Re: Susannah Matthews m. Henry Lumsden in Louisa County Virginia
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In reply to:
Re: Susannah Matthews m. Henry Lumsden in Louisa County Virginia
Micheal Mathews 4/19/07
Michael:
You are correct.Through further research, this mystery has been cleared up.I will send you this with additional posting since this is so lengthy:
Samuel Matthews, Senior
Most sources list Mr. Matthews (herein after referred to as “Senior”) as both “Captain”, as well as “Governor” Matthews; for instance, Henings Statutes, Biographical Directory of American Colonial and Revolutionary Governors 1607-1789, John W Raimo, Meckler Books, William & Mary Quarterly, King & Queen Co. records, etc.The term “Governor” was used interchangeably with quite a number of titles.One should know that the first three Virginia “governors” were actually entitled, President of the Council.
“Captain” was usually short for “Captain-General”.Thomas West, the fourth “governor” was named the “Governor and Captain General”.The seventh, Captain George Percy, was named “Deputy Governor”.His successor was entitled, “High Marshall” and “Deputy Governor.For a discussion on how one might have attained the title of “governor”, please see the next section.
Other titles bestowed on various dignitaries include “Lieutenant and Governor General” of Virginia, “Captain General and Governor in Chief”, “Senior Councillor and acting Governor”, “President of the Council”, etc.
The Colonial Virginia Register
A list of Governors, Councillors and Other Higher Officials, and also of Members of the House of Burgesses, and the Revolutionary Conventions of the Colony of Virginia --- Compiled by William Glover and Mary Newton Standard, published by Joel Munsell's Sons, Publishers, Albany, New York, 1902.
GOVERNOR--The Colony of Virginia was from 1607 to 1624, under the control of the Virginia Company, of London. At the first settlement, in 1607, the governing body consisted of a council of seven, with a president whom they were to select out of their own number. This system lasted until 1609, when the Company chose a Governor and Lieutenant Governor (Lord Delaware and Sir Thomas Gates) who were the first to bear those titles, and whose successors were, like themselves, appointed by the Company, until the revocation of its charter.
Throughout the remainder of the Colonial period the executives of Virginia were appointed by the King. Their titles varied, some being styled "Governor and Captain-General," others Lieutenant Governor," or "Deputy Governor." From 1704 to 1768 the higher title was borne by sinecures in England, while the actual power was in the hands of "Lieutenant Governors," resident in Virginia.
Vacancies were occasionally supplied, until an appointment could be made in England, by the election of a governor, by the Council, but this was only the case during the earlier years of the Royal Government. Later, the office was filled by the succession of the member of the Council senior in point in service, under the title President of the Council, or sometimes, President of Virginia.
From 1652 to 1660 the Governors were elected by the House of Burgesses, though there is some reason to believe that their choice may have been influenced by the wishes of the Parliamentary authorities, or of Cromwell.
THE COUNCIL.-From 1607 to 1624 the members of the Council were chosen by the Virginia Company, and during the Royal Government, which succeeded, were appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the Governor. As a rule, when a vacancy occurred, the Governor made a temporary appointment, which was usually confirmed by the King.
The Councillors were the Governor's advisers in executive matters, and patents, etc., are stated to be issued with their "advice and consent." They constituted the General Court - the supreme court of the Colony and also had legislative functions as members of the upper house of the Assembly, corresponding somewhat to our senate. The same persons, therefore, held executive, legislative, and judicial offices.
Among those slightly acquainted with our colonial history, there seems to be a common impression that the House of Burgesses alone constituted the colonial legislature. This, of course, is a mistake, for though the Council did not have the power to originate money bills, yet their concurrence was necessary to all laws, as was also the Governor's consent, and ultimately, the King's.
In addition to the powers already named the members of the Council almost uniformly held the higher offices, such as secretary, auditor, etc., and were also, as a rule, the county lieutenants or commanders in chief in their own and neighboring counties.
Theoretically this accumulation of offices in a few hands was entirely wrong, but it seems, in practice, to have worked fairly well, as the members of the Council, who in general were men whose estates and interests lie entirely in Virginia, do not appear to have had views at variance with those commonly entertained in the Colony.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
For the lists of Governors, Councillors, Secretaries of State, Auditor, Receiver, Surveyor and Attorney Generals, and Treasurers, the principal sources have been: Of books in print, Alexander Brown's Genesis of the United States and First Republic of America; the various works of E. D. Neill; Hening's Statutes at Large of Virginia; Campbell's History of Virginia; The Calendar of Virginia State Papers; Hotten's Emigrants; The "Collections" of the Virginia Historical Society; The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography; The William and Mary Quarterly; the Lower Norfolk Antiquary; Water's "Gleanings; the Virgiria Colonial Almanacs; the printed journals of the House of Burgesses, and the Virginia Gazette newspaper. Of records in manuscript, information has been chiefly derived from the abstracts of English State Papers made by W. N. Sainsbury for the State of Virginia; the journals of the Council, in the Virginia State Library; the records of the Virginia Company of London (from the copy in the Virginia Historical Society collections); the "Randolph Manuscripts," and "Robinson's Notes," both consisting of extracts from the Virginia colonial records, and both part of the Virginia Historical Society Collections, and various manuscripts relating to the early history of Virginia now in the Congressional Library. Occasional assistance was obtained from the Virginia county records, where not infrequently an order of Council or of the General Court is found recorded with the names of the Councillors present when it was made.
The sources from whence the lists of Burgesses are derived are given under each session, but some little additional explanation may he useful here. It was the rule during most of the Seventeenth Century, and not infrequently in the early years of the Eighteenth, for the salaries of the Burgesses to be paid by their respective counties, and in the levy lay next after the session, these items would appear. In this way the names of many members are found in the county records.
The printed journals of the House of Burgesses in the Virginia State Library and the Congressional Library also afforded most valuable information, for though the names of the members are rarely given in full (except when there are two persons of the same surname) yet in the appointment of committees practically all of the surnames of members appear, and a comparison of these with other lists, together with an acquaintance with Virginia family history and with the county records, enables one to supply with certainty the Christian names. The journals, too, show what vacancies occurred during the existence of the Assembly, by the entry of requests from the House to the Governor to issue writs for new elections, and also furnish names in the action of that body on contested election cases.
The colonial almanacs (which were always published late in the year before that whose date they bear-as is the case now) contain lists which have in the main been found to be very accurate, of the members of the House in existence at the time when the almanac was printed.
The Journals of the Council, sitting as Upper House, also contain information, for they give the names of members of many committees which from time to time came up with bills passed by the Burgesses.
Of course all the remaining volumes of the Virginia Gazette are of much value for this purpose.
We know absolutely that Senior was elected to the Council in 1623 and likely served until his purported death in 1659.In the year 1656/7, his son, Samuel Jr. was purportedly elected by the Councillors.It was reiterated that Senior was a member of the Council in John Farrar’s account in 1649, A Perfect Description of Virginia, John Farrar, London, 1649.
Governor Samuel Mathews, Sr.?
Was Senior ever a “governor”?As a very senior member of the Council, most likely—whether by election or seniority, it is academic.In his locale, he was known at the rank of Captain, almost assuredly short for Captain-General.Bear in mind as well that there were two councils.One was called the Council of State and the other was called the House of Burgesses.Each was called councils however, as set out in the Constitution of 1621.Each had different duties, methodologies of appointment/election, etc.Due to Senior’s status, it would be hard to imagine he would not have been a “governor” of some sort especially since the term was ubiquitous in his lifetime.
In the Notes of Virginia Land Records, Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents is the following statement which supports this claim:
“Captain Samuel Matthews came to Virginia in 1622, was one of the Commissioners to examine condition of Virginia, 1623; member of the Council, 1624-1644; Commissioner of Warwick River, 1631; elected to the Council (Burgesses), April, 1652; elected Governor by the House of Burgesses, December, 1656; and held the place until his death in January, 1659.”
It is pretty clear to me that Senior was a “governor”.Other sources that support this are Early History of Virginia and Maryland, William & Mary Quarterly, Life in Old Virginia, Economic History of Virginia in the 17th Century, Virginia Carolorum, Tyler’s Historical Quarterly, Journal of the House of Burgesses, Dictionary of American Biography, Knights of England…, Narratives of Early Maryland, Virginia Under the Stuarts, Tracts and Other Papers, Henings Statutes.
Senior’s son, Samuel Jr. was named to the other Council, the Council of State in 1654.Was he a “governor” as well?Likely.
With respect to the John R. Boots, Jr. book, I have found it to be fairly useful and accurate vis-à-vis many of the primary sources I retain, including some named above, Hotten’s Original List, Commonwealth and County records in the Virginia Land Office, Jamestowne Society, etc.Other sources will be named later.I believe the Boots book agrees, for instance, that the assertion of the lineage of Tobias to Samuel is “tenuous at best.”
At the risk of making assumptions when facts are not known (blame my discipline), and assuming that Senior would have followed the mode o’ day, I would assert that the names of his male children would have been:
--first born male is named after the paternal grandfather--Unknown
--second born male is named after the maternal grandfather—Thomas
--third born male is named after the father—Samuel, Jr.
Since we do not know how many of the male children of Senior may have died early, we cannot know for certain what Senior’s father might have been named.We do know that he had sons Francis and a Samuel Jr.I would assume that he had a male child named Thomas who died early, who would have been named after his maternal grandfather.Since he had a Junior, which would have been the third name in line, it is possible that Senior’s father was named Francis.I will admit that this is a leap but it does follow the logic of the times.
I should point out that a Robert Mathews, along with the usual suspects, appeared with Senior and John Matheman in Hotten in 1623 and we do not know what his relationship is to either of the men.He is listed as living “over the River”.
I don’t know that the Boots book or his predecessor source actually “claim” that Mary had roots in King & Queen Co., Virginia.The land records, wills, estates, etc. in King & Queen Co. do most assuredly claim his residence there.The first place that Senior actually lived, according to a number of sources, in Virginia, under the tutelage of Sheriff Johnson of London, was in the Sherely Hundred. That is now in what is Charles Co., on the border of Chesterfield Co., on the James River, near the borders of Henrico and Prince George’s Counties as well.It is on Plantation Road just off State Hwy. 5.
Following that, Senior was listed as a settler/planter in” The Territory of Tappahanna” over across from James Cittie, May, 1625.“Territory of Tappahanna,” a term applied to all of the country below Merchant’s Hope down to Lower Chippokes Creek.Captain William Powell named the plantation after Algonquian Indian Chief Choapoke, who was friendly to the English settlers in Jamestown.This is in what is now Surry Co. on the south side of the James River.I do not think that Senior ever took up residence here as he was listed as a “Divident” planter.
Senior also had, according to state and county land records, the following:
--200 acres at Blunt Point which was re-patented in 1642.That is in what is now Newport News City in what was Warwick Co.It is at the mouth of the Deep Creek on the east side of the James River and south of his grandfather’s place, Mathews’ Manor, later referred to as Denbigh Manor.His grandson, John, lived there for a while.
--3,000 acres at the mouth of the Warwick River, “Denbigh” plantation.It was also re-patented in 1642.It is now on the Nat’l Historical Registry and has undergone archaelogical digs and some restoration and preservation under the name of “Mathews Manor”.It is on the James River and also in Newport News City, formerly Warwick River or later, Warwick Co.
--4,000 acres on the North side of the Rappahanock River—Stafford Co. which was bequeathed to grandson John, ultimately.
--5,211 acres on the Potomac River.Northumberland and Westmoreland Counties.
--Fleur-de-hundred in what was then Henrico Co., now Prince Georges Co. (from Charles City Co.) This was originally the property of father-in-law, Mr. Hinton.
What was King and Queen Co. in 1691 was previously in New Kent Co. from York Co. in 1654.York was known as Charles River Co. until the name changed in 1643—and so on and so on it goes.
While Samuel Matthews, Jr. was “Governor”, he deeded himself and many of his cronies loads of land in New Kent Co. and surrounding counties.A quick look at land deals in New Kent and surrounding counties, wherein Gov. Mathews was named, will bear that out.
When Samuel Mathews, son of John and father of Mary, filed his will, he listed himself as, “of St. Stephen’s Parish, King and Queen Co.” in a 1706 Bond.That will is on file in Richmond Co. (where he died) and is also listed in Essex Co. records.The text is readily available online and in print.
In Virginia Land Records, King & Queen Co. Deeds, is the following which I consider absolute proof of this family being in King & Queen Co., VA:
“This summer a number of old deeds, &c., were found in the garret at ‘Newington,’ King & Queen, which for several generations has been the home of the Harwood family, and which was the birthplace of Carter Braxton, the signer, though the present house is not the one in which he was born.These papers are supposed to have been part of those papers of Robert Pollard, long a clerk of the county.
We are indebted to Miss Harwood, of Texas, a niece of the present proprietor, for permission to make abstracts of these papers.
List of Deeds
The land at King & Queen Courthouse granted to Rich’d Tunstall, 1667, bounded by Mattapony River to the South, on the east by Apastacock branch, and on the West by Oquintanoco Creek.In 1707, Catherine, who intermarried with Samuel Matthews, took the middle part.In 1722, John Mathews (Senior’s son) took the middle [that which was his mother, Catherine’s] .In 1728, John Matthews (Senior’s son) conveyed to Thomas. Harwood 200 acres.
Mrs. Barbara Tunstall’s Part or Platt
‘By order and direction of Robert Beverley, John Walker, Henry Fox & John Fox, gentlemen, Arbitrators between Mr. Samuel Matthews and Catherine, his wife, on the One part, and Richard Wyatt in Right of Mary Tunstall & Barbara Tunstall, for whom he is appointed Guardian, and alsi in right of Dower for Catherine, his wife, of the other part, hath surveyed for Mrs. Barbara Tunstall, the youngest daughter of Mr. Edmund Tunstall, dec’d,’ 134 acres of land, it being her third part of 402 acres, the remaining part of 604 acres after said Richard and Cathereine have their dower, the said 132 acres bounded by the lands of Capt. Rich’d Wyatt, Samuel Matthews, and Mrs. Mary Tunstall.Dec. 23rd 1707.James Taylor, D. Surv’yor.
Deed (lease), Nov. 23d, 1728, from John Matthews (Senior’s son) of King George Co., gent., to Thos. Harwood, of King & Queen Co., Vintner, conveying 200 acres on the north side of Mattapony River, in King & Queen Co., between Apastocook and Aquintonoco, and adjoining the Court House, which land is due to said John Matthews (Senior’s son) as heir at law to his Mother, Catherine Matthews (Senior’s widow), deceased.Witnesses:Robert Jones, F. Foster, Robt. Thomas.Test:C.C. Thacker, Cl. Cur.”
It is pretty clear that this Mathews line was well entrenched in King & Queen Co., VA.The John Matthews referenced above is of course the grandson of Senior and father of Samuel the father of Mary.Below, in the discussion of John Mat(t)hews, grandfather of Isaac, that the land discussed above is land, in part, that our John Mathews was transported to in 1658 in the company of Lt. Col. Robt. Abrall.
While all of this was taking place, there was no such thing as Brunswick Co.Brunswick was being considered as a county only as early as 1720—shortly before Isaac & Mary were married.It was not however made a county until 1732 and held court shortly after that.While there is scant documentation yet found to prove this is the same Isaac and Mary that moved to Brunswick Co., there is no evidence to refute it.There likely will not ever be any such evidence forthcoming, other than that we already have, except of course DNA.There is enough weight to support the assumption that the John and Thomas in Surry Co. were John Jr. (uncle) and Thomas, Isaac’s father.
We know that Isaac and Mary were not “from” Brunswick or Southside, unless you consider that the “peninsula” they were on was named the “Southside Peninsula” (included the counties of Nansemond, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Sussex, Surry, Prince George and Chesterfield counties).It is one of the nine peninsulas that comprise Tidewater Virginia.
They did come to Brunswick “from” somewhere else.They were born before 1720 most certainly.That is the year that westward expansion into what would become Brunswick became even a consideration.We can readily assume however that they came “from” one of the parent counties of Brunswick Co.That was usually the case--a petition came from residents of a county to provide for a new county(s).
According to historical records, westward expansion had to be provided for in the law and was limited either by the Crown and/or statute until provided for by sanctioned authority.By an Act of Assembly in June, 1642, it was felony to settle outside of certain limits without permission of the governor and council. A county was not a county until it held court.In the case of Brunswick, that did not occur until May 2, 1732, from which the original records of this county date.
If the Jon. Mathews, discussed further below, is the forbear of Isaac, as I believe him to be, that would put this family in New Kent Co. in 1658, the parent county of King & Queen Co.By the time Isaac and Mary were born, King & Queen Co. had been created - in 1691.
According to the Surry Co. land records, on the South side of the James River, the first activities, of our Mathews in question, were in 1686, regarding the estate of Thomas Jordan.There is a Thomas “Mathars” listed in the Surry Co. Militia in 1683, however.Our Thomas Mathews maybe (son of John)?Thomas Jordan by the way is in Hotten’s Original List in 1623 “In James Island”.Thomas is the son of William Jordan (lived in Accawmack/Northampton Co.) I believe, based upon various records—wills, land, transports, etc.
The Boots book mentions that Isaac’s forbear, John came over with Senior on a trip from England in 1622 on the Southampton.John purportedly had his sons, Edmond, Thomas (Isaac’s father) and John Jr. with him.A number of other sources have this same listing.I have found nothing to disprove this yet.If they remained true to naming patterns of the day, the sons would follow this order:Edmond, Thomas, John Jr.
I searched about all the sources I knew trying to find a John Mathews in Virginia in 1622.Thus, I began to look for the various misspellings of the surname in places where Senior was listed and with persons of note who were listed with Senior.I found a John “Matheman” in Hotten, as discussed below.Since that was so far off, I continued to research the movements of those persons who were listed in the same place and had activities; land recordings, estate records, etc.The following will give my account of this research.
Since Virginia was just beginning, they would likely have been close by Samuel and his family simply because the size of territorial expansion was limited at that time by the Crown.I have a huge amount of written documentation that has “Jon.” traversing the James River on both sides and in the company of residents of Mulberry Island on the other side of the Warwick River from Mathews’ Manor.
Then there are more movements up the James River, to Jamestown Island and further up river to the mouth of the Chickahominy River.Following that, northward and up to the Mattapony River to King & Queen Co.
Some of his cohorts were William Spencer or Spenser, John Dodman and other notables of Mulberry Island.In a 1635 record he is one of 22 “servants” being transported by William Spencer.The list of servants includes names of persons who were listed with John “Matheman” in Hotten’s Original List., e.g. Robt. Abrall, Thomas Powell, Nicholas Spencer (William’s son), etc.
Jon. Mathews would have been a “servant” of someone for a period of about 7 years and would not have been able to own land during that “apprenticeship”.Thus, his first land ownership would not have occurred until about 1629.Mulberry Island is directly across from Mathews’ Manor and I expect that is my best guess where he served out his apprenticeship and that was most likely to William Spencer or Spenser or Spence in some records.Otherwise, he lived on the main (“The Peninsula”), near Senior, across the Warwick River and traversed to and fro to work or otherwise.
In Hotten’s Original List, p. 179, Samuel Matthews is living in the Plantation over ag. James Cittie (referenced above as “The Territory of Tappahanna”), as is a Robert Matthews.Is John “Matheman” a misspelling, or was it illegible or is it even him?I don’t know.It lists this person as being in “James Cittie with the Corporation thereof”.In no other recordings do I find the surname “Matheman” at or near that time of Virginia recordings.
As mentioned, John Mathew(s) was being transported from Mulberry to Lawnes Parish (1635).Later, he was transported to Wombwell’s place on the mouth of the Chickohominy River where it intersects the James River (1642).Then later near Sunken Marsh, near the town of Chickohominy (1648).The latter two put him in what is now Charles City Co. and moving northward up to what is now New Kent Co.; where Charles City, New Kent & James City Counties now intersect.
I have another record of him, in Charles City Co. in 1658, having been injured by a Richard Parker, who had already served 2 years for injuring John Mathews.
The next record puts him in the company of none other than Lt. Col. Robt. Abrall in New Kent Co. in 1658.When you peruse the grants made by “Governor” Samuel Mathews (Jr.) in New Kent Co., you will see that the same Robt. Abrall received generous land patents from the “Governor” in that same area of 550 acres of Peanketanck Swamp and another plot of 300 acres also near the swamp at Claiborne’s line.Claiborne was another grantee of the generous “Governor” Sam.This plot is 9 miles up the Mataponi River nearby where the King & Queen Co. Court House is now.
The next record of John Mathews, in the company of some of Hotten’s originals again, is in Charles Citty, 1661/1662, being transported by Richard Bullard for 1,150 acres, along with 22 other persons.Please bear in mind that Charles City Co. was the parent county of Prince George Co.—one of the parent counties of Brunswick Co.
The term “servant” is quite interesting.I extracted this verbiage from a document in New Kent Co. records:
“A study of the records of these counties affords some very interesting
results.
The settlers were of the merchant class, and the sea being to them, in-
stead of a separation, a connecting bridge between England and Virginia,
the plantations were mere suburbs of London and Bristol, the great colon-
izing centres.
In England at this time the trades were in high repute. The
Page 29.
younger sons of the English gentry resorted to the cities and became
tailors, grocers, coopers, weavers, &c.There could be no caste in Eng-
land, since the proudest noble found himself compelled to treat with re-
spect the class into which his younger sons were for a livelihood forced
to enter.These merchants, while not calling themselves "gentlemen",
still clung to the coat-of-arms which descended from the gentlemanly
ancestors.The possession of land restored the old title of gentleman,
and land was easy to get in Virginia.
There was another distinction.The term servant was also in repute,
or, if not in repute, was not so offensive as to prevent the temporary
assumption of that condition by many of the settlers for the benefit of
protection from some more wealthy colonizer."Servant", too, was a very
general term, and was applied to all apprentices, secretaries, and factors.A man often called his brother or nephew his servant.The ward was said to be freed from his guardianship, and during his non-age the ward was a servant.William Branthwait, a kinsman of Lord Baltimore, and Deputy-Governor of Maryland, married Eleanor Stevenson, a runaway servant girl of Sir Edmund Plowden (1).All the early colonists of Virginia were servants of the London Company, and "constrayned to serve, as if they had been slaves, seven or eight years for their freedom", though "many of them were of Auneyent Howses and borne to estates of 1000 lbs. [in present money $25,000] by the year."
Massachusetts offered a reward of L5 for every servant imported, and
the Rev. John White, the friend of Governor Winthrop, wrote in 1632 that
"the very scum of the earth was sent to New England" (2).Surely, the
word servant had a wide meaning.It was the contradiction of the times
to regard a servant as "scum", and yet to use the word without any other
meaning than as employee; and men of the best quality freely entered into
indentures of temporary servitude.
Again, the published records of New England, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia, etc., show that ignorance of letters was by no means confined
to the lowly.Two of William Penn's councillors could not write.The
records of Suffolk county, Mass., in which Boston is situated, are full
of marks for signatures.”
Where Is Our John Mat(t)hews after 1662?
Where is John after 1661/2?Where are his sons (Edmond, Thomas & John Jr.), if still alive?By 1624, according to Hotten and other documents, the closest thing to another John Mathew(s) was this John “Matheman”.Thus, getting two of them confused was not a problem.By 1660 however, there would have been at least three of them; one of them being John, the son of Samuel Jr. who was born about 1660.However, John, the son of Samuel Jr. would have no land or other transactions other than adoption records prior to coming of age.
Since John Mathew(s), grandfather of Isaac, was married in 1596 (Mary Plumley, dau. of Thomas), we can assume that Edmond, Thomas and John Jr. were born after that but before 1622 if the Booth book is correct.Due to the requirements of servitude, they would have to perform 7 years of service or longer if they were still underage at the end of the 7 years and would be given a tidy sum in pounds at the end of that service.That would take us to between 1629 and 1643.By 1643, they would have all been of age.This servitude may have been nearby, where their father was but it did not have to be, albeit limited by the Crown.
According to land records, the first ones to surface on the south side of the James River were a Thomas, John, John and a James Mathews, owing to the estate of a Thomas Jordan in 1686/7.Later we have an Edmond or Edmund in 1703 in a land purchase in Lawnes Parish.
Since Edmond, Thomas and John Jr., the sons of John would have been born after 1596 and most likely by 1600 but certainly before 1622, these are likely not our boys.They may however be the son(s) of one of our boys.
Where are our boys, especially from 1622 until 1686/7?I believe it is they who I found in Northampton Co., formerly named Accawmack and later split into Accomack and Northampton Cos.Their “servitude” may have been performed there.
Thomas Mathews is mentioned in a 1641 land record, on Naswattock Creek in Accawmack Co. in receipt of 470.5 acres, adjacent to John Chaplin, for the transportation of 10 persons.In 1647, this same piece of land went to a James Warradine, adjacent to John Chaplin and at westernmost part of land of John Major, “formerly granted to Thomas Mathews and made void for want of seating within the time limited.”One of the 10 persons being transported is a Jacob Mathews.
Next, I find a record of Edm. Mathewes as a witness to a plantation assigned to Henry Brook, Jr., Merchant to Nicholas Brooke, by Elizabeth, relict & Adminx. of Richard Popely.Consideration was 7,000 lbs. Tobacco with cask, dated Mar. 3, 1645.
Next, I find an Edmd. Mathews, one of 6 persons being transported by Roger Johns, in receipt of 300 acres, Northampton Co., on July 24, 1651.The land is at Occahannock Creek, beg. On the easternmost part of Alexander Addisons’ land, extending up the Mayne Creek & bounded on the Northerne part therewith.
The next record for Edm. Mathews is as a witness to a will of Col. Nathll. Littleton, Esq in Oct. 28, 1656, recorded in November of the same by “Pr Edm Mathews Clo Cur” at a County Court at Northampton.
The next record is a John Mathies—2 in 1666 List of Titheables in Northampton Co.This is the last record I find that could still have John Mathews Sr. alive but most records have him dead no later than 1663.This record and any following, I would assume to be a younger John Mathews, possibly John Mathews, Jr.
These are all the records I found of a John, a Thomas and an Edmond/Edmund together until you get to the 1686/7 Surry record of Thomas, John, John, and James Mathews owing debts to estate of Thomas Jordan.These land records, referenced above, are all in Patent Book 2.In looking at all the names listed along with these Mathews, I have found most of them in the Hotten’s listing along with John Matheman.
Is John Matheman and John Mathew(s) one in the same?I don’t know and I can’t prove it but in those early listings by Hotten and others, I do know there are very, very few Mathews listed anywhere except for a Thomas in Northumberland/Westmoreland Co. as well as a Robert, mentioned previously.There is an Anthony and Hugh in Isle of Wight Co., on the easterly side of Lawnes Creek Parish originally and moving easterly and southerly.
The next records I found of the names of John, Edmund, and Thomas are in the Lists of Titheables--Edmond in Surry Co. Titheables, 1702.John Mathews and wife Elizabeth (Custis) in Accomack Titheables, 1704.A William Mathews is also listed in the 1704 Accomack Titheables List.
According to the records extant, John (grandfather of Isaac) had, besides Edmond, Thomas and John Jr., Anne, who also traveled with him in 1622; also, Rebecca, Bridget, Mary and William who were born Virginia.I do not know if this is our crew but I continue to look for additional information to either confirm or deny it.
It is fairly clear, not perfectly however, to me why the Boots book mentioned a move to Halifax Co., VA.It seems that this family had quite a lot of land scattered throughout Southside Virginia.There are some lands descriptions that put Isaac (his land—at least by the time the land was sold) and some of his siblings and children in what are now Mecklenburg Co. and Halifax Co. then and now.
It helps to use good topo maps and a website called Topozone in conjunction.I use DeLorme Topo maps for N. Carolina and Virginia.It further helps too to know that in early history in Virginia the terms swamp, stream, creek, river, branch, etc. are used interchangeably.In Virginia, most of these have the same names now as they did then—Virginia is famous for holding fast to the past.I am a resident of Virginia so I know this by personal experience.
For instance, there are Virginia land transactions by the Mathews/Matthews family that describe tracts of land “south of the Roanoke (Staunton) River.”That being the case, it is easy to see that the Roanoke River dips south into N. Carolina at the point where Mecklenburg Co. and Brunswick Co. in Virginia intersect.West of that intersection, the Roanoke is north of the Virginia/N. Carolina border, barely however in Mecklenburg Co.
Those land transactions south of the Roanoke River are in what is now either Mecklenburg or Halifax Co.At the time the land transactions originally took place of course, Halifax Co. had not yet been created.However, by the time some of them had been sold, Halifax Co. had indeed been created.I think the statements referencing Halifax Co. in these instances should have been qualified with a statement such as, “what is now”, or “when it was sold” or the like.
Having said that, there are some land transactions recorded in some N. Carolina counties (e.g. Edgecombe and Halifax Cos.) that have land descriptions that do not exist in N. Carolina (in the counties described at least) but most certainly do in Virginia; namely, Halifax Co.This has puzzled me during my 22 years of researching this elusive family.For example, there are a number of N. Carolina land transactions referencing Hazelnut Branch or Miry Branch, etc., for example.
There is no Hazelnut Branch or the like in N. Carolina but there is in what is now Halifax Co., Virginia, just northeast of Scottsburg, VA.The only Mirey or Miry Creek or the like anywhere in N. Carolina is in Onslow Co. near Camp Lejune, nowhere near where our line was.There is a Miry Creek in what is now Halifax Co., VA.It is just WSW of South Boston, VA.
I have been given to understand that recordings of transactions back then were often in both the county/state of sale and the county/state of residence of the parties involved, including the witnesses.That was done as for a “CYA” affect—the more recordings made, the lesser the chance of litigating in probate, etc.
I do not know why there were references in the James C. Matthews manuscript to an Olde Charles City in S. Carolina.Old Charles City, VA would make more sense.There may have been an old family site remaining in Charles City, VA, one of the places the John Matthews, referenced above, was transported to in 1661/2, which was likely his last stop, so to speak.One of his offspring or their offspring may have held on to it as was often the case.I would say though that I have seen references to an Olde Charles City with respect to the Old Ninety-sixth District in S. Carolina but it may have been abolished early in deference to Charles Towne.I need to research that little nugget later.
If however, the reference to an Isaac was to Isaac Jr., then that is certainly likely.However, I believe Isaac Sr. ended his life in either Virginia or N. Carolina.
The reference to the Mathews Family being “poor” is certainly both subjective and relative for the time of history being recorded.They certainly were not poor with respect to land since it was scattered over 3 states early on.However, were they liquid?I don’t know the answer to that and it could be that they might have been termed, “land poor”, due to taxes, etc.The Thomas, Edmond & John referenced in Northampton Co. seemed to be doing fairly well and could be called “notable”, with titles.Later, the ones referenced in Surry, Brunswick and resulting counties, as well as their early beginnings in N. Carolina had titles as well, including Attorney, Doctor, Military Officer, etc.I think that, if I were pressed to characterize them, I would put them in the middle to upper middle classification, all things considered.
Again, with respect to proof, much of the above as well as any other like “plotting” cannot be proved but with DNA.As an aside and in conjunction with, I am not certain whether the Jamestowne Society can be of any use but I do know that, in addition to Senior’s lineage, which has been proved to their specifications, that a John Mathews and a Thomas Mathews lineage slot has been provided for.I have not taken the time to explore the proposition of the Society and it would be interesting to know if they now utilize DNA as part of their “proof”.The Jamestowne Society purportedly has additional information on Senior that is maybe not in the public domain.It sure would be nice to have it if they do.
Other records of possible interest:
Edmund Matthews
10 January 1735.
Isle of Wight County
Description: 135 acres on the South side of Nottaway river beg.g &c. on the No. Wt. side of the Angellica swamp, a corner tree of Thomas Russell’s land.
I have a copy of the actual grant.This is in what is now Southampton Co., near the Sussex Co. line, just north of the Southampton Correctional Farm, northwest of Angelico, VA.
DEED - MATTHEWS, Edmond - Edmond Matthews of Nottoway Parrish to Nathanial Ridley of the same...135 acres on the south side of Nottoway River on the south side of Ridley's Branch adjoining Angelica Swamp, Thomas Purcell and said Ridley. Wit: Elizabeth Jones, William (X) Saul and George (X) Grimes. Edmond Matthews
Deed Book 7, page 218, Isle of Wight Co., VA
Unfortunately there is no date on this.Nathaniel Ridley and Thomas Russell were Edmund’s neighbors at the time of purchase in 1735.
Captain John Smith, founded the first English Colony at Jamestown
Virginia in 1607. The following are some (1,033) Early Virginia Pioneers
Indexed by last name, first name from 1624 records.
County/ParishNum of Persons
ARCHURS HOOP17
BASSE CHOISE22
CHAMPLAINS20
COLLEGE LAND20
EASTERN SHORE73
ELIZABETH CITY CO.285
FLOURDIEN HUNDRED55
GLASE HOWSE5
HOGG ISLAND20
INDIAN THICKETT10
JAMES CITY CO.224
JAMES ISLAND20
JORDANS FORNEY20
MARTINS HUNDRED20
NECK OF LAND19
OVER THE RIVER20
VIRGINIA COLONY96
WARWICK SQUEAKE20
WEST SHERLOW71
ABBREVIATIONS
*The interpretation is questionable
**The interpretation is very uncertain
***Must be checked by research
^Correctly as in the filmed census
DateCounty/ParishSta SNDXLast NameFirst Name
----- ---------------------- ----- ------------------------------
1624JAMES CITY CO.VAM355MATHEMAN, John
1624JAMES CITY CO.VAM320MATHEWS, Robert
1624JAMES CITY CO.VAM320MATHEWS, Samuel, Capt.
1624JAMES CITY CO.VAM532MENTIS, Thomas**
1624JAMES CITY CO.VAM320MEUTIS, Thomas**
Indentures:
Robert Mathews
Date of Birth of Christen:1601
Year of Indenture:1622
John Matheman
Date of Birth or Christen:1606
Yr. of Indenture:1619
Tobias Mathews
Year of Indenture:1642
Year of Freedom:1644
County:Accomack/Northampton
Edmond Mathis
Year of Indenture:1660
County:York
John Maton
Year of Indenture:1662
Years:3
County:Charles City Co.
James Mathews
Date of Birth or Christen:1655
Year of Indenture:1673
County:York
James Matthews
Year of Indenture:1675
County:Northumberland
James Mathews
Yr. of Indenture:1677
County:Surry
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Re: Susannah Matthews m. Henry Lumsden in Louisa County Virginia
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Re: Susannah Matthews m. Henry Lumsden in Louisa County Virginia
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