John W Matthews (1796 - 1868)

Born 1796 in Laurens, South Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1868 at about age 72 in Hopkins County, Texas

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Biography

2 sources on Ancestry.com

John W. Matthews John was born 1796, in Laurens Co., SC; he married Sarah (--?--); John died after 1868. John W. Matthews was a probable son of Joseph and Pennina Matthews. He, along with a Joseph Matthews, "Jr." appear in early Madison County, Alabama records. The 1809 census of that county reveals that Joseph C. Matthews had 4 sons. His brother, Walter Matthews also had 4 sons. In all probability, John W. was the son of one and Joseph, "Jr." the son of the other. Both appear as witnesses in various early deeds affecting the elder Matthews brothers. Joseph, Walter, John W. and Joseph, "Jr." are all enumerated together in the 1820 census. None of these records clearly identify John W. Matthews as a son of Joseph or Walter.

Yet, the Joseph, "Jr." does not seem to fit with the Joseph C. Matthew s clan. When they moved on to Tennessee, the younger Matthews remained in Alabama and even settled in Marion County, as did Walter. Recent research suggests the inclusion of a daughter of Walter Matthews, Kesiah Matthews Burleson. Her descendants have records of her brother, John Matthews . This brother was born in 1813, however, after the 1809 census. If indeed Kesiah and John were children of Walter, then John W. Matthews could not be. John W. Matthews did live in Gibson County, Tennessee--if only briefly. The Joseph C . Matthews clan lived there before their 1835 immigration to Texas. John W. Matthews did not come to Texas with them, apparently moving back to Lauderdale County, Alabama. But about 1839, he did move to Texas, and by the mid 1840s, is living in Hopkins County, Texas, amid the Joseph C. Matthews family. In time, he settled in the far southwestern corner of the county, away from many of the other Matthews. Yet, his name appears in several legal documents associated with the Joseph C. Matthews extended family. John W. Matthews served as a in the War of 1812. John W. Matthews was listed in Madison County, Alabama records as early as 1814, when he witnessed a deed from Joseph Matthews to William Neighbors. He witnessed another deed from Joseph Matthews to John Albright in 1815.

By 1820, he was living in Lawrence County, next to Walter Matthews, Joseph Matthews , Sr. and Joseph Matthews, Jr.. Apparently recently married, the couple had no children. By 1830, Matthews was residing in Lauderdale County, Alabama, with one son and daughter. There, in 1832 , he entered into a partnership with his cousin James E. Matthews in a sawmill venture. Matthews apparently also lived in Gibson County, Tennessee for a while. He was still in Lauderdale County as late as 1838, but may have moved into neighboring Tishomingo County, Mississippi by 1839, as son Joseph was reportedly born in that state. By late 1839, the John W. Matthews family had relocated to Red River County, Texas. He probably came with cousin Robert Lowrie Matthews and others who left Tishomingo County after November 1st, and arrived in Texas prior to December 20th of that year.

Matthews eventually settled in Hopkins County, but perhaps not particularly close to the Joseph Matthews clan. He and sons, Franklin and William, appear on the tax rolls of Hopkins County from the very beginning in 1846. Yet, John W. Matthews' land situation is not identifiable until 1850. The record that year lists 177.5 acres purchased from M. W. Matthew s and 640 acres from D. McDonald. Additionally, he had the 160 acres of his deceased son, William H. Matthews, in Titus County.

In early 1850, Matthews conveyed to his daughter, Mary Matthews Box, a gift of 200 acres. This deed was notarized by M. W. Matthews. In 1853, he advertised in the "Clarksville Standard" for the a lost head right certificate for 1/3 of a league of land that he obtained from Wilson E. Ewing, administrator of the Estate of Randolph DeSpain, deceased. Early in 1854 , John W. Matthews was appointed as one of 3 commissioners, along with M. W. Matthews and A . S. Gray, to divide the estate of Amos C. C. Bailey. A daughter married a Ewing, but the exact connection is unclear. John W. Matthews apparently died after May 1868, but before the 1870 census, probably in Hopkins County, Texas. In May 1868, he applied for the remaining 32 0 acres due him out of his Third Class Land Certificate (arrival in Texas between October 1, 1837 and January 1, 1840). -- Terry Cowan , Bullard, TX

Sources

• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155774785/joseph-cromwell-matthews
• Ancestry.com