Durham and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Jones, Patsy Jones and Betsy Jones, children of Joseph Jones deceased, Mary Thompson who was Mary Jones, Sophronia Jones a daughter of Richard Jones deceased, Benjamin Jones, and Coleman Jones and Susan his wife, the said Thomas, Elizabeth, Peggy, Sally, Nancy, Joseph, Mary, Richard, Benjamin and Susan being children of Elizabeth Jones deceased, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland who had married Richard Jones; John Minter and Ann his wife who was Ann Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Lewis Mickleburrough and Henrietta his wife who was Henrietta Haile, Joseph McTyre and Polly his wife who was Polly Haile, Joseph Haile and Jonathan Haile, the said Henrietta, Polly, Joseph and Jonathan being children of Mary Haile, deceased, wife of Wheeler Haile and who was Mary Croxton, a daughter of Thomas Croxton and Sarah his wife who was Sarah Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland (the said Thomas and Sarah also having had children Joseph, Thomas, Richard, and Susan (who married a Miller) who have been long removed from Virginia); Lewis Whittemore and Jane his wife who was Jane Ryland and Wyatt Whittemore and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Ryland, the said Jane and Nancy being children of John Ryland a brother of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; George and Samuel Durham, children of Mary Durham deceased who was Mary Faucett, a daughter of Rice Faucett and Susannah his wife who was Susannah Ryland, a sister of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Edward, Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth and Polly Ryland and Joseph Tellman (also Tillman) and Sally his wife who was Sally Ryland, the said Edward, Allen, Joseph, Samuel, Elizabeth, Polly and Sally being children of Iverson Ryland deceased, a brother of the whole blood to Richard Ryland; Josiah Ryland, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland who is still living; Parker Tod Hunter and Catharine his wife who was Catharine Ryland, Joseph Barnett and Elizabeth his wife who was Elizabeth Ryland, John, James, Edwin and Joanna Ryland, the said Catharine, Elizabeth, John, James, Edwin and Joanna being children of Joseph Ryland who died in Kentucky, a brother of the half blood to Richard Ryland; and Jacob Tod Hunter and Joanna his wife who was Joanna Ryland, a sister of the half blood to Richard Ryland. The property was divided and distributed by 14 June 1827. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 35, many items in Folder J.]

In 1839, orators and oratrices Robert Jeffries and Betsy [later written as Elizabeth] his wife, Richard Dunn and Peggy his wife James Clarkson and Ann his wife John Smether and Bakey[?] his wife Willis Brooks and Betsy his wife William McFarlane and Sophronia his wife Obadiah J Alexander and Dorothea his wife and Polly Thomas complained that your orators and oratrices are the descendants of Richard Jones who died in 1805 in Essex County. James Durham intermarried with Nancy Jones a daughter of the said Richard Jones. That the said Nancy died this year without issue and that her husband survives. That James Durham is now in possession of slaves. A chart provides further clarification: Benjamin Jones had issue: Lucy wife of Geo Saunders, Betsy wife of O. Alexander, Polly [also listed as Dolly] wife of Geo. Durham; Richd Jones had issue Sophronia wife of W McFarlane; Joseph Jones had issue Betsy wife of W. Brooke, Patsey wife of Jno: Smether; Thomas Jones died without issue; Nancy Jones married James Durham; Susanna Jones died without issue; Betsy Jones wife of plaintiff Robert Jeffries; Sally Jones left Ann wife of Jas Chowning; Peggy Jones married Richard Dunn plaintiff; Polly Jones married Jno Thomas [in 48-J-20 corrected as Thompson]. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 48, item 48-J-15.]

1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Page 87
Dwelling 381, Household 381
Dunn, Richard, 50, male, merchant, value of real estate $2,300, born in
Virginia
Dunn, Peggy, 51, female, born in Virginia
Dunn, Iverson, 20, male, laborer, born in Virginia
Dunn, Richard, 18, male, clerk in store, born in Virginia
Dunn, Muscoe, 16, male, salesman, born in Virginia

Margaret was mentioned but not named in the 1851 will of her husband Richard D. Dunn. She was lent his estate during her life. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 27, pages 114–115.]

On 22 July 1856, Margaret Dunn was mentioned as a landowner bordering land of the estate of Fielding Croxton, in a sale of the land to Peter Campbell. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 50, page 847–848.]

1860 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Lloyds Post Office, Page 87
Dwelling 817, Family 793
Brizendine, Martha J., 35, female, farmer, value of real estate $500, value of personal estate $150, born in Virginia
Dunn, Margaret C., 62, female, value of personal estate $5,600, born in Virginia
Dunn, Muscoe R., 24, male, farmer, value of real estate $800, value of personal estate $225, born in Virginia
Allen, Wm. R., 10, male, born in Virginia, in school
Brizendine, Margaret J., 8, female, born in Virginia, in school
Brizendine, Churchill R., 6, male, born in Virginia, in school
Brizendine, Harvey, 5, male, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Fontaine, 3, male, born in Virginia

1870 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Millers Tavern Post Office, Page 54
Dwelling 407, Family 407
Brizendine, Martha J., 44, female, white, keeping house, value of real estate $300, value of personal estate $200, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Margaret, 17, female, white, without occupation, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Harvey, 14, male, white, farm laborer, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Fountain, 13, male, white, farm laborer, born in Virginia
Dunn, Margaret, 76 [? - could say 16], female, white, without occupation, born in Virginia

1870 U.S. Census, Virginia, Essex County
Page 129
Dwelling 319, Household 319
Dunn, Muscoe, 32, male, white, farmer, value of personal estate $125, born in Virginia
Dunn, Margaret, 74, female, white, keeping house, value of real estate $400, born in Virginia
Crow, Eugene, 8, male, white, at home, born in Virginia
Crow, Ealing[?], 6, male, white, at home, born in Virginia

1880 U.S. Census, Virginia, Essex County, Chapel Grove Precinct
Page 293
Dwelling 206, Family 206
Brizendine, M. J., white, female, 46, widowed, keeping house, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Brizendine, Harvey L., white, male, 24, son, single, farmer, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Brizendine, Jno. F., white, male, 23, son, single, works at saw mill, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia
Dunn, Peggy, white, female, 82, mother, widowed, at home, born in Virginia, both parents born in Virginia

Information on Margaret Jane Jones from letter from Myrle Cook Theimer to Thomas Moore, 11 November 1993.

Margaret Jones is listed as the mother of her son Muscoe in his marriage to Emma Conoly.