Esther (Worden) Matteson (1753 - 1840)

Born 19 Apr 1753 in Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Wife of John Matteson — married 17 May 1776 in Cheshire, Berkshire, Massachusetts

Descendants

Died 14 Jan 1840 at age 86 in Hoosick, Rensselaer, New York, United States

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Biography

Esther was born in 1753 to Peter Worden and Mary Moon in Warwick, Rhode Island.

In 1776, Esther married John Matteson in Cheshire, Massachusetts. After their marriage, they moved 30 miles north to Shaftsbury, Vermont. Their only child Lucina was born there in 1778.

In 1777, John participated in the Battle of Bennington, considered one of the most decisive battles of the Revolutionary War. In 1781, John served again in the Revolutionary War.

At some point, they moved to Manchester, Vermont.

By 1791 they were living in Hoosick, New York, where John operated a tavern and farmed. In 1794, their daughter Lucina married lathe-turning woodworker Abel Sperry. They lived in Hoosick where they had their first seven children. In about 1810, Lucina's family was about to move to a farm near Oswego when John and Esther arranged for Lucina's 8-year-old son Ira to remain in Hoosick. They wanted someone to care for them as they aged and the bargain was that Ira would inherit half their belongings in return.

John passed away in 1818 in Hoosick. Grandson Ira was 16 years old when he began caring for his grandmother. In 1823, Ira married Ann Case in Hoosick. By 1827, they had three children and Esther was becoming senile. Ira and his family moved to Auburn after he sold the homestead to neighbor Ambrose Mosely who agreed to care for Esther. Esther passed away in 1840. She and John are buried in the Noah Baker Cemetery in Hoosick.

Ancestry and Descendants of William Curtis of Marcellus, NY, by Lorissa E. Steele, 1912

John Matteson and Esther Worden

They had lived about a year [in Shaftsbury, Vt.] when he [John Matteson] rushed in one day, telling his wife to go to her sister’s about two miles away, “as the British are coming and I must go and fight.” Snatching his gun from the wall and gathering his ammunition, he hurried away to the camp, while his wife fell in a faint.

When she recovered, all by herself, she gathered a bundle of clothing, started out of the door and saw her father Elder Peter Worden coming on the old white faced mare, after her. She took her pot of pork and beans off the crane, set it on the hearth, raked up the coals, mounted behind her father and trotted to safety.

My grandmother said her mother plainly heard the firing all through the famous battle of Bennington. As an orator has said of it, “There was no beating of drums, no inspiring music, no dazzling uniforms, no martial array. They were simply a band of resolute, determined farmers armed, perhaps with rusty flintlocks, certainly in the crudest way, but also armed with determination to preserve their homes and independence.” History tells of their victory under the gallant Stark. After the battle was over, my gt. grandparents returned to their home and found the pot of pork and beans undisturbed.

My gt. grandfather adopted his grandson Ira Sperry when three years of age, to be a support for himself and wife, and bequeathed half his real estate as compensation.

Later, John Matteson removed to Hoosick, N.Y., where he owned a farm and kept a tavern. Here he died between Mar. 10, date of will, and Mar. 25, 1818, date of proving same. A copy follows:

I John Matteson of Hoosick in the County of Rensselaer and State of New York being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same do make & publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say:

First, My will and desire is that my wife Esther Matteson, should have the use of one third part of all the real estate that she and I possessed at the time of my death during her natural life.

I also give and bequeath unto her the said Esther Matteson the one third part of my personal estate.

I also give and bequeath unto my grandson Peter W. Sperry eight sheep or the value thereof.

I also give and bequeath unto Hezekiah A. Matteson son of Polly Matteson widow one cow or the value thereof.

I also give and devise unto my grandson Ira Sperry & to his heirs & assigns forever the one-half of all my real estate and as to the remainder of my real estate I give and devise the same unto my four other grandsons namely John M. Sperry, Peter W. Sperry, Abel Sperry [Jr.] and Rufus A. Sperry and to their heirs and assigns forever to be equally divided between then, and as to all the rest residue and remainder of my personal estate

I give and bequeath the same to my daughter Lucina Sperry and her three daughters Esther Sperry, Lucina Sperry and Polly Sperry to be equally divided between them.

And lastly I hereby appoint Ambrose Mosely sole executor to this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me made rattifying this & this only to be my last will and Testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 10th day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & eighteen.

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above John Matteson to be his last will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator.

Jirah Baker his Benjamin Herrington John X Matteson Jeptha Mosely mark

After Ira’s marriage, the bustling cares of a growing family wearied the invalid grandmother, and a compromise was effected about 1827; Ira taking his portion and removing to near Auburn, N.Y., and Ambrose Mosely, said to be a relative, assumed care of the grandmother till her death about 1840.

1800 Federal Census in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York:

• John Matteson is head of household consisting of 5 total white persons
• 1 Free white males under 10 [they didn't have a son so this must be a relative]
• 1 Free white male 10 thru under 16 [they didn't have a son so this must be a farm laborer]
• 1 Free white male 45 and older [John 46]
• 1 Free white female 10 thru under 16 [must be a house helper]
• 1 Free white female 26 thru under 45 [Esther 47]
• They are living next door to son-in-law Abel Sperry's family

1810 Federal Census in Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York:

• John Matteson is head of household consisting of 4 total white persons
• 1 Free white male 16 thru under 26 [they didn't have a son so this must be a farm laborer]
• 1 Free white male 45 and older [John 56]
• 1 Free white female 16 thru under 26 [daughter Lucina was already married to Abel Sperry so this must be a house helper]
• 1 Free white female 45 and older [Esther 57]
• They are living next door to the Levi Matteson family

Sources

• 1753 Rhode Island Births [1]
• 1800 Federal Census [2]
• 1810 Federal Census [3]
• Noah Baker Cemetery, Hoosick, Rensselaer County, New York, USA Find A Grave: Memorial #144741639