Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-01
For the sPECTAToE
The Two Mathews Families.

been with one of them, you will be sur
prised to learn that there were two proml-
nent families of this name. John, the an
cestor of the one who came into ROckbridge
with the Borden emigrants at an early day
and married Mary Archer, was the head Of
the one of which Col. Sampson, and Gov.
George Mathews, and Mrs. Gen. Blackburn
were prominent members. VIM. Math-
ews, born in 1715 in Ireland, came here
in 1889, married Mary Wright, native of
Ireland, and who died in 1911, at the Stone
House, (Enos Silling's, below Parnassus, }
| inDhis 9Gth year, was the head of the other.
He had eleven children: Jane, born JAN
nary goth, 1853; Catherine, December 18th,
1854; Richard, April 9th, 1853, Joseph,
August 27th, 1850; James. October nth,
1854; Mary, May goth, 1867; William,
March 18th, 1859; Sampson, February 29d,
It'll; John, February 81, 1773; Elizabeth,
December, 29th, 1774; Margaret, April 7th,
IT'S.
Jane, the oldest, married Richard Rankin,
who owned large tract of land in Jen-
nings's Gap, and whose four daughters
were Mrs James A. Frazier, Mrs. VIM. G..
| Dudley, Mrs Cab. I. Hite, and Mrs. Reuben
G. Hite
| Catherine never married. Richard set
| tied at Abingdon, and his descendants are
in that region. Joseph lived in Augusta
and taught school. James married Miss
Gaines, and settled in Boone county, KY.
1t is not remembered who Mary married.
Wi uiam settled in Tennessee. Nothing is
rem, ,,mbered of Sampson. John married
daughter of Gen. Joseph Mcdowell, of
Burke county, West North Carolina, one
of the eroes of Kings Mountain. He was
the father of the late Rev. Joseph McDow-
ell Mathews, who established the large Fe-
male Academy al Hillsboro', O., and whose
first of three wives was the only daughter
of the late Andrew Barry, and of Caleb
and VIM. Mathews, of kentucky.
Elizabeth married Abner Gaines, of
Brown county, KY, and lett a large family.
John P. Gaines, one of her sons, was in
the war of 1912, and saw Tecumseh fall;
was also in the Mexican war, as Major
General, and afterwards Governor Of Ore
eon. Margaret married Peter Hanger, and
left two sons, one of whom, Peter, now
lives in Little Rock.
John Mathews built the Enos Silling
house much over a century ago.
James Mathews is the only one that it is
remembered was in the Revolutionary war;
His sister, Mrs. Gaines, Tecollected distinctly
as little girl going to a certain hill to meet
her brother James returning from the war
towards it's close. James often spoke OF
hearing Patrick Henry speak. and said that
Writ had not exaggerated the influence of
his eloouence in the Johnny Hook case.
He remembered that the Court was con-
vulsed with laughter, and the Clerk, Step
toe, running from the Courtroom and roll
ing on the grass in uncomfortable mirth.
Col. Sampson Mathews, it is not remem-
bered whom he married, the mother, as she
was, of Mrs. Samuel Clarke and Mrs. AL
exander Nelson, and Sampson, who re-
moved to Greerbrier, ard that he once
owned the old Alex. Nelson farm on Lewis
creek (Jacob Myers The ruins of his
house were visible fifty years ago, some
distance from the present brick house.
Gov. George Mathews, his brother, after
having large fumily, eight children, Mrs.
Gen. Blackburn, &C., married in his old
days Mrs. Reed, of Staunton; carried her
to Georgia, where she was anything else
than pleased; resigned in disgust, returned
to Staunton, and resumed her old name.
John Mathews, of Rockbridge, who mar
ried Mary Archer, and William who mar
ried Mary Wright, were both Of Ireland,
and whilst they supposed they were related,
it was never satisfactorily settled in what
way In 1927, the late Rev. Jos. Med.
Mathews, referred to, and John A. Trim
BILE, Esq, of New Vienna, Clinton county,
Ohio, brother in-law of George M. Coch-
ran of Staunton, spent night with
Gen. Samuel Blackburn at the Wilder
ness (Robert J. Glendy's.) They talked
over this matter, when Mrs, Blackburn said
to Mr.. Mathews that they were cousins.
The difficulty heretofore has been that his
tories have mixed them up, not knowing of
what they wrote. When Sampson Mathews
and his brother George settled in Staun-
ton, they were, in the course of time, looked
upon as of William Mtahews's family.
Doubts have been expressed of John Math-
ews having had more sons than Sampson
and George, yet there were certainly several
others. The Misses Lilley, of Hillsboro'
O., who are relatives, lately visited the
Mathewses of Louisiana, Georgia, and
Alabama, and seem very positive there
were but tw brothers, yet there is not a
shadow of doubt that John had six sons,
some say eight. John must have been older
than William, as his son, Gov. George,
commanded company of Augusta men at
Braddock's defeat His company belonged
to Col. Washipgton's Regiment, and his
brother Sampson was member of his
company, This was in 1855, whilst Will
liam Mathews's oldest son was born in 1853.
Those who lived s.sventy-fve years or more
ago, and had better. OPPORTUNITY to know,
think that John and William were cousins.
OF one thing, there is no doubt-both had
descendants, of whom they had no cause
| to be ashamed, and who made their i'm
preston ON the times in which they lived.
OLD MORTALITY.