Loderick Matthews –
The Name That Binds
William A. Matthews, Jr. Compiler
Email: [email protected]
Fourth EDITION
Copyright ã 1963, 1994,1999 By William A. Matthews, Jr. Published in the United States of America
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this book may reproduced in any form without written permission from the author, except for brief passages included in a review appearing in a newspaper or magazine.
Dedication .................................................................................. *
Sources ..................................................................................... *
The Loderick Story .................................................................... *
Background ................................................................................*
The Story Begins ....................................................................... *
The First Generation in the New World ..................................... *
Hugh Matthews .......................................................................... *
Martha Johnson Matthews ......................................................... *
Hugh and Martha Matthews ........................................................ *
Second Generation ..................................................................... *
Benjamin Matthews, son of Hugh – 2nd Generation ................... *
Third Generation ......................................................................... .*
Benjamin, son of Benjamin, and His Two Wives ....................... .*
The Sauls Family .......................................................................... *
The Trice Family ........................................................................... *
Allen Matthews .............................................................................. *
I can never repay the legacy provided by my English 329 class taken in the
spring of 1963 and taught by Professor John Q. Anderson. Because of this class, I had to learn more about my family history and my grandfather in particular. One story lead to another and within a very short time I met three cousins who provided a wealth of information. Thus, this work is dedicated to these individuals:Professor John Q. Anderson
My Aunts: Mildred Steele and Mamie Lambert.
Mrs. T.J. (Enid) Bolling, of Edna, Jackson Co. Texas, who introduced me to Loderick's picture, Mary's Bible and opened the way to:
Mrs. Carl Moore of Baytown, Texas, who opened her home, shared her information and introduced me to Mrs. Maynard H. Simmons of El Dorado, Arkansas, a descendent of Loderick Matthews and who did the major part of the research.
In particular, I was pleased to find that Mrs. Moore still remembered a young Texas Aggie, almost 30 years after the fact. It is also with sadness, that these are no longer here to share stories about this man with the unique name.
William Allen Matthews, Jr.
December 30, 1992
The information for this book was gathered from many sources, including:
The children of John Garrett Matthews and his autobiography
Plus the following cousins:
Publications and books as listed
Several "cousins" who are also researching the descendants of Hugh and Martha Matthews.
This collection of information began as a result of a class assignment in the spring of 1963. I was taking a course in Folk Music and Literature at Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. We had to do a research paper that spring on some topic related to the course. At some time previous I had read a copy of my Grandfather's life story.
Since he had been a cowboy in his younger days, I was given permission to do a report on him. The professor required that additional materials be added to the existing record by interviewing my Aunts and Uncles. It was during one of these interviews that I heard about a distant cousin that had some family materials, including a painting that would be of interest. During the spring break of 1963, I went to Edna Texas and then to Baytown. By the end of three days, almost all of the information used in this document was given to me.
Additional material and information has been added as a result of newer books, additional research and finding more cousins via the Internet.
The best way to see the story of Loderick unfold, is to read the first part of a letter from Mrs. M. H. Simmons to Mrs. Carl Moore, written on Sunday night, March 18th, 1962 as well as additional letters furnished by Mrs. Carl Moore.
"Your interesting letter came the first of the week - and when I looked at your name on the envelope and the Baytown postmark I couldn't imagine who you could be. Of course I was delighted to hear from you. My father, who died in 1945, had told me of meeting a number of people in his hardware store business, who at different times had told him of some of our relations in Jackson Co., Texas. I had hoped through the years that I would have the privilege of knowing some of my Texas family at some time or other.
I have spent a good deal of time, effort and money on this puzzle. I started in the early 30's, or even earlier, to work out the family record. I've visited the Georgia Archives in Atlanta twice and spent several days each time trying to get all the information I could. Since so many records were burned during the War Between the States it is difficult. I visited cousin Mattie Brooks in Thomaston in Upson County last year (the same day I also drove to Dalton to visit cousin Emmie M. Higgins) and Cousin Mattie allowed me to bring home her old Upson Co. History, which was most interesting. It gave me a lot of dates and bits of history of the family but the family did not live in that county very many years. They had formerly lived in Twiggs Co."
The letter continued with some information about Benjamin and Mary Matthews plus some more personal information.
Before the letter from Mrs. Simmons, initial information came to Mrs. Moore from other sources, sometimes in a round about way. One letter begins by stating that there was not a Loderick in their direct line, but that there was a half-brother with that name. That writer also provided another contact. The second contact, while providing quite a bit of information, would also tie one side of the family to a "half-brother named Loderick" and prompted Mrs. Moore to write to Mrs. Simmons.
As of 1999, there are more than ten generations of Matthews represented in this story, starting in the late 1600s. The name Loderick appears in at least five of these generations.
While Mrs. Simmons believed that the family might be related to Samuel Matthews, the last governor of Virginia prior to the American Revolution, other researchers have shown the lineage of Governor Matthews that removes this possibility.
This story of this part of the Matthews family begins in Virginia and follows the generations as the family migrates through North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and ends up in Texana (Jackson County), Texas. Different members remained behind in various locations. As additional information is gathered about the children of Loderick and Mary, it is evident that their descendants are scattered across the United States. For many years, based on copies of correspondence between researchers in the early 1960s, it was believed that the first generation was John and Ann of Culpepper Co., VA. However, access to "old" information has changed that belief. Thus the start of the story has changed. With this change in historical perspective, a change also is made in the number of wives had by the 3rd generation Benjamin from three to two.
The First Generation in the New World
Strong evidence provided by James Matthews Liptrap (a descendant of Allen Matthews) in the summer of 1999 has lead to these changes in the story of Loderick Matthews. In effect this has added two generations (Hugh and Martha as well as another Benjamin) to the family tree, going back into the 1600s. James Liptrap provided much of the information on Hugh. It is also worth noting that the Daughters of the American Revolution have classified Hugh’s grandson, Benjamin, as a Patriot. Documentation for this came from two sources: National Number 312533 of Mrs. Francis Liptrap (mother of James)- Supplemental Nov 28, 1983 verified and approved; and National Number 624531 of Mildred Anne Simmons Lassiter – Supplemental Oct 28, 1987 verified and approved.
However, recent conversations with Mark Valsame, an Arrangement and description Archivist for the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC. He has been doing genealogical research for over 20 years. He has twelve lines of descent from Hugh Matthews and wife Martha Johnson of Isle of Wight/Southampton County, VA. He is descended twice from son Joseph Matthews and wife Elizabeth Stevenson, twice from [Unknown Daughter] Matthews and husband Solomon Stevenson, Sr., and eight times from Sarah (Matthews) McKinney and her husband Solomon Stevenson, Sr. In 1991, he authored a 600+ page genealogy entitled "Nimrod and Amanda (Johnson) Stephenson of Pleasant Grove Township, Johnston County, North Carolina, Their Ancestors and Descendants." This book included a chapter on Hugh Matthews. The book is no longer available, although copies of it can be found at the Genealogical Services Branch of the North Carolina State Library in Raleigh, NC and at the Johnston County Room at the Johnston County Public Library in Smithfield, NC.
In addition, many of the descendants of Hugh and Martha Matthews are continuing to expand the information about common lines. The following lines of Hugh Matthews and Martha Johnson have been identified:
Other children whose lines have little or no information:
Hugh Matthews was born about 1680-1690, perhaps in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He may have been one of three children of Ralph and Alice Matthews. Hugh and Martha sold 50 acres of land (inherited from her father John Johnson) on March 16, 1715
Hugh Matthews wrote his will in Southampton County, Virginia [officially formed in 1749] on November 7, 1747, witnessed by Daniel Sebree, Thomas Pursell, and George Stephens(on). It would appear that his wife MARTHA had predeceased him, for his will left legacies to his then wife ANN Matthews. The lengthy will of Hugh Matthews, which makes reference to four sons, five daughters, five grandsons, and at least three deceased children, was submitted for probate on September 12, 1751.
The children of Hugh and Martha were:
Martha Johnson, daughter of John Johnson, the elder, and first wife Mary, was born in Isle of Wight County, Virginia about 1688. Her father’s will, probated on Aug 9, 1707, bequeathed "to my daughter Martha, 50 acres of land, half the household goods at Blackwater, and one shilling in lieu of any part in her stepmother's estate."
By 1715, she had married Hugh Matthews. On March 18, 1715/16, Hugh Mathis and Martha Mathis of the Upper Parish deeded to John Johnson of the Lower Parish for 500 pounds of tobacco, 50 acres on the branch of Blackwater adjoining said John Johnson that had been left to said Martha in her father John Johnson's will dated January 7, 1703; witnessed by Henry Sanders, Arthur Smith, and John Watts.
Hugh Matthews married Martha Johnson, daughter of John and Mary Johnson in 1715.
Hugh Matthews in his will in Nottoway Parish of Southampton County on November 7, 1747, and proved on September 12, 1751, listed six sons, five daughters, and five grandsons. Some of the grandsons were mentioned because their parents were deceased.
Witnesses: Daniel Sebree, Thomas Pursell, and George Stephenson.
Benjamin Matthews, son of Hugh – 2nd Generation
Benjamin was only given one shilling by his father’s will. However, in 1739 he was granted land in Edgecomb Co, North Carolina He also purchased additional land in 1746 and 1760 on the North Swift Creek where it joined the mouth of the Rocky River. This land became part of Nash County in 1777. His children were:
Also owning land in this area were two of his brothers, William and Joseph, as well as another – not yet related – the family of Abraham Sauls.
Benjamin, son of Hugh, died shortly before September 4, 1762. The administration of his estate was granted to his daughter Phebe Matthews since his widow was unable to serve. An inventory was made in September, sold in October, and reported in January 1763. On October 25, 1763 William Matthews was appointed guardian to the orphan Benjamin Matthews indicating that his mother had died and that Benjamin was under the age of 21 and also likely the youngest child. However, Benjamin witnessed a deed on October 16, 1774 showing that he was at least 21 years old by that date. This is consistent with other information described later on that shows a birth date of 1748.
Benjamin, son of Benjamin, and His Two Wives
Benjamin had two wives: Mary Sauls (granddaughter of Abraham Sauls) and Rebecca Pierson. He had several children with each wife. The Goodspeed History of Southern Ark. (1890) identifies Benjamin and wife as natives of Virginia and North Carolina respectively.
Abraham had at least two sons, Abraham and Absolam. The son Abraham served as a Corporal in the Continental Regiment of Artillery from 1778 to 1782, receiving his payment from the State of South Carolina. Of more importance to this story is his Granddaughter Mary who married Benjamin’s son Benjamin around 1780 to 1788. Abraham (senior) died about 1771.
Benjamin and his family migrated from Virginia to North Carolina, leaving there around the turn of the eighteenth - nineteenth centuries. The 1790 census records for Nash County at the State Archives in Raleigh, North Carolina listed only one Benjamin Matthews in North Carolina with the right number of family members. Listed was:
"1 free while male 16 and up including head of family; 3 free white males under 16; 4 free white females including head of family and one slave."
Benjamin’s brother Joel lived nearby, and witnessed the deed of the sale of a Negro boy from James Blackwell to Benjamin Matthews on March 30, 1797 in Nash Co.
There is also a record of a Bounty Warrant of 4 lbs. and 15 shillings that had been issued to Benjamin in 1782, in Halifax district, Virginia. In addition to the Bounty Warrant, in 1783 Captain David Mason and James Mason signed a statement certifying that Benjamin Matthews enlisted for three years in the 15 Virginia Regiment on the first day of January, 1777. Note that is cannot be proven that the Benjamin of the Bounty Warrant and the Benjamin of the military service are the same Benjamin. Bounty Warrants were paid for both military services as well as for furnishing supplies to the army.
Benjamin Rush (grandson of Benjamin), who was given recognition for having worked on the Goodspeed History, stated that "a number of the relatives on the father's side fought in the Revolutionary War."
On November 13, 1797 Benjamin and wife Mary sold their land in Nash Co. The next spring, May 1798, Joel also sold his land.
Families tended to migrate together during this period of time. Many of the descendants of Hugh Matthews, including the Thorp, Johnson, and Newsom families, joined the migration to Georgia. They settled in the Wilkson, Wilkes, and Warren Counties. An Arthur Matthews held land in Warren Co. Adjoining lands owned by Thorp and Newsom. Benjamin Matthews witnessed the deed when Joel bought land in Warren Co. On December 3, 1800. Benjamin drew land in Warren Co. In the 1805 Land Lottery (probably based on the Bounty Warrant, listed as #1934) and again in 1814. This land appears to have fallen into Twiggs Co., as he is listed as owning 153 acres on Pine Creek in the Tax Digest of 1818. A new family, Simon Harrell, to this story also appears as owning land in Warren Co about this time. Since he is the only Harrell listed in the county, it is possible that he is the father of Mary Harrell, wife of Loderick.
In 1806, Mary Sauls Matthews died in Warren County. Benjamin then married Rebecca Pierson Brown (born Dec 12, 1772) on December 6, 1806. She was the daughter of Jeremiah Pierson, born about 1735 in New jersey, died after October 1829, in Munroe Co., GA. According to a letter from Mrs. Maynard Simmons in 1963, a cousin Emmie Matthews Higgins of Dalton GA stated that she had copied the birth (1748) and death (October 17, 1818) from a family bible in her possession. From The Georgia Journal, April 14, 1818 there is mention of Benjamin being alive on March 18. On November 17, there is notice of sale of his estate, on November 25, Lodowick Matthews was granted letters of administration and named guardian of Sister Sarah Matthews. On August 10, 1824 Lodowick was released as guardian. In 1821, "Rebecca Matthews, widow" drew land in the Land Lottery that year. This portion of land in Monroe Co. fell into Upson Co. when it was formed in 1824. Rebecca died on December 13, 1846.
Benjamin Matthews and Mary Sauls had nine children:
Benjamin Matthews and Rebecca Pierson had two sons who married two of the Trice sisters. They lived in Upson Co., GA and are buried in the Trice Family Cemetery in that county.
William Trice: (July 20, 1789, GA, - June 26, 1858), married on January 17, 1809 to Jane Tamplin. William was the son of Benjamin Trice. Jane Tamplin (February 28, 1794 – October 5, 1856), Both are buried in the Trice Family Cemetery, Upson Co., GA. William Trice migrated in 1813 to Upson County from Jones County, GA. The Trice family was a prominent Upson County family. All of their children were born, married and died in Upson Co. Their children were:
Allen was born March 25, 1789 in Nash Co., NC. He moved with his father Benjamin to Warren Co., GA, about 1800. About 1812, he married Sity Vious Riley (November 22, 1789 – August 25, 1854), daughter of Edward Riley (1747-1855) and Mary Elizabeth Wood (1769-1853). Allen volunteered in Chamber’s First Regiment of Georgia Militia, in the war of 1812. He signed up on October 7, 1812 at Point Petre, GA for six months; but as of November 30, 1812, he had not joined the company. He obtained land in Lawrence Co, MS in 1827. He later purchased land in Copiah and Simpson Counties. He donated the land for the Hopewell Meeting House (Church) in Copiah Co. After his wife’s death, he gave his land to his children in a series of deeds dated November 20, 1855. He then moved in with his oldest son Harmon in Harrisville, Simpson Co. He donated the land for the Palestine Baptist Church there, and died after 1870. His children were:
Sity Vious Riley
Sity Vious (Cityvius and other spellings) Riley was born November 22, 1789 and may have died on August 25, 1854. She was the daughter of Edward Riley (1747 – 1855) who married Mary Elizabeth Wood (1769 – June 20, 1853) on November 21, 1784. In Edward Riley’s 1833 Pension application, he stated that he was born in Lancaster Co., PN. and lived in 96th District, South Carolina during the Revolution. That he volunteered in 1778 served as an Indian Fighter, Dragoon, and spy. He received a mini ball in his neck, which he carried for the rest of his life. He also lost two fingers from a sword wound. He was a wanderer, and would disappear for periods of time to live among the Indians or other adventures. He died at the age of 108 while living with his son in Scott, Smith or Jasper Co., MS. Edward and Elizabeth had five children: