Matthews Family Early Virginia

Matthews Family Early Virginia

MATHEWS FAMILY

Samuel MATTHEWS

1a. Captain Samuel MATHEWS came to Virginia before 1618. On 4 May 1622 Richard

BREWSTER deposed in a suit against Capt Samuel ARGELL. Married

(1) Frances GREVILLE, widow of Nathaniel WEST (see West)

(2) married about 1634, _______, daughter of Sir Thomas HINTON (1575-1635)

who came from Chilton Foliatte, Wiltshire and was a Councillor of Virginia in 1634.

“A tract published in London, 1649, says rs employed in their trade, hath forty negroe servants…; he married the daughter of Sir Tho. Hinton, and in a word, keeps a good house, lives bravely, and a true lover of Virginia; he is worthy of

much honor.

2a. Samuel MATHEWS was born about 1629

2b. Francis MATHEWS was born about 1631. Francis died 16 Feb 1674/5. Francis

married the daughter of William BALDWIN. His wife died in England in 1675

Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5 revised and Edited by

Virginia M. Meyer (1974-1981) John Frederick DORMAN F.A.S.G. (1981-1987)

Page 442 - 447

That the said Mathewes came thither over as a servant to Sheriff JOHNSON of

London and then the deft Argall made him a Captaine, and the said Mathewes

lived but a while in James Towne but went to live in Sherley hundred and there

looked to some few men of the Sherif Johnsonn the Countrie of Virginia, Esq.,

aged 32, presumably then in England, also made a despositon concerning the ship

Treasurer. He returned to Virginia in the Southampton, which arrived in Dec

1622,and in the census, 1623/4 is listed “at the plantation over against James City,”

where he was recorded in the muster, 1624/5 with Mr David Sands, the minister, and

a company of twenty two men.

Among the patents for land drawn up at a Quarter Court held for Virginia in London, 20 Nov 1622, one was set aside for Capt Samuel Mathews and referred with the others for confirmation by the “afternoon court”. The 1626 list of land grants shows two assignments of unspecified acreages to Mathews, the one lying on the south side of James River and the other at Blunt Point on the north side at the mouth of Warwick River in the area which became Warwick River County and at approximately the location of Mathews later well known plantation, “Denbigh.” A controversy arose, Jun 1625, over prior rights to Mathews grant on the south side of the James, when claim to the land was made in right of the children of Capt. William Powell deceased. Although Mathews men had cleared some of the land and his house had been built there, he evidently relinquished his claim, for, 19 Dec 1625, “upon the request of Captain Samuel Mathews the Court hath asserted he shall have leave to take up his divident of lande at Blunt poynt where he is already seated.”

Mathews seat was not known as “Denbigh” originally, for on 13 Nov 1626, the court ordered William Ramshaw to go “down to Mathewes Manor and work at the trade of a blacksmythe” until he had satisfied a debt. However, at the 1629/1630 and the 1632/3 sessions of the House of Burgesses, :Denbigh” was represented by several burgesses and, 1655, a petition to the Assembly asked permission to unite “Nutmeg Quarter” Parish with :Denbigh” Parish. Two extant descriptions, 1648, liken “Denbigh” to a miniature village.”

Old Rappahannock County Deed Book 1656-1664 Part I

A pattent granted by Samuel Mathews gent & c to Clement Herbert for land in Rappahannock County dated October 8th 1657.

A pattent granted by Samuel Mathews to Humphry Booth for 50 acres near Marattico Creek Mar 1656

An assignment from Hum Booth of above patent to Capt William ----february 1657 Witnessed by Thomas Goodrich AND Ant Stephens

Old Rappahannock County Deed Book 1656-1664 Part I

Page 27 To all to whom these presents shall com I Samuel Mathews esqr Governor & Capt Genll of Virginia DO WITH THE CONSENT NOW KNOW YE THAT I THS SAID Samuel Mathews Esqr do with consent of the County of State accordinlgy give and grant to Thomas Page two hundred eighty one acres of land scituate lying and being on

Rappahannock river between two branches of ……

SAMUEL MATHEWS (Governor of Virginia)

2a. Samuel MATHEWS was born about 1629 in Virginia. The name of his wife is

unknown.

3a. John MATHEWS lived at Blunt Point at the mouth of deep Creek County,

Virginia. While under age he received a patent 29 Mar 1678 for 2944

acres on Deep Creek as grandson and heir of Samuel Mathews, Esquire.

He was still under age, 24 Jun 1679, when William Cole, Esquire was

“Guardian to Mr John Mathews” but had reached his majority by Apr 1682

when he served as a member of the House of Burgesses. He married by 24

Mar 1684/5, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Richard Tavernor. He was

living 15 Sep 1686 and was dead before 1 May 1706

4a. Samuel MATTHEWS born about 1650 of Old Rappahannock County,

Virginia married will written 16 Nov 1718 in Richmond County,

Virginia proved in Richmond County, Virginia 4 Mar 1718/1719

Samuel lived in King and Queen County, Essex County, and Richmond

County, Virginia. Samuel married three times:

(1) Miss PAULIN daughter of Thomas PAULIN and Elizabeth of King and

Queen County, Virginia.

(2) married Katherine DUNSTALL 10 Aug 1706 daughter of Edmund and

Katherine TUNSTALL

(3) Margaret_________, married secondly William SKRINE and third Robert

RICHARDS, and left will 14 Nov 1748- 6 Jan 1748 /9.

Children of 1st Marriage Samuel MATHEWS and Miss PAULIN

daughter of Thomas PAULIN and Elizabeth of King and Queen County, Virginia.

5a. Elizabeth MATTHEWS (eldest daughter) married Robert TALIAFERRO

married Moses BATTALEY 22 Oct 1728 of Spotsylvania County,

Virginia

6a. Mary TALIAFERRO

6b. Elizabeth TALIAFERRO

5b. Mary MATHEWS who died d.s.p. post 1718.

Children Samuel MATHEWS married Katherine DUNSTALL

Children Samuel MATHEWS married Katherine DUNSTALL 10 Aug 1706

daughter of Edmund and Katherine TUNSTALL while he “was very much in

drink,” Katherine TUNSTALL, daughter of Edmund TUNSTALL, Gentleman,

of King & Queen County, by whome he had two sons,

5c. John Mathews, d.s.p. testate, in 1729 in King George County

5d. Baldwin MATTHEWS who d.s.p. post 1731

Captain Samuel MATHEWS married third Margaret (widow) who married

William SKRINE

William SKRINE and Margaret (3rd wife of Samuel MATHEWS)

William SKRINE and Margaret (third wife of Samuel MATHEWS) had

The following children:

a. Anne SKRINE who d.s.p.

b. Elizabeth SKRINE 172?-1810 who married William BUNBURY 1727-1767 of St Paul’ Parish, Stafford County; they d.s.p. testate, in the said parish and their wills were recorded in King George and Stafford countries respectively. Margaret ( ? ) Mathews SKRINE

Margaret married a third time to Robert RICHARDS 5 Oct 1749 in St Paul’

Parish, Stafford County, Virginia. Margaret died in 1748 in King George

County, Virginia.

5c. Francis MATTHEWS

Margaret ( ? )Mathews SKRINE RICHARDS died testate in King George County in 1748 but he will and those of her last two husbands were recorded in now lost King George County Will Book #1 (1721-1752), however, the surviving records contain considerable genealogical information concerning this entire connection. The large land holdings of Captain Samuel Mathews (who patented the said land 7 Sep 1654) were sold in 1731 by Baldwin Mathews to Colonel John Champe and in 1754 Mosely Battaley (who first wife was Elizabeth Mathews, then deceased, the only child of Capt Samuel Mathews to leave issue) was joined by their eldest son and heir, Samuel Battaley of Spotsylvania County in a deed of surrender by which genealogicaly informative instrument Colonel John Champe (16?? - 1763) OF Lamb’s Creek, King George County, was placed in unquestionable legal possess of the Mathews estate in that county. Richmond Count WB #4, p. 80 King Geoge County COB#1 p.332-368; DB#1, p.396 DB#1-A, p. 177, DB#4, p. 140; other indexed records in Essex, King George, Richmond and Spotsylvania counties_; 21 T240-243; White Morris, The First Tunstalls in Virginia and some of their descendants (San Antonio, Texas, 1950), p5-6.

Adventurers of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-1624/5 revised and Edited by

Virginia M. Meyer (1974-1981) John Frederick DORMAN F.A.S.G. (1981-1987)

Page 442 - 447

Samuel was born about 1629 and began to participate in the colonial government

upon attaining his majority, for as lieutenant colonel, he as a member of the House

of Burgesses from Warwick River, 1652, 1653, 1654, was justice of Warwick,

1652, and a member of the Council. The will of Robert Nicholson, proved 10 Nov

1651 in England makes a bequest to “Capt Sam: Matthews, tho Mrs Matthews, to

Sam Mathews the son of the said Capt…. And to his brother.” Despite his youth,

he became governor of Virginia early in 1657 and continued until his death in Jan

1659/1660. An Act of Assembly, Oct 1660, refers to “the guardians of the Col

Matthews as his heir. The name of his wife is unknown, but she was closely allied

with the family of William Cole of Warwick County, as that gentleman was the

guardian of John Mathews in 1679, shortly before he came of age and Samuel

Mathews, son of John mentions “kinsman” Cole Digges (grandson of William Cole)

in his will. The widow of Samuel Mathews married (2) 5, Cheesman (see

Cheesman), whose mother Margaret Cheesman in her ill 1680, mentions Mr John

Mathews in Virginia, “brother by the mother’s side to my grand daughter Anne

CHEESMAN deceased”.

Francis MATHEWS married Miss BALDWIN

2b. Francis MATHEWS was born about 1631. Francis died 16 Feb 1674/5. Francis

married the daughter of William BALDWIN. His wife died in England in 1675

3a. Frances died 10 Mar 1679/1

3b. Elizabeth died 26 Aug 1671

3c. Mary died 29 Feb 1673/4

3d. Baldwin MATHEWS

was referred to by Governor Sir William Berkeley, April 1675, as not above

4 or 5 years old, and was under age 5 Jan 1681/2 when William Cole, Esq

and Mrs Elisheba Vaulx were trustees of Baldwin Mathews. He served as a

justice of York County, 1694, was captain of militia and held 1300 acres

there, 1704. He died 28 Feb 17367/7 in his 68th year. The name of his wife is

not known.

4a. (daughter) died 1710 married as his (1) wife Samuel TIMSON born 1686

of “Vaus Hall”, now Travis Point, Your County, justice of York, who left

his will 23 Oct 1739 - 19 May 1740,

4b. Mary MATHEWS married 9 NOV 1711 Philip born 1 June 1695

died 4 Jun 1743 of Fleet’s Bay, Northumberland county son of John Smith

of “Purton”, Gloucester County and his wife. Mary WARNER (see

MARTIAU) justice of Northumberland, who married (2), contract 9) Nov

1742. Mrs Hannah SHAPLEIH, and left will 25 May 1743 - 11 July 1743

in Northumberland County, Virginia

3e. Child died in 1675

Richmond County, Virginia

Will Book 4 page 80

Samuel Matthews, Will 16 Nov 1718, 4 Mar 1718/1719

Oldest son John 600 acres of land above the falls of the Rappahannock River in Richmond County, son Baldwin the other 600 acres part of the same tract bought of Mr .Joseph Waugh of Stafford County, two sons to be bound out as apprentices, eldest to a master of a ship to serve until he is 21, second to a good house carpenter to serve until he is 21, son Francis tract of land where I now live, but if my wife should now be with child of a son, then my land to be equally divided between them two, eldest daughter Elizabeth; daughter Mary 150 pounds sterling provided a bond be given up which brother Braxton extracted from me upon the day I was married to Catherine Dunstall when I was very much in drink and if either of them or both of them shoud die before the day of marriage or attain to the age of 21 that my loving wife Margaret very good fr. John Bayler, Joseph Strawther and William Skrine and my loving kinsman Cole Diggs and Baldwin Mathews to advise wife' ex: wife witnesses: Jeremiah Bronough, John Ferguson, Joshua Ferguson. (Capt Samuel Mathews married (1) Miss Paullin (2) Catherine Dunstall, 1706 and (3) Margaret ? MRC pp. 129-130.

King George County, Virginia Will Book A-1 George Harrison Sanford King

Page 77-78

In the Name of God Amen. I John Matthews of King George County being very sick

And weak of body but of sound and perfect mind thanks be to God, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following (viz)

Imprimis: My will is that all my just debts be paid by my Executor.

Item: My will is that my Executor herein mentioned do purchase

Out of the Money due to me from Thomas Harwood of King and Queen

County two young negroe wenches for Mary Taliaferro and Elizabeth Taliaferro the two daughters of my sister Elizabeth Battaley for

The proper use and benefit of the said Mary & Elizabeth and their

Heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my sister Elizabeth Battaley as

Much money as will buy here a young negro man or woman at her choice.

Item: I give and bequeath to Mary and Elizabeth Taliaferro my said sisters daughters, my land above the falls of Rappahannock River in King George County to them and their heirs forever equally to be divided between them.

Item: I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate both real

And personal unto my brother Baldwin Matthews under the limitation following (Vizt) My will is that my part of the tract of land in King George County where on Mr William Skrinke now dwells be to my said brother Baldwin Matthews and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for default of such issue in my said brother, then my will is that the same be to my sister Elizabeth Battaley and the will is that the same be to my sister Elizabeth Battaley and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever.

Lastly I do nominate constitute ordain and appoint my good friend Mosley Battaley of Spotsylvania County whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and testament and I do hereby utterly revoke all other wills and Testaments by me formerly made acknowledging this and no other to be my last Will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale this 6th day of February Anno Domini 1728/9.

John Matthews (seale)

Signed Sealed and Published

In the Presence of

Lewis Morris

Peter Nugent

Last of all it is my Will and dying request that Mosely Battaley and Elizabeth his wife do have and enjoy the plantation whereon John Canner now dwells with one hundred acres of land thereunto adjoining to them the said Mosley and Elizabeth and the heirs of their bodys lawfully begotten forever notwithstanding any former clause or article in this will by me made in manner and form aforesaid. Witness my hand and seale ye date above written. John MATTHEWS seale

Signed Sealed Published &

Declared in Presence of us

Lewis Morris - Peter Newgent

At a Court held for King George County the 6th day of June Anno Dom 1729

The last Will and Testament of John Matthews, deceased, was presented into court with the codicil annexed by Mosley Battaley who made oath thereunto and the same was proved by the oaths of Lewis Morris and Peter Newgent evidences thereto and on this motion of the said Battaley is admitted to record. Capa Test T: Turner Cl: Cur:

James MATHEWS and Jennet

1a. James MATHEWS wrote his will 2 Feb 1707 will proved 7 Mar 1710/1711

married Jennett

2a. Andrew MATHEWS

2b. Margaret MATHEWS married Richard TANKERSLEY

Richmond County, Virginia Wills 1699-1800 Robert K. Headley

Page 39 James Mathews, St Marks Parish., will 2 Feb 1707, 7 Ma 1710/11

Wife Jennett; son Andrew, daughter Margaret the wife of Richard Tankersley;

ex wife: witness John Sommerville, John Green, Edward Turberville

5b. Mary MATHEWS born about 1670 in Old Rappahannock County, Virginia

married George ANDERSON

6a. Rosanna ANDERSON born about 1696 married Mott DONIPHAN 6

Feb 1716 Richmond County, Virginia

They Called Stafford Home - The Development of Stafford County, Virginia from 1600 until 1865 by Jerrilynn Eby, Heritage Books, Inc.

Page 6 & 7

White-Native American relations deteriorated until, in September 1671, the Assembly at Jamestown authorized the building of a fort for defense against Indians at or near the home of John Mathews on he Potomac River. It is unknown exactly where this fort was located, but the Mathews grants followed Chopawamsic Creek and was bounded on the east by the Potomac River. Captain Peter Knight was to have been in charge of the fort with fifty-nine men.

In July 1675, some Doegs and Susquahannocks rowed over from Maryland and stole some hogs from a farmer living near Aquia. The Indians maintained that this Mr Mathews had cheated them in a deal and therefore, they wee entitled to the hogs. The Indians were followed back to Maryland and the hogs were retrieved. A short time later, the Indians returned to Stafford and killed tow of Mr. Mathews servants and his son.

Page 75 Chopawamsic Farm

On April 12, 1709 Bryant Folio, Stafford County planter and his wife, Mary, sold to George Mason II for 5,000 pounds “good Tobo and twenty shillings sterling” a tract of land along both sides of Chopawamsic Creek, “being part of a patent of 2,066 acres formerly granted to John Mathews the grandfather of the said Mary.” This property ran from about Boswell’s Corner on the west to John Moncure’s Clermont on the East.

Page 69

Mathews Father, Samuel, had immigrated to Newport News in 1622. There he became a successful businessman, operating a tannery and producing flax, beff, port, and grains on his plantation. Samuel Jr. inherited his father’s business and became one of the wealthiest men in Virginia. He served for two years (1656-1658) as Virginia’s governor and had land holdings all over the colony. A 1702 deed recorded in Stafford County gave power to Nicholas Brent of Woodstock to sell any part of Mathews 5,211 acres in Stafford County.

Soon after Mathews began his early settlement in Stafford, a sandstone quarry began operating about three-quarters of a mile upstream from the mouth of the creek. …….

Page 28 Dipple was located about five and one-half miles from the town of Triangle in Prince William County on Chopawamsic Creek (today, on the airfield at Quantico). Little is known about the house except that it was a two and one half story brick home built on land that was originally part of the 5,211 acres Samuel Mathews grant. Alexander Scot purchased the property from Mathews’ grandson in 1724 and named it Dipple after his native parish in Scotland. The first house on the site was most likely built of wood. The brick house, which survived until the expansion of Quantico in 1942, may have been a second or third structure.

Page 190

Traveling from Fredericksburg to Brooke along State Route 608, one crosses a lovely little creek. On the right-hand side of the road upon a hill once stood Potomac Church, one of the oldest Episcopal churches in the United States. This beautiful house of worship was built on a portion of the ancient Samuel Mathews tract. Thomas Wilkinson bought the parcel from Mathews in 1662, but it is unknown if Wilkinson sold the property to the vestry or if he donated it as a building site.

Page 318

John Short was the third son of John and Theodosia Mathews Short of St Pauls’ Parish, Stafford County now in King George County.

John Lee, gent. of Essex Co.; 23 Sept 1765; 24 Feb. 1767.

Wife Mary estate for life; cousin Hancock son of John Lee, Jr., and his wife

Susanah land in Essex; bro. Henry Lee land King Copsico in Westmoreland;

nephew Henry Lee; brother Richard Lee; sister Lettice Ball 4 negroes; niece and

nephew Mary and Henry Lee Ball; to Mary and Fanny daus. of Baldwin Mathews Smith

1 negro; Lettice, Philip, Mary and Elizabeth children of John Lee Jr. and wife

Susannah.

Stafford County, Virginia pages 343-344

In Name of God Amen I William MATHEWS of County Stafford and Parish of Overwharton being infirm in body but of perfect memory…do make this my last will & Testament and first I recommend…soul to God..Item my will is that my just debts & funeral expences shall be duly paid. Item I give to each of my four sons Samuel, Benjamin, James and Philip Mathews two shilling and six pence in full for their part of my estate. Item I give to my daughter Susannah Cottey two shillings six pence in full. Item I give to y daughter Mary Mathews sixpence in full for her part of my estate. Item I give to my beloved son William Mathews all the rest of my estate both real and personal. Item I appoint son William Mathews my whole executor…12 Mar 1757.

William Lunsford

John Lunsford, James Lunsford William Matthews

John Jones

At court held for Stafford County 9th May 1758. Will presented…proved admitted to record….Certificate granted for obtaining Probate.