Unwanted plant, very small, died (4)
I believe the answer is:
weed
'unwanted plant' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'small died' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 'wee' (Scottish term for small).
'died' becomes 'd' (abbreviation next to the year of someone's death).
'wee'+'d'='WEED'
'very' is the link.
(Other definitions for weed that I've seen before include "Plant growing where it is not wanted" , "Wild unwanted plant - tobacco?" , "Intrusive plant; weak person" , "Made water" , "pot" .)