Mary (Matthews) Elder (abt. 1740 - aft. 1800)

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile managers: L Adcox [send private message] and Andrew Gallant [send private message]

BIRTH

Birth: between 1731-1748, based on the following:

1) Born on/after 1731, assume Mary is same age or younger than husband

2) Born on/before 1748, based on age 13+ at birth of child Joshua(b.1761)

Birth average = 1740

Note: A better birth estimate may be determined by researching Mary's father and siblings

DEATH

Death: after 1800, based on Mary mentioned in her husband's Will dated 1800.

This is the last reference where Mary is found.

MARRIAGE

Joseph Elder and Mary Mathews were married about 1760, based on birth of 1st child Joshua Elder (born about 1761)

Note: Joseph Elder and Mary were first listed together on a 1762 land purchase.

PARENTAGE

Mary Matthews, assumed daughter of Samuel Matthews and Ann

Comments by Bob Elder (from a website that no longer exists):

Some researchers (e.g. Shannon Elder) say that Mary Elder was born Mary Mathews and was sister to General George Mathews, but there is evidence that seems to contradict this. John Mathews of Augusta County, Virginia, father of the General, had children John, Joshua, Richard, Sampson, George, Archer, William, Jane, Anna, Rachel and Elizabeth [Waddell, Annals of Augusta County, Virginia, 1726-1871, pages 309-311]. John Mathews' will dated 20 Apr 1757 doesn't mention a daughter Mary.

It appears probable that Mary Elder was indeed a Matthews, but daughter of Samuel and Ann Matthews of Dinwiddie County, Virginia. Samuel Matthews’ 1754 will named wife Ann and children John, Mary, William and Elizabeth.

Note: Bob Elder continues with a list of reasons explaining why Mary is the probable daughter of Samuel Matthews.

CHILDREN

Mary's husband Joseph Elder mentioned these children in his will:

Joshua Elder
David Elder
James Elder
John Elder
Polly (Mary) Elder
Betsy (Elizabeth) Elder
Jeremiah Elder

Nancy is also a confirmed daughter via Joseph's consent on Nancy's marriage record. Nancy died before his Will, but Nancy's daughter Winnifret Biggs is in the Will.

Note: the order of children listed in his Will may imply the birth order of children.

LAND TRANSACTIONS

The following Deeds were abstracted by Bob Elder.

1762 Deed Abstract: Joseph & Mary Elder, land sale:

Deed Book 6, Brunswick County, Virginia, pages 171-173;

Microfilm Reel 4 (Brunswick County, Virginia) – Library of Virginia

Grantor: Joseph Elder and Mary his wife of Dinwiddie County

Grantee: Richard Littlepage of the same county

Date: 23 August 1762

Terms: 25 pounds current money of Virginia

Description: 150 acres in the County of Brunswick; beginning at Richard Berry’s line thence along Berry’s line to Benjamin Jones’ line at a corner thence from Benjamin Jones’ corner to Henry Parrish’s line thence along Parrish’s line to John Lambart’s line across a larger tract of land out of which the above 150 acres of land is to be laid off to Nicholas Lewis’ line thence to the beginning

Witnesses: Wood Tucker, Charles Clayton, and John Short

Signatures: Signed and Sealed by Joseph Elder and Mary Elder (no marks indicated)

1764 Deed Abstract: Joseph & Mary Elder, land sale:

Deed Book 7, Brunswick County, Virginia, pages 483-484;

Microfilm Reel 4 (Brunswick County, Virginia) – Library of Virginia

Grantor: Joseph Elder and Mary his wife of Brunswick County, and Richard Littlepage and Elizabeth his wife of Dinwiddie County

Grantee: John Lamberth and Jesse Jones of Brunswick county

Date: 25 June 1764

Terms: 26 pounds 5 shillings and 6 pence current money of Virginia, “also for diverse other good causes and considerations”

Description: 150 acres of land in the County of Brunswick; beginning on Chamberlayn’s patent line on a branch the upper side of the said Elder’s plantation thence up the said branch to the fork thence up the east fork to the head thence by a line of marked trees to Centell’s line thence up Centell’s ? several courses to a corner pine thence up the said line to a corner white oak thence by a line of marked trees including part of the land in Henry Parrish’s patent to a corner white oak joyning of Lamberth’s Hickory Run land thence up Lamberth’s line to Centell’s patent line to Black Jack corner thence along Centell’s patent line to the dividing line of Centell and Swanson thence along the said line to Samuel Chamberlayn’s patent line thence down the said line to the beginning; including 153 (sic) acres more or less with all buildings, gardens, orchards and other improvements

Witnesses: Lwelling Jones, Hukey Williams, and William Averis

Signatures: Signed and Sealed by Joseph Elder and Mary Elder (mark +) and Richard Littlepage

1787: Deed Abstract: Joseph & Mary Elder, land sale:

Deed Book 14, 1780–1790, Brunswick County, Virginia, pages 320–321;

Microfilm Reel 8 (Brunswick County, Virginia) – Library of Virginia

Grantor: Joseph Elder and Mary his wife of Brunswick County

Grantee: Joshua Lucy of the same county

Date: 3 August 1787

Terms: 50 pounds current money of Virginia

Description: 122 acres in the County of Brunswick; “beginning at a pine on Mary Walker’s line, on the great branch, thence along the said Walker’s line to a corner hickory, thence along the said Walker’s line to a corner sweetgum on Fisher’s line, thence along the said Fisher’s line, to the great branch, thence along the great branch to the said pine began at.”

Witnesses: John Judd, Joseph Fisher, and Joshua Hightower

Signatures: Signed and Sealed by Joseph Elder and Mary Elder (her mark X)

Date Recorded: 22 October 1787

1787: Deed Abstract: Joseph & Mary Elder, land sale:

Deed Book 14, 1780–1790, Brunswick County, Virginia, pages 318–320;

Microfilm Reel 8 (Brunswick County, Virginia) – Library of Virginia

Grantor: Joseph Elder and Mary his wife of Brunswick County and St. Andrew Parish

Grantee: Joseph Lyell of the same county and parish

Date: 22 October 1787

Terms: 50 pounds current money of Virginia

Description: 50 acres in the County of Brunswick; “beginning at a corner red oak of Benjamin Jones’s, Rolley Hightower’s and Samuel Dameron’s, thence along the said Dameron’s and Joseph Lyell’s lines to Thomas Ball’s corner on a branch, thence up the same as it meanders to the said Ball’s corner, thence along Samuel Senter’s line to a large willow oak in a branch, thence to the beginning.”

Witnesses: Thomas Gholson (?), Isaac Hicks, and Joshua Lucy

Signatures: Signed and Sealed by Joseph Elder and Mary Elder

Date Recorded: 22 October 1787

Note: additional land transactions without Mary are in the profile of husband Joseph Elder.

HUSBAND

Mary is mentioned in her husband's will.

Joseph Elder Will

Campbell County, Virginia, Will Book 2, pages 1-2

dated 16 Jan 1800, proved 8 Sep 1800

Elder’s Will

In the Name of God Amen. I Joseph Elder of the County of Campbell being sick but perfect sound sense and memory thanks be to God for the same do make and appoint this to be my last will and Testament. Item I give and bequeath my soul to almighty God who gave it to me and my body to be buried in decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named. Item I give and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Elder my whole and sole estate during her natural life and after her decease to be equally divided among my children viz Joshua and David and James and John and Polly and Betsy and Jeremiah Elder after giving five pounds to my granddaughter Winnifret Biggs. I appoint my wife and my son John Elder Executors of this my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this sixteenth day of January one thousand eight hundred.

Test: James Hancks Senr James Hanks Junr

Signed: Joseph Elder [his X mark]

At a Court Held for Campbell County September 8th 1800
The within Last will and testament of Joseph Elder Deceased was proved by the oath of James Hanks Senr and James Hanks Junr witnesses whose names are thereunto subscribed and ordered to be Recorded. And on the motion of John Elder the Executor in the said Will named who made oath thereto according to Law certificate is granted him for obtaining probate thereof in due form giving security whereupon he together with John Morris his security entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of one thousand Dollars conditioned as the Law directs for the said Executor due and faithfull administration of the said decedents Estate and performance of his will, Liberty being reserved the Executrix in the said will named to Join in the probate thereof when she shall think fit.

Teste: R. Alexander C. C. C.

Sources