SOME MATTHEWS FAMILY HISTORY

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Mathews family

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The Mathews family is an American political family descended from John Mathews (d. 1757) and Ann Archer, originating in colonial Virginia and active in Virginia and the American South in the 18th–20th centuries.

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The family originates from Glamorgan, Wales. The earliest progenitor to the family is Gwarthfoed, 1st Lord of Cardigan. The Mathews surname originates from Sir David Mathew, a Welsh knight that is credited with saving the life of King Edward IV at the Battle of Towton in 1461.  The American family's founders were of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and immigrated to America around 1730, settling in Augusta County (present-day Rockbridge County), Virginia. Several members played a role in the American Revolution, and numerous members were elected to the Virginia General Assembly over successive generations, while additionally members have been involved in the politics of West Virginia, Georgia, and other U.S. states in roles including state governor and state legislator, among others. Members have served in the U.S. military as generals, colonels, and other officers. Notable members include George Mathews, Sampson Mathews, Henry M. Mathews, and Mason Mathews Patrick.

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The Mathews family is believed to be of Scotch-Irish and/or Welsh ethnicity. The male prog- genitor of the family, John Mathews (d. 1757), likely immigrated to America during the early years of the Scotch-Irish immigration of 1718–1775. His parentage and ethnicity are currently unknown, with a variety of sources offering conflicting accounts. The female progenitor of the family, Ann Archer, immigrated to America with her father Sampson Archer in the early years of the Scotch-Irish immigration of 1718-1775 and was of Scotch-Irish ethnic

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John Mathews settled in Augusta County, Virginia around 1737 and held several local offices in the community. Several of his sons took part in patriot efforts during the American Revolutionary War; Sampson Mathews (c. 1737–1807) and George Mathews (1739–1812) were members of the Augusta County Committee of Safety, which drafted the Augusta Resolves and the Augusta Declaration. Virginia scholar Hugh Blair Grigsby has called the Augusta Declaration “the Magna Charta of the West” for its precedence in calling for a permanent and independent separation from Britain and formal union of the colonies. In total, three of Mathews’ sons served as wartime Virginia legislators: Sampson Mathews and George Mathews from Augusta County and Archer Mathews (1744–c. 1790) from Greenbrier County.

 

 Additionally, Sampson Mathews was a lieutenant colonel of the Virginia militia, and George Mathews was a brevet brigadier general in the Continental Army. George Mathews was later a U.S. House Representative to the First Congress and a governor of Georgia.

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George Mathews' son George Mathews Jr. (1774–1836) was a judge of the Superior Courts of the territories of Mississippi and Orleans and as the presiding judge of the Louisiana Supreme Court. George Mathews Jr.'s brother, John Mathews (c.1762–1806), was a federal Supervisor of Revenue from Georgia. In Virginia, three more members of the family from the third generation served in the state legislature: Sampson Mathews' son Sampson Mathews Jr. from Bath County, and John Mathews (1768–1849) and James W. Mathews (d. 1825), grandsons of John Mathews through his son William Mathews (1741–1772), from Greenbrier County.

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From the fourth generation, Mason Mathews (1803–1878), a grandson of William Mathews, served in the Virginia legislature from Greenbrier County. During the American Civil War, three of his sons served as Confederate States Army officers. His son Henry M. Mathews (1834–1884) later served as an attorney general and governor of West Virginia. Henry M. Mathews' son, William G. Mathews (1877–1923), was a federal judge in Kanawha, West Virginia, and a candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court. Mason M. Patrick (1863–1942), grandson of Mason Mathews, served as Chief of the U.S. Army Air Service, American Expeditionary Force during World War I and the Interwar Period. He authored the 1926 congressional bill that created the U.S. Army Air Corps from the Air Service and served as its first chief.

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Other relations include Thomas Posey (1750–1818), U.S. Senator from Louisiana; Peter J. Otey (1840–1902), U.S. House Representative from Virginia; and George Mathews Edgar (1837–1913), President of the University of Arkansas.

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A list of offices held by members of the Mathews family.

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• John Mathews (d.1757), Justice of Augusta County, Virginia, 1747–1757; Virginia Colonial Militia Captain. Father of Joshua, Sampson, George, Archer, and William Mathews.

  • Joshua Mathews (d.1763), son of John Mathews.

    • Martha Mathews (1754–1778), ∞ Thomas Posey (1750–1818), U.S. Senator from Louisiana, 1812–1813; 2nd Governor of Indiana Territory, 1813–1816; Lt. Governor of Kentucky, 1806–1808; Kentucky State Senator, 1804–1806. Daughter of Joshua Mathews.

  • Sampson Mathews (c. 1737–1807), Virginia State Senator from Augusta County and surrounding counties, 1776–1781, 1791–1792; Virginia State Militia Lieutenant Colonel; Virginia Colonial Militia Captain. Son of John Mathews.

    • Sampson Mathews II, Virginia House Delegate from Bath County, 1809–1810. Son of Sampson Mathews

      • Sampson L. Mathews. Surveyor of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Son of Sampson Mathews II.

        • Mary A. Mathews, ∞ William H. McClintic (1825–1892). Daughter of Sampson L. Mathews.

          • George W. McClintic (1866–1942), Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia 1921–1942; West Virginia House Delegate 1919–1921. Son of Mary A. Mathews.a House Delegate, dates unknown 

  • George Mathews (1739–1812), 17th & 21st Governor of Georgia, 1787–1788 & 1793–1796; U.S. House Representative from Georgia's 3rd congressional district, 1789–1791; Georgia Assemblyman from Wilkes County, 1786; Virginia Burgess from Augusta County, 1775; Continental Army Brigadier General. Son of John Mathews.

    • John Mathews (c.1762–1806), Supervisor of Revenue for Georgia, 1794–1796. Son of George Mathews.

    • Ann Mathews (±1767–1840), ∞ Samuel Blackburn (1759–1835), Virginia House Delegate from Bath County, 1799–1801, 1809–1813; Georgia Assemblyman, 1795. Daughter of George Mathews.

    • George Mathews Jr. (1774–1836), Presiding Judge of the Louisiana Supreme Court, 1813–1836; Judge of the Superior courts of the Territory of Orleans, 1806–1813; Judge of the Superior Courts of the Territory of Mississippi 1805–1806. Son of George Mathews.

    • Charles L. Mathews (1776–1842), ∞ Lucy Early, sister of Peter Early (1773–1818), 28th Governor of Georgia.

  • William Mathews (1741–1772), Justice of Botetourt County, 1770–1772. Son of John Mathews

    • Elizabeth Mathews (±1766–1853), ∞ Isaac Otey (1766–1850), Virginia House Delegate from Bedford County, 1798–1813. Daughter of William Mathews

      • Isaac Otey Jr., Virginia State Senator from Bedford and surrounding counties, 1821–1825; Virginia House Delegate, 1820–1821. Son of Elizabeth Mathews.

      • John M. Otey (1792–1859), President of Lynchburg, Virginia City Council, 1841–1859. Son of Elizabeth Mathews.

        • Peter J. Otey (1840–1902), U.S. House Representative from Virginia's 6th congressional district, 1895–1902; delegate to the 1896 Democratic National Convention. Son of John M. Otey.

      • James H. Otey (1800–1863), first Episcopal Bishop of Tennessee. Son of Elizabeth Mathews.

    • John Mathews (1768–1849), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1798–1801, 1803–1804, 1813–1814, 1816, 1829; Federalist candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, 1815; Clerk of Greenbrier County, Virginia 1831–1849. Son of William Mathews.

    • James W. Mathews (d. 1825), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1802-1803; United States Army Major. Son of William Mathews.

    • Joseph Mathews (1770–1834), Son of William Mathews.

      • Mason Mathews (1803–1878), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1859–1865; ∞ Eliza Shore Reynolds (1808–1872), sister of Alexander W. Reynolds (1817–1876), Confederate States Army Brigadier General. Son of Joseph Mathews.

        • Henry M. Mathews (1834–1884), 5th Governor of West Virginia, 1877–1881; 7th Attorney General of West Virginia; West Virginia State Senator 1865; Confederate States Army Major. Son of Mason Mathews.

          • William G. Mathews (1877–1923), Referee in Bankruptcy for Kanawha, West Virginia, 1898–1908, Clerk of Kanawha, West Virginia, 1903–1904. Democratic Candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, 1908; alternate delegate to the 1904 Democratic National Convention from West Virginia. Son of Henry M. Mathews.

        • Alexander F. Mathews (1838–1906), Delegate to 1888 Democratic National Convention from West Virginia; Presidential Elector for West Virginia, 1904; West Virginia University Regent, 1871–1881; Confederate States Army Captain. Son of Mason Mathews.

          • Mason Mathews (1867–1928), Alternate delegate to 1912 Democratic National Convention from West Virginia. Son of Alexander F. Mathews.

        • Virginia A. Mathews (d. 1923). Daughter of Mason Mathews.

          • Mason M. Patrick (1863–1942), Chief of U.S. Army Air Service, American Expeditionary Force, 1917–1918; Chief of U.S. Army Air Service, 1921–1926; Chief of U.S. Army Air Corps, 1926–1927; U.S. Army Major General; Public Utilities Commissioner for the District of Columbia, 1929–1933. Son of Virginia A. Mathews.

  • Archer Mathews (1744–c. 1796), Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County, 1780–1782. Son of John Mathews.

    • Ann Mathews (1765–1852), ∞ Thomas Edgar (1754–1822), Justice of Greenbrier County and Rockbridge County, Virginia; son of Thomas Edgar, Virginia House Delegate from Greenbrier County. Daughter of Archer Mathews.

      • George M. Edgar (1837–1913), President of University of Arkansas, 1884–1887; President of Florida State University, 1887-1892.

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GEORGE MATTHWS

DESCENDANTS LIST

 

Member:  -- Name Restricted --    Nat'l #: 712448     

Ancestor #: A075441

1.  -- Generation Restricted --

2.  -- Generation Restricted --

3.  -- Generation Restricted --

4.  The Said -- Name Restricted -- was the child of

      Ephriam Alexander Pharr born on 4 - Aug - 1831 at Canton Bend AL   

      died at Camden AL on 30 - Nov - 1869 and his ( 2nd ) wife

      Mary Davis born on - - at _______________

      died at Camden AL on - - 1874 married on - -   

5.  The Said Ephriam Alexander Pharr was the child of

      Ephriam Pharr Jr born on 24 - Jun - 1794 at Oglethorpe Co GA  

      died at Canton Bend AL on 26 - Jul - 1846 and his ( 1st ) wife

      Mary Mathews born on 12 - Jun - 1798 at Green Co GA

      died at Canton Bend AL on 22 - Sep - 1844 married on 4 - Apr - 1819  

6.  The Said Mary Mathews was the child of

      John Mathews born on c - - 1762 at Augusta Co VA   

      died at Greene Co GA on - - 1798-1806 and his ( 1st ) wife

      Elizabeth Mathews born on - - at _______________

      died at _______________ on - - married on - -   

7.  The Said John Mathews was the child of

      George Mathews born on 30 - Aug - 1739 at Augusta Co VA   

      died at Augusta GA on 30 - Aug - 1812 and his ( 1st ) wife

      Anne Paul born on - - at _______________

      died at Goose Pond Plantation Oglethorpe Co GA on 21 - Sep - 1788 married on 13 - Sep - 1762  

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MATTHEWS, GEORGE

Ancestor #: A075441

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Service:   VIRGINIA    Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE, BRIGADIER GENERAL

Birth:  8-30-1739    AUGUSTA CO VIRGINIA

Death:  8-30-1812     AUGUSTA RICHMOND CO GEORGIA

Service Source: 

HEITMAN, HIST REG OF OFFICERS OF THE CONT ARMY DURING THE WAR OF THE REV, 1775-1783, P 384

Service Description: 

1) ALSO LCOL, COL, 9TH VA REGT; BREVET BRIGADIER GENERAL IN 3RD VA REGT
2) TAKEN PRISONER

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Source:

Wikipedia

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George Mathews, a veteran of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War (1775-83), migrated to Wilkes County from Virginia between 1783 and 1784. He quickly rose to serve as a state legislator, governor, and member of the U.S. Congress.

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Early Life and Career

Mathews was born in 1739 to Ann Archer and John Mathews, Ulster immigrants, and spent his formative years in Augusta County, Virginia. His family diligently sought recognition as members of the western Virginia gentry, and Mathews exerted his efforts in economic, civil, and military affairs. He joined his elder brother, Sampson, in a business partnership that included land speculation, property leasing, agricultural, and mercantile operations. The brothers' enterprise extended from Staunton, Virginia, to the Greenbriar district of western Virginia and grew to include an extensive Atlantic trade network. Mathews used his circles of influence to obtain an appointment to the Augusta Parish vestry, as a county magistrate, and as high sheriff.

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As Virginia supported the growing rebellion against Great Britain, Mathews eagerly sought a military command. Revolutionary leaders of the colony applauded his persuasive and skillful leadership as a militia captain during the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant, and by 1777 Mathews obtained an appointment as colonel of the Ninth Virginia Regiment. His troops were assigned to Continental service under General George Washington, but during the Battle of Germantown in Pennsylvania, the entire regiment was either killed or captured. Mathews remained a prisoner of war until December 1781

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Settling in Georgia

Shortly after his release Mathews rejoined the Continental army in Georgia and South Carolina. His sojourn there provided an opportunity to view the rich lands of the Georgia upcountry. By January 1783 Mathews worked with several Virginians, including Colonel George Rootes, Francis Willis, and John Marks, to petition the state legislature for a block grant of 200,000 acres in the Georgia backcountry on which to settle 30 to 100 Virginia families. But assembly members rejected the creation of such an extensive tract. Mathews opted to purchase property in the Goose Pond region of Wilkes County, Georgia, near the Broad River, and obtained additional state lands for his revolutionary service. He returned to Virginia and encouraged family, friends, and former compatriots (including Benjamin Taliaferro) to settle in Wilkes County.

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Mathews eliminated most of his mercantile connections upon his move to Georgia. He lived in a log cabin with his wife, Anne Polly Paul, and their eight children, John, Charles Lewis, George, William, Ann, Jane, Margaret, and Rebecca. As in Virginia, Mathews sought to create an image of a member of the slaveholding planter elite. He sought entrance into the public and political life of the Georgia backcountry and employed a strong network of wartime associates, friends, family, and economic contacts to achieve his goals. Mathews quickly obtained an appointment as a Wilkes County justice and as a commissioner for the new town of Washington, and he successfully stood as a candidate to the Georgia Assembly in 1787. Legislators took advantage of his reputation as an aggressive military leader and Continental officer and elected Mathews as governor for 1787-88.

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The Georgia Governorship and the Yazoo Land Fraud

As the new chief executive, Mathews chafed at the restrictions placed upon the independence of the governor by the Georgia Constitution of 1777, which prevented his quick response to border conflicts with the Spanish and Creek Indians. His term in office prompted advocacy for stronger state and national government, and Mathews served as a member of the 1787 state convention to ratify the new federal constitution. The following year western residents elected Mathews as a member of the House of Representatives. In spite of a lackluster term, defeat in 1791 by a land speculation faction called the Combined Society, and failure to win a federal senatorial seat in 1792, Mathews rebuilt political support and maneuvered legislative election as governor in 1793.

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During Mathews's second administration Georgia faced renewed Creek raids along the frontier. A lack of assembly and federal military funding frustrated his defense plans for a chain of blockhouses along Georgia's frontier, as did the actions of a fellow Wilkes County resident, Elijah Clarke, who posed as a French agent and established an illegal settlement in Creek lands called the Trans-Oconee Republic. Mathews, conscious of maintaining strong political support, may have turned to the use of land grants as a means of retaining popularity. He continued to practice a policy of his predecessors, known historically as the Pine Barren Speculation and granted extensive tracts—some as large as 40,000 acres—in Effingham, Franklin, Glynn, Liberty, McIntosh, Montgomery, and Washington counties.

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In 1795 private land companies revived a failed 1789 effort to purchase the state's western land claims extending to the Mississippi River. At first, Mathews stood firm against signing the Yazoo land bill, but earlier activities as a land speculator and his desire to maintain public approval may have prompted Mathews's acceptance. His approval of the Yazoo sale catapulted him into political disgrace. Opponents, led by a former U.S. senator, James Jackson, accused Mathews of identification with the self-interest of speculation and of failing to exhibit Republican independence. Since most of the anti-Yazooists followed the principles of the rising Jeffersonian-Republican faction, Mathews's identification with the Federalists intensified those accusations.

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Later Life and Career

Mathews sought a new life in Mississippi Territory, where he married a propertied widow, Mary Carpenter. His efforts to revive his political career included an 1812 commission by U.S. President James Madison to encourage an East Florida rebellion against the Spanish government and annexation of that territory to the United States. The revolt took place, and Mathews began to organize an attack on St. Augustine, Florida. But he worked too successfully. Members of the federal government felt it politically inexpedient to acquire Florida at that time, and the president issued a recall to Mathews. Mathews took the rejection of his Florida efforts personally. He started to travel to Washington, D.C., to confront the president but fell ill while passing through Augusta. There he died and was buried in the cemetery of the St. Paul Episcopal Church.

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Further Reading

Carol Ebel, "First Men: Changing Patterns of Leadership on the Virginia and Georgia Frontiers, 1642-1815" (Ph.D. diss., University of Georgia, 1996).

G. Melvin Herndon, "George Mathews: Frontier Patriot." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 77(July 1969): 307-28.