Genealogy
Research Associates, Inc.
Tricia
Hammond, BA Genealogy, Research Director
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Lake City, Utah 84111
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Research Helping people trace, compile, and publish
their family histories.
Preservation
June 9, 1999
Lynn Hopewell
82 Erin Drive
Warrenton, VA 20186
RE: Research
on Lodowick Mathews of Gates, NC and Norfolk, VA
Dear Mr. Hopewell:
This research period focused on the remaining research steps towards identifying the parents and origins of Lodowick Matthews of Gates County, North Carolina and Norfolk County, Virginia. The bulk of this research was devoted to abstracting the tax lists of Gates County in order to outline the Matthews families in this county beginning in 1789. We felt this to be the most important remaining research step towards your ultimate goal.
Nansemond County,
Virginia Records
We began this research period in the records of Nansemond County, Virginia. During the last research period, we located an 1810 Census Supplement which referenced a Lodowick Matthews in Nansemond County. We conducted further research in the records of this county in an attempt to locate additional records on Lodowick Matthews which might direct us to his family and origins.
Further examination of the 1810 Census Supplement verified that it was compiled from tax lists for the year 1815. While this is not as early as we had hoped, it is still two years earlier to his appearance in the 1817 Tax List for Norfolk County, and suggests that he may have had family in Nansemond County, or he may have lived there prior to living in Norfolk.
We consulted cemetery records, parish vestry book records, newspaper accounts, county histories, and the land tax lists for Nansemond County. Only the land tax lists contained any potential Matthews references. We searched these lists beginning in the year 1802, looking for Lodowick's first appearance in the records. In 1802, a William Matthews was listed with 114 acres. In 1803, an Anthony Matthews joined William in the lists with 125 acres. Both William and Anthony continued to appear through 1812 as the only Matthews in the tax lists. We did not continue searching after this point, as we know that Lodowick appeared only three years later.
The Anthony Matthews in Nansemond is likely the same Anthony Matthews who appeared in a land transaction in Gates County, North Carolina in 1801. He purchased land from Demsey Parker, identified as "Anthony Mathews of Nansemond Co." There were two Anthony Matthews listed in Gates County tax lists as "Anthony Sr." and "Anthony Jr.", but after 1802, there is only one Anthony listed. Thus, the Anthony in Nansemond County is probably the same as Anthony Jr. of Gates County, and would have been Lodowick's brother. If this is the case, the Lodowick who appeared in the 1810 (1815) census supplement would more likely be the older Lodowick. This would explain his disappearance from the Gates County tax lists after 1815.
Interestingly, in the 1810 census supplement for Nansemond (1815), there was also a Samuel and a James Matthews who were listed in this county. Given that our Lodowick was the "son of James," we wonder if this might be the father of Lodowick. If so, this Samuel Matthews was probably another close relation that could be traced in records to learn more about Lodowick.
Norfolk County,
Virginia Records
Research continued in the records of Norfolk County, Virginia to complete searches of the most pertinent records of that county as they related to this search. We first searched four additional marriage record sources, all of which were duplicated in at least one other source. The Index to Marriage Bonds, 1706‑1828 appeared to be the most complete of these sources, so we copied all Matthews entries for your records. We were interested to learn which Matthews married in Norfolk County, as well as maiden names of their wives to determine whether there was any pattern of intermarriage among any particular family/ies. We did note with particular interest the James Matthews who married Mrs. Anne Porter in 1785. Her name and their year of marriage offers some potential for further investigation (document 1).
In the index to deeds, we noted numerous references to James Matthews, the first of which was recorded as "James," and the remainder of which were recorded as "James S." James S. made his will in 1819. In the will, he named only one daughter, Sally Wilson (wife of John Wilson). We can't be sure that this is the same as the first "James" Matthews recorded in the index. Rather, the first James may be a different James who moved from Norfolk County (to Gates, NC?) shortly after the recorded transaction. Because the other entries were consistently recorded as "James S." (And once as "James Slaughter Matthews"), it appears that some distinction was intended. The entry for the first James was made in 1782, and named his wife "Sarah." The entries for James S. named a wife, Ann. This would be the James Matthews who married Anne Porter in 1785.
In our review of Norfolk County histories, we noted one reference to a James Mathews who helped to build the courthouse in the town of Washington in 1790 (document 2), as well as the record of a will for an Ann Matthews in 1822 who named no family members and gave all of her estate "to the benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church." This would be reasonable for a woman with only one daughter (Sally Wilson, named in the will of James S. Matthews). Additional searches of probate records and guardianship records for Norfolk County did not reveal any further information towards the distinction between the two James', if any. However, considering that Lodowick first appeared in the tax lists for Norfolk County in 1817, and then disappeared, only to be found in Gates County one year later (see tax lists abstracts, this report), it would seem that he had originated in Norfolk County, where his parents would have lived. The fact that this "first" James did not appear again in the deed indexes somewhat conflicts with the theory.
Gates County, North Carolina
Tax Lists
Assuming that Lodowick truly was the "son of James," as we suspect, we continued our research efforts to further identify James in the tax records of Gates County, North Carolina, if he lived there at some time. Previously, the tax lists for Norfolk County, Virginia were extracted and then compared with the extracts made by an earlier researcher for Lodowick in Gates County, North Carolina. However, these notes did not include notations for other Mathews, which is necessary in order to determine which Mathews were in Gates County during specific time periods. Identification of tax districts for each individual might also help to distinguish between separate families of the same name and identify which family Lodowick was directly related to.
We
searched the Gates County tax lists for the period 1784‑1835 for all
Matthews. The following abstract reflects the names, acreage, and tax district
for each individual:
GATES COUNTY, NC TAX LISTS FOR "MATTHEWS", 1789‑1833
1789
William 50 Benton
Anthony 202 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
Bond ‑ ‑
James ‑ ‑
1790
Andrew ‑ Sumner
Anthony 202 Harris
Anthony 35 "
James 150 Benton
William 50 "
1791
James 150 Benton
William 50 "
Anthony 35 Harris
Andrew ‑ "
1792
Anthony Jr 35 Harris
William 50 Benton
James 150 "
Anthony Sr 202 "
1793
Andrew ‑ Sumner
Anthony Sr 202 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
William 50 Benton
William Jr ‑ "
1794
Andrew ‑ Sumner
Anthony 202 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
Easther 4 "
William Jr 75 Benton
1795
William Sr 50 Benton
William Jr 75 "
Andrew 60 "
Clement 25 "
Anthony Sr 202 "
Anthony Jr 35 Harris
1796
Anthony Sr 200 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
William Sr 50 Benton
William Jr 75 "
Clement 25 "
Andrew 60 "
1797
William Sr 50 Benton
Andrew 60 "
Clement W. 25 "
William Jr 75 "
Anthony Sr 202 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
1798
Clement Wright? 25 Benton
Andrew 60 "
William Sr 50 "
William Jr 75 "
Anthony Sr 145 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
1799
Clement W 25 Benton
Andrew 60 "
Matthew ‑ "
William 50 "
William Jr 75 "
Anthony Sr 145 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
1800
Anthony Sr 225 Harris
Anthony Jr 35 "
Andrew 60 Benton
William Sr 50 "
Clement W 25 "
William Jr 75 "
Matthew 67 "
1801
Anthony 310 Baker
William Jr 75 Parker
Andrew 60 "
Clement W 25 "
Matthew 67 "
1802
Anthony Sr 465 Sumner
Anthony Jr 10 "
John 2 "
Andrew 60 Parker
Clement W 25 "
Matthew 67 "
William Jr 75 "
1803
Anthony Sr 405 Sumner
John 2 "
Andrew 60 Parker
Clement W 25 "
David 50 "
Matthew 67 "
William 75 "
1804
Anthony 430 Sumner
John 2 "
Andrew 60 Parker
Clement 25 "
Etheldred 50 "
Matthew 70 "
William 75 "
1805
Etheldred 50 Rogers
Andrew 60 "
Clement 25 "
Matthew 70 "
William 75 "
Anthony 535 Sumner
John 102 "
1806
Anthony 255 Sumner
John 102 "
James 471/2 "
William ‑ "
Andrew 60 Parker
Riddick 180 "
Clement 25 "
William 75 "
Etheledred 50 "
Matthew 70 "
1807
Anthony 250 Sumner
John 102 "
Lodowick 100 "
Clement W 25 Rogers
William 75 "
Matthew 70 "
Etheldred 50 "
Andrew 60 "
1808
William 300 Smith
Lodowick 185 "
Etheldred 78 "
Riddick 67 "
John 126 "
Clement W 25 Rogers
Matthew 70 "
Andrew 60 "
William 75 "
1809
Riddick 67 Smith
Lodowick 73 "
John 141 "
Etheldred 78 "
William 53 "
Matthew 70 Benton
Andrew 60 "
Clement W 25 "
William 75 "
1810
Riddick 67 Smith
Henry T 112 "
Lodowick 73 "
Etheldred 78 "
do for Anthony Mathews, Orphd 214 Smith
John 208 "
William 75 Benton
Clement W 25 "
Andrew 47 "
Matthew 70 "
William, s of A 53"
1811
Etheldred 78 Smith
Anthony, orph'd 214 "
Lodowick 73 "
Riddick 67 "
John 268 "
William 53 "
Clement W ‑ Benton
Andrew 47 "
Matthew 70 "
William 75 "
1812
Lodowick 73 Smith
Etheldred 76 "
do for Esther 214 "
William 55 "
Riddick 67 "
John 208 "
William 75 Morgan
Andrew 47 "
Matthew 70 "
Clement ‑ "
1813
Clement W ‑ Knight
John 208 Smith
William 55 "
Lodowick 73 "
Riddick 67 "
Etheldred 76 "
A. Matthews, orphd 214 "
Andrew 47 Morgan
William 75 "
Matthew 47 "
1814
Etheldred 76 Smith
do for Esther 214 "
Riddick 47 "
William 55 "
Lodowick 73 "
John 208 "
Matthew 47 Morgan
Andrew 47 "
William 75 "
1815
R. Clement ‑ Powell
Etheldred 96 Smith
do for Esther 214 "
William 56 "
Riddick 47 "
John 208 "
David ‑ "
Lodowick 73 "
Mathias 47 Morgan
Andrew 47 "
William 75 "
1816
R. Clement ‑ Powell
David ‑ Smith
John 242 "
Etheldred 95 "
do for Esther 214 "
Riddick 47 "
William 3 "
Andrew 47 Morgan
William 75 "
William Jr ‑ "
Matthew 47 "
1817
Clement W ‑ Ballard
David ‑ Matthews
Riddick 47 "
Etheldred 95 "
do for Esther 214 "
William 50 "
John 292 "
Timothy ‑ Morgan
Andrew 47, 200 "
John D ‑ "
William Sr 75,300 "
1818
Clement W ‑ Ballard
William 57,275 Mathews
Etheldred 27,108 "
do for Esther 214,300 "
Lodowick of James "
John 208,675 "
Riddick 47,235 "
John D ‑ Morgan
Andrew 47,200 "
Timothy ‑ "
William of Win "
Whitmel ‑ "
William Sr 75,300 "
1819
William A 51,275 Matthews
Riddick 50,235 "
Etheldred 95,380 "
do for Esther 50,100 "
John 383,1400 "
Lodowick ‑ "
John D ‑ Riddick
Andrew 471/2,200 "
William of Wm "
Timothy ‑ "
Whitmell ‑ "
William Sr 78,300 "
1820
John 208,693 Matthews
Riddick 50,235 "
Wiliam A 41, 275 "
Etheldred 97,280 "
Esther 50, 250 "
John D ‑ Riddick
Andrew 47, 200 "
Lodowick ‑ "
Whitmel ‑ "
Timothy ‑ "
William Sr 75, 320 "
William Jr ‑ "
1821‑1822
Lodowick ‑ Matthews
all same
1823
Riddick 50, 235 Matthews
William A 3, 75 "
Etheldred 404, 750 "
John 357, 800 "
Lodowick ‑ "
John Jr 54, 160 "
John D ‑ Riddick
Henrey/Nancey? 48,200 Riddick
James ‑ "
William 75, 320 "
Whitmel ‑ "
Cyprien ‑ "
1824
Etheldred 80 Ballard
do for estate of Jethro Benton 437, 500 Ballard
do for Sumner & Matthews 307, 250 "
Riddick 50, 500 Matthews
John of James 54, 150 "
Lodowick ‑ "
James ‑ "
John, Col. 385, 911 "
John & Smith, Richard Lot 1, 525 Matthews
William A 83, 415 "
William 75, 300 Morgan
James 171/2, 26 "
Whitmell ‑ "
John D. ‑ "
Pyprian ‑ "
1825
Etheldred 307, 250 Ballard
do for Jethro Bentons heirs 437, 500 Ballard
James ‑ "
Jethro P ‑ Matthews
Riddick 125, 525 "
John 409, 1031 "
William A 83, 290 "
Lodowick ‑ "
Whitmell ‑ Morgan
Ann 47 1/2, 200 "
James 171/2 , 26 "
William 75, 230 "
John D ‑ "
1826
Etheldred 337, 350 Ballard
do for Jethro Benton heirs 437, 500 Ballard
Riddick 125, 500 Matthews
Jethro ‑ "
William A 83, 290 "
Lodowick ‑ "
John 520, 1560 "
do 1 lot, 520 "
James 17 1/2, 26 Morgan
Ann 47 1/2, 200 "
William 75, 320 "
Brian ‑ "
Whitmel ‑ "
John D. ‑ "
1827
Andrew 148, 345 Ballard
Lodowick ‑ Rawls
Riddick 125, 500 "
Isaiah 108 "
John 420, 1560 "
William A 80, 250 "
Ann 471/2 , 200 Doughtrie
James 17 1/z , 26 "
William 75, 320 "
Brian ‑ "
Whitmel ‑ "
John D ‑ "
1828
Etheldred 310, 600 Ballard
do for Jethro Benton heirs, 300, 300 Ballard
Andrew P 148, 345 Ballard
John 506, 1560 Rawls
Isaiah 108, 324 "
do 1 lot, 525 "
William A 83, 290 "
Riddick 125, 500 "
Lodowick ‑ "
Ann 471/2 , 200 Doughtrie
William 75, 300 "
Brian ‑ "
Whitmel ‑ "
1829
Etheldred 123, 1200 Ballard
Jethro Benton heirs 300, 300 "
John ‑ Rawls
Lodowick ‑ "
Riddick 75, 300 "
John 650, 2034 "
William A 80, 250 "
William 75, 320 Doughtrie
Brian ‑ "
John D ‑ "
Whitmell ‑ Doughtrie
Ann 471/2 , 200 "
James 171/2 , 26 "
1830
Andrew P 148, 348 Ballard
Etheldred 130, 130 "
Jethro Benton heirs 300,300 "
John 650, 2034 Riddick, L.
Riddick 75, 300 "
William A 136, 578 "
William 75, 375 Riddick, W.
Bryan ‑ "
Ann 471/2 , 200 "
Lodowick ‑ "
James ‑ "
1831
Etheldred 307, 307 Ballard
" for his children
William A 136, 578 Riddick, L.
John 530, 1659 "
Anthony 120, 375 "
Riddick 75, 300 "
William 75, 375 Riddick, W
Bryant ‑ "
Ann 471/2 , 200 "
1832
Etheldred
" for his 2 sons 307, 307 Wiggins
Andrew P 148, 345 "
Riddick 75, 300 Pugh
William A 136, 578 "
John 531, 1659 "
Anthony 120, 375 "
William 75, 375 "
Bryant ‑ "
Jacob 471/2 , 200 "
1833
Etheldred (for his 2 sons) 307, 307Hofflen
Andrew P 62, 62 Hofflen
John 566, 3466 Pugh
Anthony 120, 375 "
Riddick 75, 300 "
William A 136, 578 "
Bryant ‑ Doughtrie
Jacob 471/2 , 200 "
William 75, 375 "
John D ‑ "
The following is an alphabetical list of those Matthews who appeared in the tax lists through the range searched, including the date of their first listing. You may wish to continue to identify the father of each in an effort to identify the families, and therefore the persons with whom both Lodowicks were listed:
Andrew 1790
Andrew P. 1828
Ann 1825
Anthony Sr. 1790
Anthony Jr. 1790
Brian/Bryant 1826
Clement 1795
David 1803
David 1815 (Son of Andrew, d. 1823)
Etheldred 1804 (Son of Anthony, d. 1807?)
Easther/Esther 1794
Henry T. 1810
Isaiah 1827
Jacob 1832 (Son of Andrew, d. 1823))
James 1 1789
James 2 1806
James 3? 1824 (Son of Andrew, d. 1823)
Jethro 1825
John 1802 (Son of Anthony, d. 1807?)
John 18‑ (Son of John W., d. 1833)
John, Col. 1824
John Jr. 1823
John D. 1817 (Son of Andrew, d. 1823?)
John (of James) 1824
Lodowick 1807
Lodowick (of James) 1818
Matthew 1799 (Son of John W., d. 1833)
C/Pyprian 1823
Riddick 1808
Timothy 1817
Whitmel 1818
William A. (son of A) 1810 (d. 1846)
William Sr. 1789
William Jr. 1793
Analysis
We can make some important observations from these tax lists. First, we know that there was a James Matthews in Gates County, at least as early as 1789. Because of the occasional cross‑over by certain individuals to different districts (including both Lodowicks), a close relationship between what appears to be two Matthews families is implied.
Those who appeared in the same tax district as Lodowick (1) included: Anthony, John, James, Etheldred, Riddick, Henry T. William, David and Easther.
Those who appeared in the same tax district as Lodowick, son of James, included: William A (son of A), Etheldred, Esther, John, John Jr., John of James, Col. John, Riddick, Jethro P., and Isaiah. In 1830, he was listed in the district with Ann, James, Bryan and William.
Lodowick, son of James, appeared consistently in the same tax district as the first Lodowick. This district also included Easter/Esther Matthews. It may be that this Esther is actually the same as Esther Pruden, who distributed part of her estate to Lodowick and his siblings in her will. The will was made in late 1823 and proved in1824. Esther Matthews was a widow as early as 1790 and could easily have remarried at some time during the next thirty years. We noticed that in a deed of gift from Esther Matthews to her son, James, in 1794, James Pruden was a witness (report 1, document 15.) We also noticed that Esther Matthews disappeared from the tax lists in 1822, only one year before Esther Pruden made her will. In her will, she did not list any daughter who married a Matthews (nor could we find any such marriage in the records of Gates County), yet she named these four Matthews as her grandchildren, dividing up the remainder of her estate among them.
Interestingly, for several years, Esther was listed under Etheldred, suggesting that he paid her land tax. This implies that Etheldred may have been her son, or perhaps a brother/brother‑in‑law. There may have been two Etheldreds, though the tax lists do not reflect this. We know that one Etheldred was the son of Anthony, as named in the probate records. We also know that an Easter Mathews was named in the same records as and heir, almost as if she were a child of Anthony Mathews. She may rather have been the wife of yet another of Anthony's sons who had deceased. Perhaps the James Matthews in the tax lists from 1789 to 1792 was actually another son of Anthony, and therefore a brother to Anthony, William, Etheldred, Riddick, Henry T., and John, and the wife of Easter. This would better explain why James disappears after 1792, and "Easther" appeared for the first time in 1794, and a number of years later with Etheldred. Such an entry was usually reserved for widows. Expanding the theory, this older James and Easther could have had a son, also named James, who married in 1790 or earlier, and immediately removed to Norfolk County. If James was a brother to Etheldred, the tax entry for an Etheldred Mathews later in Norfolk County would also make sense.
In court records previously searched, Lodowick, son of James, was associated with Riddick, James M., Timothy, Isaiah, John, Briant, William, and Jethro P. Matthews from 1818‑1828 (after the first Lodowick had disappeared from records). Nearly all of these men appeared in the tax lists within about a ten year range of Lodowick, and would therefore be of age to be his brothers. Of course, this is only speculation, but from a number of angles, the pieces seem as if they may be coming together.
Suggestions for
Continuing Research
It is tempting to continue this project simply out of curiosity, though what may rather be needed is further review and analysis of the documents gathered in this and previous research periods. This research period focused on covering as much remaining ground as possible for specific locality research in Gates County, North Carolina and in Norfolk and Nansemond Counties, Virginia. Remaining sources which have not been searched are of a secondary nature, though some court records and land entry/survey books have not yet been searched.
It was earlier suggested that perhaps additional clues might be found by conducting more intensive research on the children of Lodowick Matthews. While this may be so, the records searched during this research period were considered to be more directly relevant to the overall goal. This is not to eliminate the possibility of pursuing research on the children. You may still wish to conduct research from this angle.
Among the suggestions for continuing research in our first report, we noted the possibility of identifying Easther Matthews in earlier records to ultimately locate her marriage record (probably in Virginia) to identify her husband, and potentially his family. This still appears to be a strong handle for future research. We suggest that further investigation be made of Isle of Wight, Virginia records to this end. Marriage record compilations for the state of Virginia should also be consulted, and should include continued efforts to locate the marriage for Lodowick and Barbara.
Following, or in conjunction with the above research steps, we suggest a search of records held on the state level in North Carolina, as listed below. These records are generally held at the North Carolina State Archives (NCSA), the North Carolina State Library (NCSL), The Library at the University of 16 North Carolina in Chapel Hill (LUNC), the Perkins Library at Duke University (LDU) and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (FHL) (can be accessed through Family History Centers throughout the world.):
Cemetery Records, including major collections compiled by the DAR and WPA. Specific collections include:
North Carolina
Tombstone Records (3 vols.)
North Carolina
Gravestone Records (10 vols.)
Cemetery Records
of North Carolina (GSU, 8 vols.)
Master Card File Index to North Carolina Land Grants, 1679‑1959 (NCSA, FHL) should James or Lodowick have received an original grant from the state that was not recorded in the county register books.
North Carolina Wills, A Testator Index, 1665‑1900 (FHL); Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, 1760‑1800 (FHL). These have likely been searched at some point already and may not reveal anything, unless one of the Mathews we are seeking died outside of Gates County.
Gates County Historical Society, PO Box 98, Gates, NC 27937. May or may not reveal any new facts from queries with the society. They may have their own collections of records which have not been published or filmed.
Early Records of NC From Secretary of State Records, Wills and Probates, 1753‑94: Inventories and Sales of Estates, 1733‑98. These would include records beyond those the county kept. We would be interested to see whether there is any record for the earliest James Mathews.
Manuscript Collections‑ include miscellaneous original records of all types in the form of documents, letters, memoirs, notes, and papers ( reference books are available at NCSA, LUNG, LDU‑ if you find your ancestor referenced, you may write to the appropriate repository asking for details.) Important manuscript collection indexes and guides include:
NUCMC (National Union Catalog of
Manuscript Collections, and Index
to Personal
Names in the...‑ avialable at FHL and on CD);
Guide to Private Manuscript Collections in
NCSA; The Southern Historical
Collection: A
Guide to Manuscripts, and
Supplementary Guide to
Manuscripts
(University of North Carolina Library, Chapel Hill, NC);
Guide to the Catalogued Collections in the
Manuscript Department of the Perkins
Library, Duke
University;
Archival and Manuscript Repositories in North Carolina: A Directory (Society of NC
Archivists, Raleigh, NC)
Master Index of North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741‑1868
(NCSA, Raleigh, NC)
The American Genealogical Biographical Index (FHL, NCSA). Index to numerous biographies and histories as well as Revolutionary War records and the 1790 census.
This has been a productive research period towards identifying the parents and family of Lodowick, son of James Matthews. The records reviewed and extracted should allow for further elimination and connection of individuals and families. We hope that the suggestions for future research listed will offer even further evidence to either prove or disprove the theories posed in this report.
Tricia Hammond, BA Genealogy
Research, Analysis, Report
Jenny Hansen, BA Genealogy
Evaluation, Editing