Genealogy Research Associates, Inc.\

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Helping people trace, compile, and publish their family histories.

May 18, 2001

Lynn Hopewell

82 Erin Drive

Warrenton, VA 20186-2829

Summary Report on Lodowick Matthews

Dear Mr. Hopewell,

This research segment focused on Lodowick Matthews and his family connections. Research began with a thorough review of all previous research, by consulting past research reports on the client’s website. (See appendix A for summary of suggested research steps from previous reports.)

Henry Curtis

Information furnished by the client indicated that James W. Matthews was next of kin to Henry Curtis, in an assignment of rights in Curtis’s estate to Joseph N. Schoolfield on 15 Oct 1850. Further research was conducted in census records for Curtis. He was located in the 1820-1840 Norfolk County, Virginia, Censuses but not in 1850. We conjectured that perhaps Barbara Matthews and family may have been living with him in 1830 and 1840, but a re-check of previous census research showed the family of Lodowick Mathews (James W’s father) in Gates County, North Carolina in 1830, and the family of James W. Matthews in Norfolk County, Virginia in 1840.

None of the household of Henry Curtis has yet been identified. The relationship between James W. Matthews and Henry Curtis was not determined. However, it is likely that Henry was related to James through Barbara, as she was born in Norfolk County around 1794 and Henry had been living in Norfolk County since at least 1820.

Henry Curtis in Norfolk County, Virginia

Name	1820	1830	1840	comments
Henry Curtis	m 26-45	m 40-50	m 40-50	one in agriculture in 1820
female	f 26-45	f 30-40	f 30-40
male		male 5-10
male		m under 5
female		f under 5
male			m 5-10	if male <5 was under 1 in 1830 could be the same child as the male 5-10 in 1840

Name

1820

1830

1840

comments

Henry Curtis

m 26-45

m 40-50

one in agriculture in 1820

female

f 26-45

f 30-40

male

male 5-10

male

m under 5

female

f under 5

male

m 5-10

if male <5 was under 1 in 1830 could be the same child as the male 5-10 in 1840

Census Comparison on family of Lodowick/Barbara Matthews from previous research.

1820 Census 1830 Census 1840 Census

Gates Co., NC Gates Co., NC Portsmouth, VA

m 16-26 (Lodowick) m 30-40 (Lodowick)

f 26-45 (Barbara) f 30-40 (Barbara) f 40-50 (Barbara)

m <10 m 10-15

m <10 (James W) m 10-15 (James W) m 20-30 (James)

m <10

f 5-10 (Susan) f 15-20 (Susan)

m <5

f < 5 f 15-20 ?

f < 5

Isle of Wight County, Virginia Marriages.

Marriage records in several counties in both Virginia and North Carolina had previously been searched for the 1814 marriage of Lodowick Matthews and Barbary Smith. Isle of Wight County records were also checked for this marriage without success. It seems likely that their marriage record is no longer extant and the 9 March 1814 date from an old Smith bible record is the only record available. In this time period in North Carolina marriages took place by bond or by “”banns”. Many married by banns, i.e. through their local minister. Few church records exist for this time period. Most marriage records that exist were by bond, where the groom posted a bond in the county. The existing bond records have already been searched. There were no references to Lodowick Matthews, but there were two references to James Matthews in Isle of Wight:

p. 26 James Matthews married Ann Brantley (spinster) Bond 12 Dec 1788, surety Francis Young

p. 437 Ministers returns of marriages, 13 Dec 1788, James Matthews and Ann Brantley

Proposed Family of Lodowick Matthews

After review of material we propose the following:

1. Easter ? and ? Matthews had son James, Easter married 2) James Pruden

2. James & Sally ? Matthews had the following children: Lodowick, Mary, James and John

3. Lodowick married Barbara Smith in 1814

James Matthews bought 150 acres in Merry Hill Pocosin from William Walters in 1789 and sold it in 1795 to James Pruden. Esther Matthews bought 4 acres from Humphrey Hudgins and left the property she lived on by deed of gift to son James Matthews (no description, but easily could be the 4 acres purchased in 1790). In 1795, James Pruden’s acreage increased by 154 acres in the tax lists (fitting the 150 that James Matthews sold James Pruden and the 4 that Easter had just gift deeded her son James, effective after her death). This suggests that James Pruden and widow Easter Matthews married in 1795.

Tax lists showed that Lodowick Matthews, son of James, was first listed in tax records in 1818, suggesting he was born by 1797, and John Mathews, son of James, was first listed in tax records in 1824, suggesting he was born by 1803.

This suggests the family structure of James and Sally Matthews was the following: James born abt 1790, Mary born abt 1793, Lodowick born abt 1796, and John born abt 1802, probably all in Gates County.

James Pruden

We returned to the records of Gates County, North Carolina and searched the census, deed abstracts, wills, and tax records for James Pruden, husband of Easter Pruden who listed Matthews grandchildren in her will. James was located living in the same tax district as James Matthews from 1785 - 1824 (see Appendix C - tax abstracts for Pruden and Appendix D - rearranged tax lists for Matthews). Census abstracts 1790 - 1830 and deed abstracts 1776 - 1803 are shown in documents 1 and 2.

It is apparent from tax lists that James Pruden had at least three sons: Jacob, John, and Nathaniel. Jacob was of taxable age in 1798 (born before 1777) and received 150 acres from his father in 1799 (tax list comparison). John Pruden was of taxable age in 1802 (born before 1781) and received 150 acres from his father in 1804 (tax list comparison). Nathaniel began paying his father’s taxes in 1801 (born before 1787), and continued paying taxes for himself and his father, James, until 1815 - 1816 when he died. Nathaniel’s administrator, David Pruden, was only listed in the year 1816, and did not appear on any tax lists in Gates County, suggesting he lived elsewhere. David Pruden was called son in both James and Easter Pruden’s wills. Of the six males in James Pruden’s household in the 1790 census, only one remains unidentified, probably the eldest (the second male over 16 in the 1790 census).

Neither the tax records nor the census records indicate that James Matthews family lived with James Pruden.

Gates Tax Records Observations

Some family connections can be made through observations of the tax list. A thorough study of the deed records of Gates County for all Mathews entries may identify more familial relationships. Additional conclusions could also be drawn when the original tax lists are reviewed to abstract the taxables paid as well as the land taxes.

James Mathews

The first James Mathews appeared in Gates County records in 1789. From 1789 through 1792, James was taxed for 150 acres and then disappears from the tax lists. This is explained in the deed records where James bought 150 acres from Walker in 1789 and sells the same to James Pruden in 1795.

Easter Mathews was taxed for 4 acres in 1794, but also does not appear again. She purchased the land in 1790, and gave it to her son James by deed of gift in 1794, effective at her death. In 1795, James Pruden’s taxable lands increased by 154 acres (the 150 he purchased from James Matthews and the 4 Easter had given her son). This strongly suggests that Easter Mathews and James Pruden married in 1795.

Andrew Mathews

Andrew Mathews was first listed in Gates County in 1793. By 1795, he was being taxed for 60 acres, which continued until 1810, when the land was listed as 47 acres. And, by 1823, Nancy Mathews was taxed on the same lands (48 acres, worth $200). Ann (Nancy is the nickname) paid the tax through 1831. Jacob Mathews, the eldest son apparently, became 21 and took over paying the tax in 1832 (Jacob taxed on 47 ½ acres, worth $ 200). See will of Andrew Mathews in 1822, wife Ann, and children Jacob Absilley, David, John, James, Salley, and Milley.

Anthony Mathews

Anthony Mathews’ inventory was taken in 1807 by John and Ethelred Mathews, and his estate was divided in 1808. Anthony Mathews’ estate was divided 1808 among widow Treasy, John, Ethelred, William, Riddick, Lodowick, Henry Turner and Easter Matthews. Anthony Sr. was listed with 202 acres in 1789. He continued to pay tax on 202 acres through 1797. The next two years he paid tax on 147 acres. In 1800 Anthony paid tax on 245 acres. Acreage varied until 1808, when Anthony’s will was probated, when tax was being paid on 250 acres. Ethelred Mathews paid tax on 214 acres for Anthony’s heirs from 1810 through 1817 (variously described as A/Anthony Mathews orphans and Ester Mathews). In 1818, an additional 300 acres was added. Ethelred continued paying the tax on acreage for the orphans (50 acres, worth $100) until 1820.

John Mathews, son of Anthony, was probably the John first listed in the tax lists in 1802 with 2 acres, showing he was born by 1781. By 1805, John’s acreage increased to 102 acres. John continued to increase his holdings until 1833, when he had 566 acres.

Ethelred Mathews paid tax on 50 acres of land from 1804 (born about 1783), when he was first listed, until 1808, when his acreage changed to 78 acres. The additional 28 acres were probably part of his share of his father’s estate. Ethelred continued to accumulate lands until 1828 when he had 377 acres. In 1831 and 1832, he apparently was taxed only on 307 acres he held for his sons. Ethelred had a daughter Mary, and a wife named Ann (will of Mary Benton in 1828).

William Mathews was first listed in 1810 with 57 acres, and called son of A. (born by 1789). By 1819 this William was identified as William A. He continued to increase his holdings until he held 136 acres by 1833. William A. Mathews’ will was proved in 1845 listing children Seth, Penelope, Jesse, Median Johnson, Willie and Emeline.

Riddick Mathews was first listed in 1806 with 180 acres, born before 1785. From 1807 to 1813, Riddick was taxed for 67 acres. From 1814 to 1817, he was taxed for 47 acres. In 1818, Riddick obtained 235 acres. He maintained various acreage until 1833 (the last year taxes were abstracted).

Lodowick Mathews was first listed in 1807 with 100 acres (born before 1786), in 1808 he paid tax 185 acres, but from 1809 to 1815 he had only 73 acres taxed. In the deeds in 1809, Lodowick sold John Matthews 73 acres on S side of Middle Swamp, land that had been Anthony Mathews’ but then appears to continue to be taxed to Lodowick until 1815.

Easter Mathews was not listed in the tax lists under her own name, but was listed with Ethelred Matthews who paid taxes for her. Ethelred paid taxes for orphans of Anthony/Easter from 1810 through 1820. When the guardianship records were searched (see Appendix F), Easter was shown as a minor with Ethelred Matthews as her guardian. As Easter was listed last in Anthony Mathews’ will, she was either his youngest daughter or, since Ethelred paid tax for her until 1820, she could also easily be the daughter of the younger Anthony Matthews. The same lands were variously taxed under her name and under the name of the orphans of Anthony Mathews from 1810 until 1820. Reading the will (not just the abstract) may confirm the identity of Easter as the daughter of the younger Anthony.

Anthony Mathews Jr. was taxed for 35 acres from 1789 through 1800. In 1802, he was taxed for 10 acres and then disappeared from the Gates County tax lists. No Anthony was listed as a son of the older Anthony in 1808. Anthony Jr. likely died. Anthony Matthews Sr.’s land holdings varied in the period 1801-1807, and it is uncertain that Anthony Jr.’s 10 acres became part of Sr.’s estate.

William Mathews

Three William Mathews, besides William A (son of Andrew) lived in Gates County. The first William Mathews was taxed from 1789 to 1800 for 50 acres and was called William Mathews Sr. The second William Mathews was first listed in 1792, and from 1793 to 1817 was taxed on 75 acres. In 1817, the land was worth $300. This William apparently was last listed in Gates County in 1828. The third William Mathews (born by 1795) appeared on the land tax lists from 1816 to 1820 and was variously identified as William Jr or William son of William, indicating he probably was son of the second William Mathews.

Summary Time Line

date	name	information	source
1784	Esther Matthews	witness to deed of William Walters & Elizabeth, relict of James Bray Walters (son of William) for 50 acres on S side Mare Branch to John Bare of Nansemond County	Deeds Gates Co., 3 May 1784 (see abstracts p 29)
1789	James Matthews	bought 150 acres in Mery Hill Pecosin from William Walters (for $200), by Baker, Boice, Walters & Arnold.	Deeds 16 Apr 1789 (see abstracts p. 73)
1790	Easter Matthews	male under 16, female	census 1790 p. 326
1790	Easter Matthews	bought 4 acres by Smith & Speight from Hudgins	Deeds 10 Aug 1790 (see abstracts p. 87)
1790	James Matthews	male 16+, male under 16, female, 1 slave	census 1790 p. 335
~1790	James Mathews	suggested birth date for eldest grandson of Esther	young male in 1790 census
1790	James Pruden	2 males 16+, 4 males <16, 3 females	census 1790 p. 335, next to James Matthews
~1793	Mary Matthews	suggested birth date for gchild of Esther
1794	Easter to James	Easter deeds to son James, plantation where she lives, furniture, etc. after her death, witness: James Pruden	29 Dec 1794 (see abstracts p. 145)
1795	James & Sally Matthews	sell 150 acres at Mery Hill Pecosin to Jacob Pruden, by Brown, Boyce, Wm. Walters, & Arnold	Deeds 6 Feb 1795 (see abstracts p. 142)
~1796	Lodowick Matthews	suggested birth date for Lodowick, gch of Ester	tax lists, first listed 1818, 26+ in 1820 census.
1800	James Pruden	m 10-16, 2 males 16-26, male 45+, female 10-16, female 45+, 3 slaves	census 1800 p. 275
1800	Jacob Pruden	male 16-26, female under 10, female 16-26, 1 slave	census 1800, p. 275
~1802	John Matthews	suggested birth date for youngest gch of Easter	tax lists, first listed 1823
1802	James Matthews	witnessed deed of John Arnold to James Pruden for 8 acres on Gum branch	Deeds 15 Feb 1802 (see abstracts, p. 142)
1818	Lodowick Mathews	1^st listed in Gates Co., Tax Lists for 1 white poll	see tax lists
1820	John Pruden	male 10-16, male 16-18, 2 males 16-26, male 26-45, 3 females under 10, 2 females 10-16, 1 female 16-26, 1 female 26-45	census 1820, p. 159
1820	James Pruden	male under 10, male 45+, female 16-26, female 45+	census 1820, p. 159
1820	Lodywick Mathews	3 males under 10, male 26-45, female 26-45	census 1820, p. 162
1823	John Matthews	first listed in Gates Co., Tax Lists as John Jr. next year listed as John son of James	see tax lists
1823	Easter Pruden	will, listed gchildren: Mary Rice, James, Lodowick and John Matthews	see will abstracts
1830	Lodwick Mathews	male under 5, 2 males 10-15, male 30-40, 2 females under 5, female 5-10, female 30-40	census 1830, p. 105
1830	James Mathews	male under 5, male 20-30, 2 females under 5, female 15-20, female 20-30	census 1830, p. 105, next to Lodwick

date

name

information

source

1784

Esther Matthews

witness to deed of William Walters & Elizabeth, relict of James Bray Walters (son of William) for 50 acres on S side Mare Branch to John Bare of Nansemond County

Deeds Gates Co., 3 May 1784 (see abstracts p 29)

1789

James Matthews

bought 150 acres in Mery Hill Pecosin from William Walters (for $200), by Baker, Boice, Walters & Arnold.

Deeds 16 Apr 1789 (see abstracts p. 73)

1790

Easter Matthews

male under 16, female

census 1790 p. 326

1790

Easter Matthews

bought 4 acres by Smith & Speight from Hudgins

Deeds 10 Aug 1790 (see abstracts p. 87)

1790

James Matthews

male 16+, male under 16, female, 1 slave

census 1790 p. 335

~1790

James Mathews

suggested birth date for eldest grandson of Esther

young male in 1790 census

1790

James Pruden

2 males 16+, 4 males <16, 3 females

census 1790 p. 335, next to James Matthews

~1793

Mary Matthews

suggested birth date for gchild of Esther

1794

Easter to James

Easter deeds to son James, plantation where she lives, furniture, etc. after her death, witness: James Pruden

29 Dec 1794 (see abstracts p. 145)

1795

James & Sally Matthews

sell 150 acres at Mery Hill Pecosin to Jacob Pruden, by Brown, Boyce, Wm. Walters, & Arnold

Deeds 6 Feb 1795 (see abstracts p. 142)

~1796

Lodowick Matthews

suggested birth date for Lodowick, gch of Ester

tax lists, first listed 1818, 26+ in 1820 census.

1800

James Pruden

m 10-16, 2 males 16-26, male 45+, female 10-16, female 45+, 3 slaves

census 1800 p. 275

1800

Jacob Pruden

male 16-26, female under 10, female 16-26, 1 slave

census 1800, p. 275

~1802

John Matthews

suggested birth date for youngest gch of Easter

tax lists, first listed 1823

1802

James Matthews

witnessed deed of John Arnold to James Pruden for 8 acres on Gum branch

Deeds 15 Feb 1802 (see abstracts, p. 142)

1818

Lodowick Mathews

1^st listed in Gates Co., Tax Lists for 1 white poll

see tax lists

1820

John Pruden

male 10-16, male 16-18, 2 males 16-26, male 26-45, 3 females under 10, 2 females 10-16, 1 female 16-26, 1 female 26-45

census 1820, p. 159

1820

James Pruden

male under 10, male 45+, female 16-26, female 45+

census 1820, p. 159

1820

Lodywick Mathews

3 males under 10, male 26-45, female 26-45

census 1820, p. 162

1823

John Matthews

first listed in Gates Co., Tax Lists as John Jr. next year listed as John son of James

see tax lists

1823

Easter Pruden

will, listed gchildren: Mary Rice, James, Lodowick and John Matthews

see will abstracts

1830

Lodwick Mathews

male under 5, 2 males 10-15, male 30-40, 2 females under 5, female 5-10, female 30-40

census 1830, p. 105

1830

James Mathews

male under 5, male 20-30, 2 females under 5, female 15-20, female 20-30

census 1830, p. 105, next to Lodwick

There appeared to be a relationship between Anthony Matthews and James Matthews, as James’ sons seemed to have been living near Anthony’s sons when they came of age in the tax records, and also that both men used the uncommon name Lodowick for a son. Previous research indicated that Anthony (called Anthony Sr. in Gates tax lists and who died in 1808), was probably from Nansemond County, Virginia. Perhaps James Matthews and his mother Easter also came from there.

Suggestions

4. Could Easter have been a Walters, daughter of William Walters. Walters material in Gates County should be studied. She was in Gates County by 1784. Walters appear to have been living in Gates at the time. No other Matthews show in Gates County until 1789 when Anthony Sr., William Sr. and James are listed with lands in the tax rolls.

5. James Matthews was last in Gates County records around 1802 but not in tax records after 1793. No mention of estate in abstracts of Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1800-1823. He either died (without lands so no estate records) or moved elsewhere. His sons came of age in Gates County, suggesting that the father probably died there.

6. Original Estate records for Gates County are not listed in Family History Library catalog. When they are available they should be studied for additional Matthews - Pruden materials.

Appendix A

Lodowick Matthews reports - suggestions for research

18 Feb 1999 Judi

focus: analysis of client furnished research, AF, Portsmouth VA, vital records, VA census records, deeds, NC Census records, Gates Co., NC - marriage records, deeds, wills/probates, court minutes

brief findings: 2 Lodowick Mathews, 1) son of Anthony from Isle of Wight Co., pb md 1806 to Lovisa Foster, leaves abt 1816, 2) Lodowick son of James, tax list 1815, last there in 1830. This Lodowick had male b 1810-1815, male b 1815-20, male b 1815-20, female b 1820-25, males b 1825-30, female b 1825-30, female b 1825-30.

Suggestions

1. Data entry done

2. 1860 Portsmouth, VA census search line by line for Barbara Mathews - done Apr 99

3. All Matthews in Gates Co., NC Personal Tax lists - done to 1833 in Jun 99

4. All Matthews in Norfolk Co., VA Personal Tax lists - done in Apr 99

5. 1860 Census Norfolk co., VA for Barbara Mathews

6. Mathews Deeds in Gates Co., NC where Lodowick Mathews 73 acres ?

7. Find Land James Mathews, son of Easter living on. What happened to it?

8. Gates Co., NC - look for possible other children of Lodowick. ?

9. Mathews Deeds in Norfolk Co., VA other children of Lodowick & Barbara?

10. Nansemond & Isle of Wight Co., VA records for Mathews - husband of Easter. - Nansemond in Jun 99

13 Apr 1999 Judi

focus - Mathews in Norfolk County, Virginia -records in Chesapeake, Norfolk and Portsmouth

brief findings: James Mathews in Portsmouth in 1840. James & sister Susan’s marriage located. No Barbara Mathews found in 1860 Portsmouth census search. Norfolk Co., VA personal tax lists, 1813-1848. 4 references to Lodowick, 1817, 1832, 1834, 1834 - personal property. No Lodowick in 1820-50 VA census indexes. Gates Co., NC deed indexes.

Suggestions

1.Deed Records/Personal Tax lists of Gates Co., NC – tax lists Jun 99, some deeds in Feb 99, no later extensive deed searches located in Gates Co.

2. Research in later life of Lavisa Foster Mathews. ?

3. Verify 1810 census entry for Lodowick Matthews in Nansemond County. Nansemond tax lists & other county records. - see Jun 99, likely the older Lodowick.