1850 U.S. Census, Essex County, Virginia
Page 69
Dwelling 53, Household 53
Brizendine, John C., 38, male, farmer, value of real estate $1,300, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Martha, 25, female, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Virginia, 12, female, born in Virginia, in school
Brizendine, Emily, 10, female, born in Virginia, in school
Brizendine, Marinda, 8, female, born in Virginia, in school
Brizendine, Mary, 6, female, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Orville, 5, male, born in Virginia
Brizendine, Churchill, 3, male, born in Virginia
Allen, William, 3, male, born in Virginia
Shearwood, Elizabeth, 76, female, born in Virginia

Martha Jane Brizendine was mentioned in the 1851 will of her father Richard D. Dunn, who placed her share with Dr. Leonard Henley in trust for her and her children. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 27, pages 114–115.]

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

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

Additional information on Martha Jane Dunn from letter from Myrle Cook Theimer to Thomas Moore, 11 November 1993.