1. RALPH¹ MATTHEWS died August 1687 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He married ALICE?.

Notes for RALPH MATTHEWS:
While the English origins of the MATTHEWS are uncertain, it is probable that he may be descended from one of the numerous MATTHEWS families in the counties of Devonshire and Cornwall.

Nuncupative Will of RALPH MATTHEWS

Isle of Wight County, Virginia Will and Deed Book 2, p. 269.
Registered August 13, 1687.

An account of what RALPH MATTHEWS gave his three children before his departure to each: one bed and bedstead, to each six pewter dishes, to each one [an] Iron pot, to each one [a] frying pan, to each one a dozen of spoons, to each two por-ringers?, to one a skinner, to the next a flesh fork, and the other a ladle, and that had the lade to give her one salt tiller to equalize the skinner and flesh fork, and this he did desire. Should be at his wife's disposing till they come of age to ____ it themselves, furthermore he did desire that Col. Smith or his sonne Arthur Smith to take some care that this which he gave his children may not be imbezled and for the children be defrauded of it, and furthermore that his wife should have the remainder herself paying his debts out of it. This RALPH MATTHEWS desired as we have set our hands and hereunto to take notice of as to be his Will. Col Smith being present at that time, it being some two days before his death. Attested by Boaz Gwin, Robert Brock. Proved in open court held for the Isle of Wight County, August ye 13th 1687 by the oaths of Boaz Gwin and Robert Brock.

Test. John Pitt Ct. Clerk
Isle of Wight County, Virginia Administrations and Probates, p. 61.
[Abstract]

RALPH MATTHEWS by will appointed his relict, ALICE MATTHEWS, Executrix,
August 13, 1687. Registered October 21, 1687.
 

Source: "Nimord and Amanda Johnson Stephenson of Pleasant Grove Township, Johnston County, North Carolina: Their Ancestors and Descendants," 1991 by James Mark Valsame, Raleigh, NC

Child of RALPH MATTHEWS and ALICE ? is:

2.

i.

HUGH2 MATTHEWS, b. Bet. 1680 - 1685, Isle of Wight County, Virginia; d. November 7, 1747, South Hampton, Virgina.

2. HUGH² MATTHEWS (RALPH¹) was born Bet. 1680 - 1685 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia, and died November 7, 1747 in South Hampton, Virgina. He married (1) ANN. He married (2) MARTHA JOHNSON Abt. 1708, daughter of JOHN JOHNSON and MARY THOMPSON. She was born Abt. 1688, and died Bef. 1747.

Notes for HUGH MATTHEWS:
Hugh Matthews arrived in the colonies in 1698. In the record of Cavaliers and Pioneers, he was transported by Richard Covington. He was granted 100 acres of land on March 23, 1715 and 20 acres on March 24, 1725 in the Isle of Wight County, Virgina. His land deeds were on the south side of Nottoway River and on both sides of Angelica Swamp. Later this land fell into what became Southampton, Virginia. In 1738, he sold the land.

(The above is under question.)

HUGH MATTHEWS first appears in the records of Isle of Wight County, Virginia on March 16, 1715, when he and his wife MARTHA conveyed 50 acres on branches of Blackwater River to JOHN JOHNSON for 500 pounds tobacco, it being land left to MARTHA MATTHEWS by her father JOHN JOHNSON's will.

HUGH MATTHEWS patented 100 acres on the South side of the Nottoway River adjoining the Nottoway Indians on March 23, 1715 for the importation of Timothy Times and his wife Elizabeth Times

On March 24, 1725, he obtained another patent of 20 acres on both sides of Angelica Swamp in Isle of Wight County for the sum of 5 shillings.

HUGH MATTHEWS was appointed an appraiser of the estate of Henry Townsend in an order dated Jan. 25, 1728/29. The appraisal was returned to court by MATTHEWS, Thomas Pursell,and William Blake for registry on Jan. 27, 1728.

HUGH MATTHEWS did not have any further land transactions until July 17, 1738, when he sold a
water mill and land of unspecified acreage on Angelica Swamp for 5 shillings to James Ridley. Witnessed by son-in-law Gilbert Mac Kenny and John Brewer, the deed was also signed by MARTHA MATTHEWS

HUGH MATTHEWS wrote his will in Southampton County, Virginia [officially formed in 1749] on November 7, 1747, witnessed by Daniel Sebree, Thomas Pursell, and George Stephens(on). It would appear that his wife MARTHA had predeceased him, for his will left legacies to his then wife ANN MATTHEWS.

The lengthy will of HUGH MATTHEWS, which makes reference to four sons, five daughters, five grandsons, and at least three deceased children, was submitted for probate on September 12, 1751.

Newitt Drew, Timothy Thorp, and James Jones appraised HUGH MATTHEW's estate at 72 pounds, 11 shillings, and 5 pence in an inventory dated Oct. 13, 1751.12 On Feb. 3, 1753, James Ridley, Timothy Thorp, and James Jones examined the estate and returned an account showing expenses of 39 pounds, 9 shillings, and 4 pence. Their account was returned to court for registry on March 8, 1753.13 Issue:

1. RALPH MATTHEWS. He apparently died intestate before Nov. 7, 1747 in Isle of Wight County, VA. His son RALPH MATTHEWS received a legacy of land on Angelica Swamp in the will of HUGH MATTHEWS.

2. JOHN MATTHEWS. He died prior to Aug. 27, 1739, when his widow MARTHA MATTHEWS returned an appraisal of his estate into Isle of Wight County Court [Isle of Wight Co., VA Will Book 4, p. 237].

3. JOSEPH MATTHEWS. He was born about 1710-15, and married ELIZABETH, perhaps the daughter of JOHN STEVENSON and CATHERINE WIGGS. On Oct. 15, 1753, he sold 150 acres on the South side of Three Creeks to John Brewer [Southampton County, VA Deed Book 2, p. 7]. He and his family were residing in Edgecombe Co., NC prior to July 13, 1764, when he conveyed two tracts of 275 acres and 691 acres on the North side of Swift Creek to Isaac Hilliard [Edgecombe Co., NC Deed Book C, pp. 296, 297]. He removed to old Cumberland County (now Harnett County) after 1771. His will was probated in Cumberland County in January, 1791.

4. WILLIAM MATTHEWS. He is probably the WILLIAM MATTHEWS, who with wife ELIZABETH sold 200 acres in Edgecombe Co., NC to James Benton on Feb. 11, 1760 [Edgecombe Co., NC Deed Book OO, p. 138]. He bought 497 acres on both sides of Swift Creek in Edgecombe County from Ebenezer Folsom on Sept. 8, 1762 [Edgecombe Co., NC Deed Book I, p. 388]. He conveyed 70 acres on Swift Creek to Benjamin Smith on March 1, 1771 [Deed Book D, p. 447]. He is referred to as WILLIAM MATTHEWS of "Cumberland Co., NC" when he sold 200 acres on Myrey Branch on the North side of Swift Creek to John Jones on March 1, 1771 [Deed Book D, p. 429].

5. EDWARD MATTHEWS. He died in Southampton County, VA prior to Aug. 12, 1762, when an account of estate was returned to Southampton County Court [Southampton County Will Book 1, p. 513].

6. BENJAMIN MATTHEWS. He apparently migrated to Edgecombe County, NC with his brothers JOSEPH and WILLIAM. He bought 200 acres on the North side of Swift Creek in Edgecombe County, NC on Aug. 19, 1746 [Edgecombe Co., NC Deed Book 3, p. 7]. He died intestate prior to September Court, 1762, when his daughter PHEBE MATTHEWS was granted administration of his
estate. His estate was sold Oct. 9, 1762, and account of sale was returned to court in January Court, 1763 [Watson, "Estate Records of Edgecombe Co., NC," Durham, NC: Seeman Printery, Inc., 1970, p. 176].

7. [Daughter] MATTHEWS. She married SOLOMON STEVENSON, Sr., and apparently had died prior to Nov. 7, 1747. Her son "SOLOMON STEPHENSON, Jr." was bequeathed land on James Branch in the will of HUGH MATTHEWS.

8. MARY MATTHEWS. She married _____ THORP. No Data.

9. SARAH MATTHEWS. She married first GILBERT MAC KENNY, whose estate was appraised by Timothy Thorpe, Henry Rose, and James Jones, and returned by SARAH MAC KENNY on July 10, 1746 [Isle of Wight Co., VA Will Book 5,p.26]. It is highly probable that she married secondly, SOLOMON STEVENSON, Sr. (her deceased sister's husband) prior to August 31, 1750 [Southampton
Co., VA Will Book 1, p. 109].

10. MARTHA MATTHEWS. She married SOLOMON NEWSOM, son of Thomas Newsom
and Elizabeth (Crafford) Newsom. SOLOMON NEWSOM and his wife had a real estate conveyance in Isle of Wight County, VA on April 22, 1746. They removed to Brunswick Co., VA as early as 1752, and to Wilkes Co., Georgia by 1777. An inventory of his estate was taken in Wilkes County, Georgia on Dec. 4, 1795 ["The Newsom Family" by B. C. Holtzclaw, in "Genealogies of Virginia Families," Volume 4, p. 518].

11. HESTER MATTHEWS. She married WILLIAM JOHNSTON, son of Benjamin and Mary Johnston of Isle of Wight County, VA. On May 10, 1752, he sold JOSEPH MATTHEWS 150 acres on Fork Branch in Southampton County [Deed Book 1, p. 328]. On May 11, 1787, WILLIAM and [H]ESTER JOHNSON of Wilkes Co., Georgia sold Jesse Cooper 75 acres south of Three Creeks in Southampton
County, VA. They sold James Porch 50 acres on Gum Branch and George's Branch in Southampton Co., VA on May 18, 1787 [Deed Book 7, p. 440; Deed Book 8, p. 10].

12. PATIENCE MATTHEWS. She married HENRY JOHNSON, son of James Johnson, Jr. and his wife Rebecca (Darden) Johnson ["Johnstons of Currawaugh" by Eddis Johnson and Hugh Buckner Johnston, 1979, p. 77].
 

Will of HUGH MATTHEWS

Southampton County, Virginia Will Book 1, pp. 55-57.
Devised November 7, 1747, Registered September 12, 1751.

In the Name of God Amen, I HUGH MATTHEWS of the County of Southampton in Nottoway parish do make this writing my last will and testament in form and manner as followeth. Item. I give and bequeath to my grandson JONAS MATTHEWS son of JOHN MATTHEWS deceased 200 acres of land lying on the East side of Angelica Swamp being part of a tract of land formerly taken up by Captain William West and now possessed by Edward Drew I say I give the said tract of land to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. Item. I give and bequeath to my grandson RALPH MATTHEWS son of RALPH MATTHEWS a certain tract or parcel of Land lying on the East side of Angelica Swamp a survey lately made by Major James Baker the Contents not known at present I say I give the said land to him and his heirs. Item. I give and bequeath to my Grandson SOLOMON STEPHENSON a certain tract or parcel of land lying on James Branch bounded by Edward Drew's line and my own line the contents unknown at present I give the said Land to him and his heirs. Item. I give and bequeath to my two sons EDWARD MATTHEWS and WILLIAM MATTHEWS a new survey of Land lately made by me lying on James Branch and bounded by the Indians line and the branch commonly called the Indian Branch I say I give the said land to my said sons to be equally divided between them according to quantity and quality to them and their Heirs.

Item. I give and bequeath to my loving wife ANN MATTHEWS the plantation I now live on during her widowhood and afterwards I bequeath the same to my son JOSEPH MATTHEWS likewise my desire that my son JOSEPH MATTHEWS my build him a house that which he hath on part of the said Land and my desire that he may live where he is on that part of the land that was laid off to him and on the manor plantation without any molestation the time of her widowhood, I say I give the said plantation to him and his son JACOB MATTHEWS and their heirs. Item. I give and bequeath to my son JOSEPH MATTHEWS my still and all conveniences thereunto belonging likewise I bequeath the third part of the liquor, both Cider and Brandy, made on the Plantation to my wife ANN MATTHEWS during her widowhood and my Will and Desire is that my three sons EDWARD and WILLIAM may have the liberty of stilling the Cider in the said Still as long as she lasts on free cost. Item. I bequeath to my loving wife ANN MATTHEWS my Negro fellow called Jack during her widowhood and after to have his freedom and my desire is that my wife ANN MATTHEWS may not take any body to Crop? it with her except her own son.
Item. My will and desire is that all my Household stuff and goods of all kinds may be equally divided between my loving wife ANN MATTHEWS and my three sons EDWARD, WILLIAM, and JOSEPH except my wife ANN MATTHEWS should have a mind to leave the plantation then my will and desire is that she may have two cows and calves or year olds and my black riding horse, saddle and bridle, or otherwise if she continues after her Decd. to be equally divided among them likewise my desire is that my wife ANN MATTHEWS may have one feather bed and furniture. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter SARAH MAC KENNY one shilling and my fine duffell coat. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter MARTHA NEWSOM one shilling. Item. I give and bequeath to my son BENJAMIN MATTHEWS one shilling. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter HESTER JOHNSON one shilling.

Item. I give and bequeath to my grandson AARON MATTHEWS one bed and furniture, one beaver hat, broad cloth coat, and one two year heiffer. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter PATIENCE JOHNSON one shilling. Item. My will and desire is that if the stock of cattle increased on the plantation and either of my sons stands in need of cattle either of them may have a cow and calf to give them milk. Item. My desire is that my loving wife ANN MATTHEWS and my son JOSEPH MATTHEWS may be executors of this my last will and testament revoking all other wills by me made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seals the 7th day of November 1747.
Wit. Dan. Sebree,
Thomas Pursell,
HUGH (HM) MATTHEWS
George (+) Stephens.

At a Court held for the County of Southampton on Thursday the 12 Day of
September 1751

This Writing was sworn to by ANN MATTHEWS the Extrix. therein named and on her Motion Jt. was Ordered to be Recorded and a Certificate was granted her for obtaining a probate on the Goods and Chattels of the within named HUGH MATTHEWS giving Security according to Law.
 

Southampton County, Virginia Will Book 1, pp. 96-97.

[Abstract] Inventory of the estate of HUGH MATTHEWS, Decd. of Southampton County, Virginia taken October 12, 1751.
2 chests, 3 beds with furniture, table, 5 chairs, couch, pair of steelyards, 2 guns, 2 iron pots, coat and hat, coat, some old clothes, Bible, lantern, box iron, some old stuff, more old stuff, pair of money scales, pint pot, stoneware, earth-enware, basket, 15 bottles, chaffing dish, wheel and cards, frying pan, woodenware, 2 caps, 2 shirts, cart and wheels, old brass, hand saw, 2 saddles, 2 axes, frow, pair of wedges, plow, 2 plowhoes, old iron, steel pray, howell, crosscut saw, 30 pounds of pewter, grindstone, 2 harrow hoes, 6 barrels, horse harness, currying knife, 2 hides, 13 barrels of corn, warp of 11 yards of cloth, 4 sides of leather, chain, pair of hinges, 25 pounds of wool, 11 sheep, 6 beehives, negro Jack, 4 sows, 16 shoats, and 24 hogs. The estate of HUGH MATTHEWS is appraised at 72 pounds, 11 shillings, and 5 pence.

Newit (X) Drew
Timothy Thorp
James Jones
 

Portions of the material included in this research are derived from the dedicated work of James Mark Valsame, archivist at the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC.

Source: "Nimord and Amanda Johnson Stephenson of Pleasant Grove Township, Johnston County, North Carolina: Their Ancestors and Descendants," 1991 by James Mark Valsame, Raleigh, NC

Notes for MARTHA JOHNSON:
On Jan.7, 1703/04, JOHN JOHNSON had devised his will in Isle of Wight County, bequeathing daughter MARTHA 50 acres and half of his household goods at "Blackwater." She also received one shilling in lieu of any part of her stepmother's estate. The will was witnessed by James Lupo, Sarah Lupo, and Susanna Braswell, and was probated Aug. 9, 1707.

The following June 9, 1708, John Davis, John Bidgood, and James Lupo appraised the estate of JOHN
JOHNSON at a value of 12,320 pounds of tobacco
 

Children of HUGH MATTHEWS and ANN are:

	i.		EDWARD3 MATTHEWS.
	ii.		WILLIAM MATTHEWS.
	iii.		JOSEPH MATTHEWS.

Children of HUGH MATTHEWS and MARTHA JOHNSON are:

3.	iv.		BENJAMIN3 MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700, Edgecomb County, North Carolina; d. 1762.
	v.		JOHN MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700; d. 1739; m. MARTHA ?.

Notes for JOHN MATTHEWS: JOHN MATTHEWS. He died prior to Aug. 27, 1739, when his widow MARTHA MATTHEWS returned an appraisal of his estate into Isle of Wight County Court [Isle of Wight Co., VA Will Book 4, p. 237].

4.	vi.		RALPH MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700.
	vii.		MARY MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700; m. ? THORPE.
	viii.		SARAH MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700; m. GILBERT MACKENNY.

Notes for SARAH MATTHEWS: SARAH MATTHEWS. She married first GILBERT MAC KENNY, whose estate was appraised by Timothy Thorpe, Henry Rose, and James Jones, and returned by SARAH MAC KENNY on July 10, 1746 [Isle of Wight Co., VA Will Book 5,p.26]. It is highly probable that she married secondly, SOLOMON STEVENSON, Sr. (her deceased sister's husband) prior to August 31, 1750 [Southampton  Co., VA Will Book 1, p. 109].

ix.

MARTHA MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700; m. SOLOMON NEWSOM.

Notes for MARTHA MATTHEWS: MARTHA MATTHEWS. She married SOLOMON NEWSOM, son of Thomas Newsom  and Elizabeth (Crafford) Newsom. SOLOMON NEWSOM and his wife had a real estate conveyance in Isle of Wight County, VA on April 22, 1746. They removed to Brunswick Co., VA as early as 1752, and to Wilkes Co., Georgia by 1777. An inventory of his estate was taken in Wilkes County, Georgia on Dec. 4, 1795 ["The Newsom Family" by B. C. Holtzclaw, in "Genealogies of Virginia Families," Volume 4, p. 518].

x.

HESTER MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700; m. WILLIAM JOHNSTON.

Notes for HESTER MATTHEWS: HESTER MATTHEWS. She married WILLIAM JOHNSTON, son of Benjamin and Mary Johnston of Isle of Wight County, VA. On May 10, 1752, he sold JOSEPH MATTHEWS 150 acres on Fork Branch in Southampton County [Deed Book 1, p. 328]. On May 11, 1787, WILLIAM and [H]ESTER JOHNSON of Wilkes Co., Georgia sold Jesse Cooper 75 acres south of Three Creeks in Southampton County, VA. They sold James Porch 50 acres on Gum Branch and George's Branch in Southampton Co., VA on May 18, 1787 [Deed Book 7, p. 440; Deed Book 8, p. 10].

xi.

PATIENCE MATTHEWS, b. Abt. 1700; m. HENRY JOHNSON.

Notes for PATIENCE MATTHEWS: PATIENCE MATTHEWS. She married HENRY JOHNSON, son of James Johnson, Jr. and his wife Rebecca (Darden) Johnson ["Johnstons of Currawaugh" by Eddis Johnson and Hugh Buckner Johnston, 1979, p. 77].

xii.

JOSEPH MATTHEWS, b. Bet. 1710 - 1715; m. ELIZABETH STEVENSON.

Notes for JOSEPH MATTHEWS: JOSEPH MATTHEWS. He was born about 1710-15, and married ELIZABETH, perhaps the daughter of JOHN STEVENSON and CATHERINE WIGGS. On Oct. 15, 1753, he sold 150 acres on the South side of Three Creeks to John Brewer [Southampton County, VA Deed Book 2, p. 7]. He and his family were residing in Edgecombe Co., NC prior to July 13, 1764, when he conveyed two tracts of 275 acres and 691 acres on the North side of Swift Creek to Isaac Hilliard [Edgecombe Co., NC Deed Book C, pp. 296, 297]. He removed to old Cumberland County (now Harnett County) after 1771. His will was probated in Cumberland County in January, 1791.