West Virginia Statewide Files WV-Footsteps Mailing List WV-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 29 Today's Topics: #1 BIO: The MATHEWS Family, Greenbrie [SSpradling@aol.com] #2 BIO: Capt. Joseph William MATHEWS, [SSpradling@aol.com] Administrivia: To unsubscribe from WV-FOOTSTEPS-D, send a message to WV-FOOTSTEPS-D-request@rootsweb.com that contains in the body of the message the command unsubscribe and no other text. No subject line is necessary, but if your software requires one, just use unsubscribe in the subject, too. To contact the WV-FOOTSTEPS-D list administrator, send mail to WV-FOOTSTEPS-admin@rootsweb.com. ______________________________X-Message: #1 Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 12:58:26 EDT From: SSpradling@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <71b8451b.2517c1b2@aol.com> Subject: BIO: The MATHEWS Family, Greenbrier County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit History of Greenbrier County J.R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 67-72 THE MATHEWS FAMILY The name of Mathews, in any of its Anglo-Saxon variants, was adopted by the sons of Sir Mathew ap Jevan ap Griffyth Gethyn, tenth in lineal descent from Gwaettfoed, Prince of Cardigan, Wales, whose descendants were long deemed feudal barons of Llandaff, County Glamorgan, Wales. Sir Mathew was knighted in 1386 by Richard II, and his descendants took the name of Mathew or Mathews instead of the Welsh "ap" or "son of," the addition of the "S" signifying to the English the same thing as the Welsh "ap," the Irish "0" and the Scotch "Mac." The armorial bearings of the Mathews are numerous, Burke, in his General Armoury, devoting over two and one-half pages to the arms, crests and mottoes. In nearly all.the lion is an important figure, and it is said the lion was used as a distinctive device by the descendants of Gwaettfoed, Prince of Cardigan, long before the dawn of heraldry. The bearings used by the Mathews of Virginia and West Virginia are described as follows: Arms: Gyronny of eight, sable and gules, a lion rampant, or. Crest: A demi lion rampant, or. Motto: Heb-d-Dhuw Heb-d-dim a-d-Dhuw a-digon. (Without God nothing, with God enough.) Sir Mathew ap levan married Jenet, daughter of Richard Fleming, and had three sons: David, Robert and Lewis. The oldest, Sir David, was one of the most distinguished men of his time, having been made grand standard bearer of England by Edward IV, as a reward for saving his life at the battle of Towton, Palm Sunday 1461. Sir Davis died about 1480 and his tomb, ornamented with his full length figure in full armor. is still in existence in the cathedral in Llandaff, Wales. The second son, Robert, of Castell-y-Mynach, Wales, was the progenitor of the Mathews family in Virginia. His great-great-grandson was Tobias Mathew, archbishop of York, who married Frances Barlow, and whose son, Samuel Mathews, was horn in 1592 and was sent to Virginia by James I in 1622 as one of five commissioners "to make particular and diligent inquiry concern-mg the present state of the colony." In 1623 he was commissioned captain of a company to go against the Tanx Powhatan Indians. in 1625 he was appointed one of the king's council in Virginia, Sir Francis Wyatt being governor. He remained a member of that body until 1644. In December, 1656, he was elected to the council again, this time to that place nearest the governor, and on March 13, 1657, was elected governor of the colony by the House of Burgesses, and remained in office till his death in i660. He owned several plantations, one of which was first called "Mathews Manour," but afterwards known as "Denbeigh," and it is from the latter that the county seat of Warwick county takes its name, it being located upon that plantation. He also owned "Fleur de Hundred," near Point Comfort. He married the daughter of Sir Thomas Hinton and had by her two sons, Samuel and Francis. Samuel, the eldest son of the foregoing, was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1652 and lieutenant colonel and member of the council in 1655. His great-grandson, John Mathews, moved between 1730 and 1734 to the "district of West Augusta," afterwards Augusta county, Virginia, and settled near the Natural Bridge, in the forks of the James river. There is in existence a grant of 1,600 acres of land from George II to "John Mathews, Gent., on Mill creek in the forks of James river." In 1742 John Mathews was a member of the Augusta county militia in Capt. John Buchanan's company. in 1756 occurred the first election ever held in Augusta, being the election of the vestry for Augusta parish, and it resulted in the choice of, among others. John Mathews and his brother-in-law, John Archer. It was a sign of prominence in those days to be a member of the vestry, as only the most eminent and representative men were chosen. Vestrymen were not only ecclesiastical officers but they had the care of the poor and attended to the important duty of "processioning" lands. All vestrymen were required by law to take the various oaths 'Cmposed upon public officers. In 1756 John Mathews was a captain of a company of infantry in the Augusta militia and was an ensign in the French and Indian war. He married Anne Archer, daughter of Sampson Archer. Her sister, Betsey. married Robert Renix (now Renick), hence the relation between the Mathews and Renicks. In 1758 Sampson Archer was a church-warden of Augusta parish, and he also served as lieutenant in the French and Indian war. John Mathews and Anne Archer had seven sons: John, Joshua, Richard, George, Sampson, William and Archer, and four daughters, Jane, Anne, Rachael and Elizabeth. Sampson Mathews, fourth son of John and Anne Archer Mathews, was deputy sheriff of Augusta county in 1756. and in 1758 a vestryman of Augusta parish. In 1764 he was appointed justice of the peace. He was also commissary of Col. Charles Lewis's regiment at the battle of Point Pleasant. In 1775 he was one of the delegates to the colony convention, which met in Richmond. He was a member of the first court held under the authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia, July i6, 1776. In 1781 he was colonel of an Augusta county regiment sent to lower Virginia to resist the invasion of Benedict Arnold. He married in September, 1759, Mary Lockheart, and died in Staunton, Va., in 1807. His descendants are many in Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties, West Virginia, among whom are the Mcclungs, Sees, Heveners, Renicks, McClintics, Montgomerys and Withrows. George Mathews, the fifth son of John Mathews, of Augusta county, was the most prominent of the family, but as he has very few, if any, descendants in Greenbrier, a detailed account of his life would be out of place in this history. It is sufficient to say that he was in command of a company at the battle of Point Pleasant in 1775, colonel of the Ninth Virginia regiment in 1776 and 1777, and in 1781 brigadier general under General Green, governor of Georgia, in 1786 and 1793, and member of the Continental Congress in 1790 and 1792. Archer Mathews, the seventh and youngest son of John and Anne Archer Mathews, moved to Greenbrier county, where he owned a large body of land, and married Letitia McLanahan. He was one of the trustees who formed the town of Lewisburg in 1782. He had seven children and numerous descendants, among whom are some of the Edgars, Nelsons, Withrows and Feamsters. William Mathews, the sixth son of John and Anne Archer Mathews, is the progenitor of the Mathews of Greenbrier county. He was born on the old home place in Augusta county in 1741-2. In his father's will the home place was left to him and his brother, Archer, and he purchased his brother's interest in the estate and lived and died there, a farmer, not entering into public life. He was, however, made a justice of the peace on February 18, 1770. While still very young he served as a private in the French and Indian war. He married about 1763-4 Frances Crowe, daughter of James and Eleanor Crowe, of Donaghmore, Ireland, they having come to Virginia about 1762. There is extant an old church certificate reading as follows: "James Crowe, Ellinor, his Wife, with their Two Daughters, Eliz. and Frances, has Lived in this Congregation since their Infancy-are descended of an Antient Reputable Protestant Family. Their Examplary Conduct has always Justly Merited the unfeigned Esteem of their Christian Neighbours and are recommended as worthy the Regard and Notice of Any Society where Divine Providence may appoint. Is Certifyed at Donaghmore this 20th Day of June 1762 by Benj. Holmes." William [Mathews died in 1772 and his wife in 1796, having had five children, viz.: Anne, Elizabeth, John, Joseph and James William. Anne Mathews married Audley Maxwell, of Tazewell county, Virginia, and had a large family. Elizabeth married Maj. Jsaac Otey, and had numerous descendants. James William Mathews died unmarried. John Mathews, eldest son of William and Frances Crowe Mathews was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, October 30, 1768, and while still a young man moved to Greenbrier county as a surveyor for Col. John Stuart. He then studied law and from 1798 to 1802 was a member of the Virginia general as-sembly. In 1831 he was elected clerk of the county court and remained in that capacity till he died in November, 1849. He was twice married, first to Catherine Cary and second to Mrs. Sarah Hamilton Hunter. He had five daughters and numerous descendants, among whom are the Snyders, Feamsters, Kinsolvings and Browns. Joseph Mathews, the second son of William and Frances Crowe Mathews, was born in that part of Rockbridge county now known as Botetourt county, Virginia, October 10, 1770. He purchased land in Lewisburg in 1783 and moved there in the early nineties. He married April 17, 1794, Mary Edgar, born January i8, 1773, died January 7, 1847, daughter of James Edgar and Mary Mason. He died February 22, 1834, having had six children, viz.: Anne, Elizabeth, Mary, Mason and Thomas and James William. James William died unmarried. Ann married John Robert Weir and had two children, Mary Sydnor and John Robert, both of whom died unmarried. Elizabeth and Mary both died unmarried. Thomas Mathews, the youngest son, died without issue. Mason Mathews, second son of Joseph and Mary Edgar Mathews, was born in Greenbrier county December 15, 1803. About 1825 he was appointed deputy sheriff of the county. In 1828 he was appointed commissioner of the revenue by the county court and held that office till he declined re-appointment. He also was a justice of the peace for many years and was a member of the Virginia general assembly from 1859 to 1865. He married September 27, 1827, Eliza Shore Reynolds, daughter of Thomas Bird Reynolds and Sally Ann McDowell. She was a sister of Alexander W. Reynolds, who served in the Civil war as a brigadier general, Confederate States Army, and who upon the close of the war went to Egypt and served as adjutant general of the khedive's army until his death in 1876. Mason Mathews died in Lewisburg, September 16, 1878, having had eight children, viz.: Mary Edgar, Sally Ann, Henry Mason, Virginia Amanda, Alexander Ferdinand, Joseph William, Eliza Thomas and Sallie Patton. Mary Edgar Mathews married Richard Mauzy, of Staunton, and had two children, Eliza Mathews and Mary Christina Mauzy. Sally Ann Mathews died unmarried. Hcnry Mason Mathews, eldest son of Mason and Eliza Shore Mathews, was born March 29, 1834, died at Lewisburg April 28, 1864. On May 1, 1861, he was appointed second lieutenant of the Provisional Army of Virginia by Governor Letcher, and was soon promoted to captain of engineers. He was commissioned major of artillery and chief of staff of Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson, to rank from May 2, 1863, which rank he held till the close of the war. Upon the close of the war he returned to Lewisburg, where he practiced law. In 1865 he was elected to the West Virginia state senate and in 1872 attorney general of the State. In 1876 he was elected Governor and held office from 1877 to 1881. He married November 24, 1857, Lucy Clayton Fry, and had five children, viz.: Lucile Josephine, Mason, Henry Edgar, William Gordon and Laura Hearne, of whom only two survive, William Gordon and Lucile Josephine, both of Charleston, W. Va. Virginia Amanda Mathews married Dr. Alfred Spicer Patrick, and had four children, Mason Mathews, Mary Maud, Virginia Spicer and Alfred Bream. Alexander Ferdinand Mathews, second son of Mason and Eliza Shore Mathews, was born November 13, 1838. He became a lawyer but upon the outbreak of the Civil war he was commissioned captain Augiist II, 1861, and served during the entire war. After the war he returned to Lewisburg, where he practiced his profession in partnership with his brother, Henry. He married December 28, 1865, Laura M. Gardner, and died December 17, 1906. He had eight children, Mason, Charles Gardner, Mary Miller, Ann Weir, Eliza Patton, Maude Montague, Florence Vane and Henry Alexander, of whom only four survive, Mason, Charles Gardner, Eliza Patton and Henry Alexander, all of Lewisburg. Joseph William Mathews, youngest son of Mason and Eliza Shore Mathews, was born September 18, 1841, and died September 27, 1897. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he entered the Confederate army, with the rank of captain, and served in that capacity during the four years of war. After the war was over he was in Baltimore until the organization of the Bank of Lewisburg, when he was appointed cashier of that organization, which position he held until his death. He married October 8, 1872, Rosannab Cecelia MacVeigh, of Loudoun county, Virginia. In addition to a child that died in infancy he had six children, Mary Eliza, John White, Henry Mason, William Alexander Patton, Hugh Macveigh and Alfred Virginius, of whom four survive, John White, of Wilmington, Del.; Mary Eliza, of Philadelphia; Hugh MacVeigh, of City Point, Virginia, and Alfred Virginitis. of Chicago. Eliza Thomas Mathews married February 27, 1873, Andrew Warwick Mathews, and had issue: Mary Mason, Eliza Shore and Andrea Warwick Mathews. Sallie Patton Mathews married July '5, 1874, Henry Clay Dunn, and had issue: John, Mary Virginia and Marie Lewis Dunn. ______________________________X-Message: #2 Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 13:08:48 EDT From: SSpradling@aol.com To: WV-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <92477d9e.2517c420@aol.com> Subject: BIO: Capt. Joseph William MATHEWS, Greenbrier County Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit History of Greenbrier County J.R. Cole Lewisburg, WV 1917 p. 67-72 CAPT. J. W. MATHEWS. (By Mary E. Mathews.) The subject of this sketch, Joseph William Mathews, son of the late Mason Mathews and Eliza Reynolds, was born in Lewisburg, Va., September 18, 1841. He was educated at the old Lewisburg Academy and had matriculated at the University of Virginia when the Civil war broke out. He at once entered the Confederate army, and served through the entire war. He was appointed captain and assistant quartermaster, July 3, 1862; he was with the army of General Pemberton at Vicksburg, and was surrendered with that army when Vicksburg fell. He was exchanged and was made captain and assistant adjutant-general upon the staff of Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson, ranking from September 1, 1863. He was captured at Athens, Ga., May 8, 1865. He was twice mentioned in General Stevenson's reports to the war department for conspicuous bravery, once at Demopolis, Ala., and once at the battle of Baker's Creek, Mississippi. After the war he engaged in the mercantile business in Lewisburg, and later in Baltimore, Md. Upon the organization of the Bank of Lewisburg, he was appointed cashier, which office he held until his death in 1897. He married on October 8,1872, Miss Rosannah MacVeigh, of Baltimore, Md. Of this union there were seven children, four of whom, with their mother, are living. Such is the tale of any man's life: his birth, his education, his work in the world, his marriage, his family and his death. But what a small part of a man's life it really is after all. How he has played his part, what have been his relations to his family, his friends, his work, these are what make a life worth while or not. It is these deeper things that make Captain Mathews' life remembered, not what he did, but what he was. Born into a family of four sisters and two brothers, throughout his life he was a loyal, affectionate, devoted son and brother. It is over twenty years now since he passed to the other side, and more of his family are there than here, but those remaining cherish his memory with an affection as fresh and abiding as if he were still here. During the war he served faithfully and unflinchingly through those dark years, earning not only mention of his bravery, but what is far better, the unswerving respect, admiration and friendship of all with whom he was connected, feelings that have survived in all the hearts which have outlived his. In business his sound judgment, practical good sense and unswerving honor made him a man of influence, respected and admired by all who knew him. What can be said of his family life? To do him justice in the family relation is beyond my pen, nor perhaps is it seemly that I should try. Almost twenty years ago, a devoted husband, a loving and beloved father, "went away," leaving a family to mourn and miss him, to long for him, and to hope unceasingly for re-union with him. But he left much more than sorrow and loneliness. He left precious memories of his selfless devoted life; of his loyalty and kindness to friends; of his devotion to children; of his love for his own family, and his joy in their love; of his many kindly deeds and noble thoughts. All these he left as a heritage to his wife, his children and his friends. It is a rich heritage and one that seems without limit, for it is the pride of his children, scattered now and far from his beloved home, that they never return to that home, but some one has a new and pleasant memory to give them of some old, unforgotten kindness of their father. It is difficult to analyze such a character, to say in what its charm consists, to explain why he should be remembered when men who made far more stir in the world are forgotten. He had an unfailing courtesy; he was often called a gentleman of the old school, rather he was a gentleman of the heart, which is, of course, a gentleman of every school and every time. He had the courage to face life cheerfully; at the close of the war, penniless himself he came home not only to take up his duties bravely and herocially, as every man did in that dreadful time, but to do it courageously without bitterness or repining. He had sympathy and understanding for all with whom he came in contact, wise advice for those that asked it, tolerance for those who differed with him, charity for those he did not understand. With all these noble and ennobling qualities, he was so quiet, so modest, so reserved and so self-effacing that few realized until he was gone, the breadth, the power, the influence that as brother, husband, father, friend, he had possessed; the realization of this is the birthright of his children; it has been an inspiration to them and perhaps to others. Many of his friends may say with them: Yet after he was dead and gone Earth seemed more sweet to live upon, More full of love because of him. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ***********************************************************************